Zebra Ministries

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Good morning Zebras,

For the first time, in my entire adult life, I’m almost ready for the “man side” of Christmas and it’s only Dec 1^st. The tree and decorations are up and the presents are bought and wrapped. Which leaves me three wonderful weeks to do nothing but pray.

As I shared the other day I’m praying this is going to be a different Christmas, in fact it’s the prayer that’s constantly in my head, “Please Dear God, don’t let this be just another Christmas.”

To that end I’ve taken everything we do to prayer. Is this something that can stay, is this something that should go? Does this point people to You?

One of the things that had to go was the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. My guests may not put up with every meal being about Jesus, but they will tolerate at least one. So instead of eating tamales and decorating the table in red and green, we are eating simple fare and decorating the table in purple and gold.

Too much emphasis is put on “holiday” food, at least in this house, and since I want to move the emphasis to Jesus, I am going to downgrade the food for one meal. I’m praying canned soup and bread, eaten with an eye towards God, will be more powerful than tamales and beans eaten with an eye towards our stomachs.

And I threw out the red and green color scheme because it has nothing to do with Jesus. Red and green scream “Christmas” but they don’t scream “Christ!” So, I bought an inexpensive purple table cloth and gold runner from Amazon and I’m going to set the table in the colors of a king!

When I’m preparing for an event I pray over every detail, every word, every PowerPoint slide, because I want everything to be about Him. God told me I needed to do the same with this. I can’t approach Christmas with the same old attitude and expect different results.

So, in my mind, this isn’t really “Christmas” anymore, it’s an event, hosted at my house, that is going to be attended by family.

Love,

Jill

P.S. I am luckier than some, my company arrives on the 23^rd and stays until the day after Christmas. That gives me three full days to plan. Each day and meal will have a theme and hopefully by the time they leave, everyone, including those who already love the Lord, will have heard from God. Exodus 33:13, 18: “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You” … “Please (Lord) show me Your glory.”

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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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