Lisa Button

Christian Women's Ministry

Leading wounded and weary women into
the safety of God’s heart with truth, grace, and love.

Hello,
I am delighted to introduce myself to you today. It would be my preference to meet with you face-to-face over a cup of coffee; but, for now, this will have to suffice. The following interview is designed to help you get acquainted with me. If you have additional questions, I would be happy to answer them through a phone call or e-mail...or over a cup of coffee!

A Woman on a Mission
Why Lisa Button is passionate about teaching women
to enjoy every day with their ultimate hero.

Lisa, How has Jesus been your Hero?
Well, Christ has literally lifted me out of a black, slimy pit. I had
been living in a state of emotional pain for years. Finding Jesus
was a phenomenal experience, because when I found him, I found someone who actually cared about my pain. Jesus was the salve for my wounds. However, when I first accepted Christ, I was only a believer – not a follower. My early spiritual journey constantly tested God's patience as I made some very bad choices.

Through the years, as my relationship with God has deepened, He has taken me from places of pain, shame and brokenness to places of healing and wholeness. Despite my growth, I still struggle daily with my humanness like a woman trying to get her post-pregnancy body into a pre-pregnancy bathing suit, yet God gently reminds me that I am a life lived under extravagant grace, and for that I am eternally grateful. Here's the truth: As I have tested God's patience throughout my life, His love for me has proven itself to be genuine.

Our pastor recently taught about "testing." Testing means "to prove genuine." As I considered this concept, I had a flashback to the areas where God has tested my family and me. (i.e., my husband's job and hard-earned commissions; our son's life; my beloved position as the Director of Sending Ministries at a local church; the pursuit of my calling to become a pastor; and most recently, our beautiful home and sweet, comfortable life in Kansas City). In each case, He wanted us to be willing to give up something precious. God seemed to be saying "Do you love me more than these?" and "Do you trust me enough to follow where I lead?" As I sat there in that worship service, my heart melted as I recognized God's loving hand at work and the sweet intimacy we experienced as we walked through those times with Him. In the process, God has taught us about complete surrender. Surrender to the one who has loved me when I felt I had no value. To the one who has shown me His goodness and faithfulness when I had no hope at all.

Because of His goodness, I have given my life to Him in ministry. My goal in ministry is 1) to be obedient and glorify God; 2) to be a vehicle through which God can touch hearts and lead people into deeper intimacy with Him; and 3) to help people experience God in a very real way by painting pictures of His love, mercy and grace; and taking them deeper into the truths found in His Word.

Recently, I was on the path to become a pastor, but God showed me the need to lay that calling aside for the sake of my husband and children. This ministry (as a speaker and author) is what God has given me for such a time as this.

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4:34

The world today is so full of violence, immorality, and darkness. It seems that things are constantly getting worse. When you look into the world, is there anything that you get excited about?
Great question. We definitely live in a fallen world and it's so easy to get discouraged. We always need to remember that we have a God who is in control and will prevail in the end. In the meantime, I really get excited when I consider the potential of the human heart...the potential to come to know Christ and to be changed, healed, and transformed by Him. To see a dark, broken heart begin to shine extravagantly with joy and a love for Christ is one of the most beautiful things I know of.

I also get really excited when I see the hand of God at work. Whether it's in nature or in someone's life, it really rocks my world and makes me want to jump up and down with sheer joy. Maybe that's why I enjoy doing what I do. I get to see glimpses of both of these in this ministry.

Tell us about your family?
My family is a reflection of God's goodness to me. Growing up in a broken home, I desperately longed for a family of my own to love. My desire was to give my children the things I had lost and longed for during those difficult years. I am now living my dream. God has given me three beautiful children - a daughter and two sons. Parenting has taught me many things.
1) Parenting is a joy! (Indescribable!) 2) Parenting is a challenge (With 2 teenagers and a strong-willed 8-year-old in my home, need I say more?) 3) Parenting is a process. (Unfortunately, kids don't learn overnight.) 4) I'm not perfect. (Although my intentions have always been good, I've made many mistakes.)

My husband, Mike, and I have a healthy marriage, but there have been some rocky times as well. To tell you the truth, I sometimes think that marriage is one of God's greatest miracles. Men and women are so different! It sometimes amazes me that God was able to bring men and women together at all. Despite all that, I love my man. He is a great man of God. Through the challenges, Mike and I have both remained committed to each other and to our marriage. Christ is kept center stage. As a result, God has given us many good years together.

What Bible studies have you developed and taught?
This is something new for me. Normally, I will teach from someone else's curriculum; however, in the past year, I have developed and taught studies on the books of Ruth and Esther. There is something so extraordinary about going deep into God's Word. There is a profound richness of understanding and a joy of discovery. This fall we are looking at possibly doing a topical study on love or perhaps a study of the women Jesus ministered to on his journey to the cross.

Talk about your work in missions and your book, Not Forgotten-Remembering the Last, the Least and the Lost through Passionate Mission Ministry.
Missions is a great passion of my life. In 1995, my husband and I felt the call to develop the mission ministry at our church. At that time, the church was conducting just a couple of food and supply drives per year. That was the extent of the ministry! Although we had no experience or training, God laid a heavy burden on our hearts to expand this ministry. In January of 1996, we were asked to serve as leaders. With God's help we literally developed this ministry from the ground up. Our goal was to communicate Christ's call to mission and to mobilize the people of the church. Our focus was on servanthood evangelism where people were encouraged to become the embodiment of Christ in a lost and hurting world. The ministry grew tremendously and after several years my volunteer position became a paid staff position. During that time I had the privilege of not only seeing the people we served being blessed, but also seeing people of the church grow and experience God's blessing as they served in missions. The church was literally transformed as missions became its heartbeat. Every department, individual and ministry developed a mission focus and looked for ways to reach into the world with the love of Christ.

After 7 years leading this ministry, God called me away from it so that I could help other churches do the same. At that time, the ministry had 39 leaders coordinating different projects and various areas of mission ministry. Since leaving that position, I have spoken at district level trainings, volunteered with a ministry that helps AIDS orphans, and consulted with churches regarding their mission ministries. I am currently serving at our new church home in Branson, Missouri as the mission team leader. My husband and I have been intensely drawn to the continent of Africa and her AIDS orphans, and have taken teams there to work.

In an effort to share what God has taught me, I have also written a book entitled, Not Forgotten-Remembering the Last, the Least, and the Lost Through Passionate Mission Ministry.
This book provides practical tools to help mission leaders develop passionate mission ministry
and mobilize God's people in the local church. Not Forgotten can be ordered through your local
bookstore or on www.amazon.com.

What else would you like to tell us about your ministry?
Here's the truth. I really, really don't like talking about myself, so let's take some time to focus on YOU - the person visiting this website.

First, I want to affirm the work you are doing in Women's Ministry. Your work is important because it offers women a chance to gather together for fellowship, growth, encouragement, fun, study, community, rejuvenation, and relaxation. I would love to learn more about you and what you are doing in ministry for women. It would be a privilege to have the opportunity to serve God, you, and the women of your community at one of your upcoming events.

Please call or e-mail to discuss your ministry needs and how I might be of service to you.

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests." Psalm 20:4-5

P.O. Box 6105, Branson, MO 65615
Phone: (417) 593-9628, Fax: (417) 334-8434
E-mail: lisa@buttonministries.org