Zebra Ministries: Second Chance

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Second Chance

Romans 13:14 (ESV)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Good morning Zebras,

Three years ago when we were planning the first Zebra retreat Mike Sexton, the Awana missionary for our area, let me go to all four fall Awana conferences and talk about Zebras. From that God brought seventy of the one hundred women who attended. So last spring when God prompted me to organize another Zebra retreat, the first one for men and woman, I thought “Great I will just promote it at conference again and gather up interested people.” But God had other plans.

Through a variety of ways, as only God can do, He made it perfectly clear that I was not to speak at Awana conferences this year. Instead I was to offer my services to Mike and be a support and encouragement to him. So I did.

Last weekend on the twenty-first I went to Santa Rosa. It was a great day; God definitely blessed me for doing what I was supposed to do. Everything was going great, I was focused on supporting Mike and then right at the end someone came and talked to me about Zebras. They shared a story that was a huge encouragement to me, but instead of just accepting the blessing I whipped out a retreat brochure and asked them to pray for this upcoming event and then I handed one to the woman sitting next to me.

It wasn’t until the next day that God made it perfectly clear I shouldn’t have done that. I haven’t had a day that bad in a long time, but the weight of my disobedience was almost crushing. God had very clearly told me not to promote the retreat at conference but I had taken a few flyers “just in case” someone asked. I mean, handing out brochures isn’t the same as speaking…right? Wrong. Disobedience is disobedience because God isn’t looking at the actions He is looking at the heart.

He knew I was worried that He wasn’t going to be able to fill this next event if I didn’t help Him out a little, and that is what He was disciplining me for. It wasn’t for one or two brochures; it was for my lack of faith. Thankfully, there was one more conference left and I had another chance to show God I trusted Him.

Yesterday was the Sacramento conference, seven hundred people, lots of opportunities to talk about Zebras but this time because of today’s verse, I left my brochures at home. I knew if I took them I would give in to the temptation to hand them out and this morning I would once again be sitting around with a crushed spirit. And although I talked about Zebras, God He did amazing things to encourage me I that I was on the right path.

I love you little Zebras; God will do what has promised. He doesn’t want nor need our help; He just wants our obedience and our faith, and the credit for making it happen.

Love,

Jill

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Why Zebras?

In the summer of 2008 I was looking at a herd of zebras in a wild animal park and commented to my son that I didn’t understand why the lions didn’t just eat the zebras because their markings make them so obvious. He told me that the opposite was actually true. God has marked zebras so when they hang together in a herd, their stripes create the illusion they are one large animal and therefore too big to attack. It is the lone zebra that is usually eaten. The same is true of Christians; we must hang together and encourage each other to fight off the lions. The lone Christian is easy prey.

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Therefore:

Zebras was started to encourage women who desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who want their lives to be transformed to honor God and who are willing to be “zebras” in a world of “horses”. Zebras exists to reassure you that you are not alone and that God has called you to be peculiar. As a peculiar person you should look different than the world

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Pastor Endorsement

Jill Getchell speaks from her heart and from God’s word in a way that brings encouragement and hope to God’s people. I’ve been blessed to hear her at Awana conferences, a women’s retreat, and from the pulpit of our church. I am confident your people will be equally blessed by spending the day with Jill at We Have Hope...your church will be blessed as well.

Pastor Al Marks

First Baptist Church Vallejo

I have known Jill for many years now. She truly desires to encourage the churches in our community and to strengthen the believers that attend our churches. Her passion for Jesus comes out in her ability to speak, and her heart is to encourage all those that attend to go back into their churches and be a blessing.

Pastor Kelly Patchin

New Harbor Community Church, Benicia

I believe women are vital to the unity and health of the church. They bear the image of God and serve Him in a great way within His church. Zebras has the ability to unite and excite women to grow in their faith and in their relationships with each other. In John 17:20 Jesus says, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” One of Christ’s last prayers for His church is that they would be one as He is with the Father. And through our unity the world can come to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Unity is essential for a healthy church and healthy relationships between women. Zebras can stimulate healthy growth in the spiritual lives of the women in your church too. It is a blessing at New Harbor and I believe it would be a blessing for any pastor to have in their church.

Kelly Patchin, Pastor
New Harbor Community Church

Testimonies

The Zebra herd has given me the opportunity to be myself. I think we all have a face we put on for others, especially on Sunday. We don’t want to let anyone see the pain or hurt we’re suffering because we feel that it’s a reflection on our walk with Christ. I now have a group of loving Christian women with whom to share the joys and sorrows equally… Without the Zebras, I’d still be wearing my Sunday face. ...............Dawn C.

The Zebra ministry has deepened my relationship with Christ and the women at my church beyond what I thought possible... Most importantly, it has given me a safe place to be very, very real… I have learned how to be transparent and allow my fellow Zebra sisters to support me in prayer and God to minister to the deepest part of my soul--the part that needed it the most.................... Jennifer H.

When I came to New Harbor Church I was so lonely. I knew I needed the fellowship of other Christian women but did not know if I could break out of my self-imposed isolation. I felt unworthy of anyone’s friendship, let alone" godly people"... But Zebras has made me feel the true acceptance of these wonderful women. I have slowly opened my heart to them, with their encouragement and love! I don't have that heavy ache of solitude anymore. ................Barbara B.

I was with you in the beginning meetings of the herd and watched it evolve into a place where we as sisters in Christ could share our burdens without judgment. Being a Zebra helped me through a very trying time- Leap of Faith– leaving a relationship, selling my home and trusting in God. It was encouraging to know that I was not alone and being a part of a group where women could feel understood, comforted, and lifted up spiritually. .................Tracy M.

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