Women of Influence: Ann Fittz and Beckie Hinze

Joining the Christian Women's Job Corps family in the fall of 2006 brought all kinds of amazing women into my life.  Seriously.  I wish that I had time and words to tell you about each and every one of them.  Site coordinators from around the state, lifelong WMU ladies, retired missionaries, volunteers, and even participants.  Each and every one of them with a heart for Jesus and a passion for spreading His hope to as many other women as possible.  Simply incredible.

But, I want to talk today about two very special women who came into my life as a result of CWJC.  The first is Beckie Hinze.  I honestly don't even remember how I first got connected to Beckie.  But, somehow, I ended up in her office one afternoon, and the next thing I knew, two hours had gone by and I felt more affirmed, blessed, encouraged, and ready to take on the world than I had in months.  Beckie has an unbelievable gift for listening, discerning, and well, mothering.  She is a friend and confidant extrodinaire.  Beckie didn't just listen to me, but she got excited with me about CWJC and God's heart for women, and she began telling other women.  She made opportunities for me to speak to other women and train other women and invited others into what God was doing at CWJC.  And, she invited me into her life.  She offers such godly wisdom with such a powerful measure of grace.  I am learning the ministry of intercession, of a well-timed word, and of hospitality through her abundant gifts.

And, then there's Ann.  I remember telling friends at my 30th birthday party that bringing Ann Fittz into my life was the coolest thing God had done for me that year.  The first time I remember being aware of who Ann Fittz was, I was at a choir retreat and she got up to give the morning devotional.  I don't remember her subject, I just remember telling Suzanne, "I want to be her when I grow up."  A while later, Ann became aware of CWJC and invited me to lunch.  We sat there and she looked me in the eye and said, "So, tell me your story."  And, she told me hers.  What I will always remember about the day is Ann telling me about how she began praying when she turned 60 that God would increase the fruit of her life in her latter years to exceed all that He had done in her previous years.  Amen and amen.  Ann loves with her prayers, with her gifts, and with her words.  I laugh when I look around my living room because so many of my favorite possessions are gifts from Ann, some of the selected especially for me, others passed down because she saw a need, and one very special gift that was a sacrificial act of obedience I still can't fully comprehend.  There are so many things I have learned from Ann, but I think the one that sticks with me so often is how she never makes plans without saying, "If the Lord says so, I'll be there."  She is so quick to let me know that she desires to be somewhere, but she's surrendered to the Lord's will in her life above her own plans.  What a delight!