Board Member Spot Light

“All of the things I’ve done and experienced has brought me to where I am.”  Glynis Gates has been blessed with the ability to see God’s work as she looks back.  Her journey through life hasn’t been easy, but she knows God has a specific plan and unwavering love for her. 

Does God work through hard chapters of our life story?  Well, Glynis’ story has included divorce and single parenting.  It’s had a chapter of financial hardship.  There’s been times she fed her children with onion broth and a loaf of bread.  There has been a chapter of working three jobs at one time.  But Glynis knew her book wasn’t finished.  Being open to hearing and learning from her friends led to the best chapters ever!

In January 2009 Glynis found herself once again alone and feeling hopeless.  “I was out of control, empty and broken.  That’s when I fell to the floor…and prayed that prayer asking God into my life.  God started changing me in small ways.”   Also in 2009, Glynis moved to Granbury, Texas.  She carpooled with a co-worker to Fort Worth for work.  Those car pool conversations opened a path.  She began attending a bible study with her co-worker, and that led to an invitation to attend a Walk to Emmaus weekend.  The weekend was full of moments where Glynis recognized God’s presence.  God’s grace took a, “broken prodigal child that was used up, abandoned, and empty, and made me new. I was on fire!  Asking God, what do you have for me next?”

This “made new” woman was now on a new path.  A path of service.  A path of lifting others up.  A path of love.  After serving for seven years as program director at another nonprofit, Glynis felt strongly God was signaling it was time to retire.   Soon after her retirement she prayed to God that she was lost and wanted something that meant more.  Within one week, three of her former colleagues and friends contacted her individually about starting a non-profit to help others in a unique way. 

The experiences of Glynis and her three friends showed that there is a need for those who have lost everything through life experiences to have love and support as they start over.  “There’s a need for bigger outreach to the marginalized,” said Glynis.  Discussions began with the group about helping others with housewares and clothes, prayer, financial support, encouragement, and the love of Christ.  Helping others by financial counseling, connecting them with community resources and opportunities to help others (even as they struggle too).  As she prayed, she remembers being a bit overwhelmed and saying to God, “Oh Lord!  This is such a leap of faith!”  After lots of work and discussions, Leap of Faith Resale was launched.

Why “Leap of Faith Resale” for the name?  “Because I’ve been there!  I know what they are going through. I love how the Holy Spirit comes when we are helping people, and when we take those leaps of faith.  I am exhausted already, but it’s a good exhausted!  I want to be working for the Lord until I take my last breath!”

Glynis credits 3 women for inviting her to their Sunday School class in 2015.  That has resulted in ten years of growth, serving, studying and learning!  As she thinks about what she would say to others who may feel lost and down, she wants to encourage all to “get with somebody – a church – a group of believers.  It’s a safe place where you can blurt out your doubts and fears.”

After all the hard chapters of Glynis’ story, she is now loving her children and six beautiful grandchildren, starting a new non-profit (Leap of Faith Resale), working to reach others and share the love of Christ, and writing some fabulous pages to her life story.  Looking at the beginning of the story and where Glynis is today, she knows, without a doubt, “the love of Jesus is where it’s at.” 

Thank you, Glynis, for listening for God’s guidance, serving God’s plan, and loving God’s people.  Most of all, Glynis…thank you for being you!