Meet the Nominees

Dear All Nations Church Family:

Let me begin by saying thank you for the nomination to be President of the Board of Directors.

I am honored and humbled by your trust in me. After much prayerful consideration, I will accept the nomination.

As requested, a little about me. I am first and foremost a child of God. Prior to All Nations, I was a member of New Beginnings Church in Pacific, MO. At New Beginnings I was active in the Women’s Bible Study and served as a member at large for the Board of Directors. That was where I met the Paavola family- Chris, Ashley, and baby Selah. I became involved with the church plant process that eventually led to the beginning of All Nations Church in University City.

Second, I am mom to two amazing humans. My son Tim lives in Montana with his fiancé and their 2 dogs, and is an architect. My daughter Caryn lives in New York City with her dog, and is a couture bridal gown designer.

Next, I am a nurse practitioner, currently at St Mary’s Hospital in Richmond Heights. I began my career as a nurses aide at a nursing home, where I was privileged to care for the elderly. I learned so much from their life stories! After getting my associates degree, then a bachelors degree, and eventually my masters degree, all while raising my children and working as a nurse, I began working as a nurse practitioner in open heart surgery. I have been a nurse practitioner for 18 years. During that time, I have mentored several nurse practitioner students on their way to their degrees, and have been a role model for the nurses I work side by side with everyday.

I am also a sister, aunt, neighbor, and friend to a large, diverse group of people.

All of the nominees were asked to describe why they thought they were qualified for the specific office for which they are nominated. I will describe my qualifications by asking a question: Why me? Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, there are leaders who I am sure asked themselves that same question. As the song “Nobody” by Casting Crowns and Matthew West says, Jesus chose the misfits. “Moses had stage fright and David brought a rock to a sword fight. Jesus picked 12 outsiders nobody would’ve chosen and He changed the world.” I’m a misfit, a perfectly imperfect human who is being asked to be a leader of our church as we move forward. What was it about the misfits that Jesus chose that made them leaders? Courage, faith certainly. In Moses case, empathy for the Jewish people as he led them out of Egypt, and an ability to delegate leadership to others when he was on the mountain speaking to God through the burning bush. In David’s case, an ability to excel in unfamiliar circumstances, and to be able to “think outside of the box” when developing his strategy to vanquish Goliath. In the case of the 12, an ability to influence their peers to listen to the Teacher and become believers. I believe that I have most of those qualities as well. Courage to step out of my comfort zone. Empathy for the members of our church who are struggling. Ability to step into unfamiliar circumstances and excel. Influencing people by logical and cooperative appeals. An ability to see the “gray zone” in situations that are not just black and white. I feel that a leader should also have humility, be approachable and accessible, be transparent, and be willing to communicate with other board members, the Elders, the pastor, and the church members.

As I prayed about this nomination, I felt called to this role. As the apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:2-3: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. Scripture also demonstrates that the path to leadership is to become a servant. Matthew 20: 26 says ……whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant. I have served in many roles at All Nations Church- music ministry, audio-visual services, volunteering at community outreach events, prayer walking the streets of University City, assembling 200 boxes with daily prayer calendars and timers in my living room, and even Christmas caroling one cold night with Rebecca and Mary Jo. All of those things done to let the world know about the Jesus I love.

My vision for All Nations is to grow our membership by getting back to the foundational aspects of the vision for our church: be a church for people who don’t go to church, be a resource for the youth of University City, be a church that prospers the city, be a church as diverse as the city we serve. How do we accomplish those goals? Start with the basics- prayer walk the streets of the city, continue the Prosper the City events, have a church member be a liaison with the middle and high schools, plan outreach events to remind the people of University City that Jesus takes all comers- poor, rich, young, old, outcasts, believers and non-believers. Remind each other that diversity is more than just skin color and nationality. Let people know of God’s mercy and grace by Jesus’ death and resurrection- not punishing us for our sins (mercy) but instead having Jesus die for us and rise again to give us the eternal life that we don’t deserve (grace).

All Nations Church is changing. We will soon be chartered, and there are many things to accomplish. We can grow as a church of believers, in fellowship with each other, guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the never-ending love of God. As is said in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Thank you for your consideration. I will continue to pray that God puts the people He wants in place to lead All Nations.

With sincere thanks,
Annie