Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Wiseman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about and called to Ministry. In fact, on “Career Day” in third grade, I brought my Bible to school and told everyone I was a missionary.
My faith informs not only my beliefs but how I live in and interact with the world around me. It drives me to share and offer hope, compassion, and dignity to all, especially those whom society has pushed to the margins. And then to empower my church community to do the same through spiritual growth (connecting with God and with others).
I obtained a theology undergrad degree from Hardin Simmons University, and then went on to spend a year in New York City working with recent immigrants to the United States.
I chose to attend Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s Master of Theological Studies program in 2009 to further my studies and also to be nearer to family and my now husband, Justin. During that time, I began working at Lake Hills Church, where I still am today. Over the years, I have worked in multiple roles and areas of ministry at Lake Hills Church including students, missions/outreach, and currently spiritual development. I write guided Bible studies and occasionally preach in our Sunday services.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anyone who has worked for a church would agree that churches are not perfect places (and often are far from perfect!). Many have also been hurt by the church in various capacities. Reckoning with human imperfections while still fully believing in the redemptive power of the gospel is a generational challenge – one that I am passionate about engaging.
The nature of the work is wonderful and also weighty – I see people at their best and most vulnerable, preside over weddings and funerals, and celebrate and mourn life’s joys and sorrows alongside our community.
More recently, as a working mom, I feel the simultaneous tug between vigorously pursuing my vocational passion and giving every bit of my energy to my family and kids – it’s often exhausting but also 100% worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I oversee spiritual development, which means I build practical opportunities for people to connect with God and connect with others. People come to churches seeking many different things – community, connection, service opportunities, spiritual growth, or maybe they’re not even sure what they’re seeking! My job is to maintain an infrastructure to immediately, meaningfully plug people in.
Some things I’m most proud of in my tenure:
-I have seen former students from our church’s student ministry grow up to become compassionate, driven, and engaged adults both in our own church congregation and throughout the world. I’m grateful to call many of these former students friends now.
-I have spearheaded a decade-plus-long relationship between Lake Hills Church and the orphanage in Haiti with which we partner. I’ve led dozens of volunteer teams to serve the orphanage in Haiti and have watched the small children living there become lovely young adults.
-I’ve gone from simply leading a small group of students to overseeing ALL of our congregation’s small groups, writing the church’s Bible study curriculum, and preaching on Sundays.
I’m most proud of my ability to affect change in the place where I exist. I’ve seen many peers pick up and leave to pursue greener pastures when things don’t go the way they want or have planned. I’ve repeatedly made a conscious effort to double down within the community where I exist to pursue progress and things I believe in / are important to me no matter how challenging. Seeing and experiencing the fruits of longevity has been one of my greatest vocational joys!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Public speaking is something that has ALWAYS caused anxiety for me. I am also an enneagram 9 and thus big decisions are often difficult for me because I see the value in many different paths. However, I have recently been charged with both preaching semi-regularly on Sundays and managing the one of largest ministries in our church.
Despite general risk-aversion, fear of public speaking, and nervousness of taking on major responsibility for one of the lifeblood ministries of the church, being empowered in both of these areas has helped me grow immensely as a speaker, as a leader, and as a person. Big risks are a precursor to growth!
Contact Info:
- Website: Wwiseman@lhc.org
- Email Address: whitneypwiseman@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
whitwise/
