Arise Ministries Collective

equipping the saints, teaching God's Word, sharing the Gospel of Jesus, meeting practical needs, loving extravagantly

NEW RESOURCE – ‘Women in Ministry’ Database

ARISE Ministries is a collective of women passionate about coming alongside others and empowering them to use their gifts and abilities for God’s glory. In an effort to uphold our mission of equipping, encouraging, and engaging women – particularly those who are local to us in Clark County – we are excited to announce our brand new Women in Ministry database.

ARISE has received an increased number of referral requests for women to lead and serve at conferences, retreats, and other events. This database is intended to serve as a resource for those looking for women:

  • To speak
  • To teach a workshop
  • To lead worship for an upcoming event, or
  • With more specific ministry gifts/qualifications (i.e., coaching and spiritual direction, counseling, artists).

Our hope is that by partnering with local churches, para-church ministries, and other organizations, our vision of seeing every woman engaged in scripture in a way that saves and compels can truly come to life.

To honor and protect the privacy of our participants, this database will be available upon request only. If you would like access, please contact us here.

“The Traps and Treasures of Thankfulness” by Alyssa Zimmerman

The words and verses are written everywhere, pasted over images of pastel flowers, then plastered onto mugs and magnets: Give Thanks! 

They’re carefully calligraphed across reclaimed-wood wall plaques: Be Thankful!

 More than that, they’re repeated over and over in Scripture:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1Thessalonians 5:16-18

We all know the command. We can’t finagle the translation of any Greek words to get out of it, though I’ve wished I could on days when joy feels far away.

For me, the idea of gratitude comes with baggage. I live with disabling chronic pain, and have spent much of my life navigating trauma, poverty, and grief. When held alongside all of those things, “be thankful” lands more like an uncaring dismissal than a loving invitation.

Maybe you’ve felt that, too.

I’m learning that the issue isn’t with gratitude itself, but how we’ve so often been taught to approach it. Let’s untangle a couple of those traps we fall into, and then move toward a thankfulness that’s more like secure attachment: honest, embodied, responsive to presence.

Thankfulness Does Not Mean Ignoring Pain

This matters deeply.

Flip open the Psalms (think 12, 86, 94) and you’ll find songs full of worship and anguish in the same breath. Praise intertwined with protest. Lament wrapped in worship. 

Pain doesn’t disqualify praise; it often deepens it.

This is important to say because cheerful church cultures can unknowingly wield thankfulness like a weapon, silencing suffering to avoid the discomfort of grief or doubt. We trade attachment for avoidance, saying “God is good!” through a forced smile, trying with all our might to be easy to love. I’ve done it in sanctuaries, doctors’ offices, and through long nights when pain radiates within me. 

That’s not gratitude. In the mental health world, it is known as spiritual bypassing: using spiritual practices or language to jump over the hard and holy work of facing what hurts. Bypassing disconnects us from our bodies, our stories, and our experience of God’s presence.

In prayer, we’re invited to do the opposite: to slow down, breathe deeply, and let Love witness what we hide. Gratitude doesn’t bypass our wounds and longings, it walks right alongside them.

Thank God for what is good and cry with Him about what is not. 

Bring your whole story. Your whole self.

God crafted us in both strength and fragility.

He loves every aching bit.

Thankfulness Is Not Comparison

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men…’” Luke 18:10

The Pharisee’s prayer here is not thanks-giving at all. His words are a tool to prop himself up by pushing another down. It is pride masquerading as gratitude, and comparison masquerading as thoughtful introspection.

Whether it’s religious superiority or the subtle comparison we teach kids (“Eat your dinner, starving kids would be grateful to have this”), all of it keeps us at a distance from each other and from God. It says I’m okay because they’re not.

Like spiritual bypassing, this kind of thankfulness is hollow, focusing more on things than on the Giver of All Good Things (James 1:17). This can seem benign, but when we look at someone else’s plate, we’re always at risk of falling into the comparison trap, puffing up our own ego instead of truly thanking God. In the parable, Jesus goes on to describe another person who came to the temple that day. This one, the tax collector, prayed differently, crying “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus goes on to applaud this man because of his humility. 

Humility is, without question, the rich soil of thanksgiving. 

If Biblical thankfulness isn’t spiritual bypassing or comparison, what is it? And how do we live it out? Let’s look now at the heart of thankfulness.

Thankfulness is Relational and Responsive

God doesn’t need our compliments, so when He asks us to be thankful, it isn’t to stroke His own heavenly ego or to tack on to our spiritual agenda. What God wants, what He always-and-forever wants, is a continuously connected, intimately loving and healing relationship with us (Ephesians 2:4-7). 

Giving thanks is an attachment-based movement toward the One who has moved toward us. Just as we become closer to our friends, spouse, or children when we actively look for and call out the things of beauty in them, we will find more intimacy with God when we move away from a to-do list and move into awe and wonder at the God of love, creator of sunsets and the Milky Way. Although gratitude for gratitude’s sake is a healthy discipline for all, God is calling us to something much bigger and deeper-less a practice of positivity and more a posture of noticing. 

“Tune my heart to sing Thy grace” is how the hymn-writer puts it. Thankfulness is the grace-singing response to our attunement with God. It baptizes the mundane and bursts up from worldly waters dripping with a heavenly hymn.

What Does This Look Like?

This all sounds great in theory, but what does it actually mean in the monotonous and sometimes bleak reality of daily life? For me, gratitude is usually a small, quiet, and imperfect offering. As I go throughout my day, I simply (though not always easily) look for the holy of God. I scavenge for beauty, trying to let it be bigger than my pain. Sometimes this comes naturally, and other times it’s more like what Hebrews 13:5 calls a “sacrifice of praise.”

When I’m with friends, I belly laugh and marvel at the God who created humor and joy. His image is carved into each and every person we encounter. 

Isn’t He beautiful? 

Thank you, Creator.

When my head throbs and my body feels like a burning room I can’t escape, I cry to God, and ask Him to sit with me.

I thank Him for seeing me and for being a God who knows about suffering and aloneness. I may or may not thank God for my chronic pain and the ways He has redeemed it in my life. I’m not always thankful for that. But I can almost always find gratitude for the way He meets me in the crushing middle of it, offering His presence in both the stillness and the chaos of my suffering.

Thank you, Holy Spirit.

When I anticipate another holiday without the family I’d always imagined, I practice welcoming the belonging of God. And yes, some days I am too raw to give thanks for all this brokenness, but I often can whisper thanks that hold my story in love. I sit in my grief and search the horizon for color, falling leaves, the way golden hour casts waterfalls of glowing light across the dining room, absurd joys, and the break-through of laughter in the middle of my tears. I am filled with awe at a God who knows what it’s like to be so split-wide by both ache and amazement.

Thank you, Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole heart.” When we strip away the bypassing and let go of the comparison, when we search honestly, wholeheartedly, scouring the earth, the faces of others, and the stories of our lives, I believe we will discover a God of tenderness and beauty that will awaken us to gratitude. 

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, 
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

So pay attention. 
Look for beauty. 
Look for God. 
Even in the darkness, you might just find you’re standing on holy ground.

Respond. 

Take off your shoes.

Give thanks!

 

About the Author
Alyssa Zimmerman, like you, is wildly loved by God. The nearness of God in prayer has held her through every season of life. She is passionate about inviting others into that same intimacy through conversations, writing, curating contemplative prayer rooms, and in her role as Deacon of Prayer at Union Chapel.

Alyssa is a PNW native, and feels most at home among trees, mountains, oceans, and drizzling rain. Though disabling chronic pain shapes many of her daily rhythms, she is committed to figuring out a thing called community and what it looks like to be a people of prayer, love, and justice in a heartbreaking world. She is a lover of silence and wit, an extra-spicy chai drinker, and an overly enthusiastic taker of mediocre phone pics. Mostly, though, she is a confusing blend of reverence and irreverence, trying to live an undivided life of communion with God. Alyssa deeply believes that one day, “every sad thing will become untrue,” and even the deepest ruptures and wounds, both within and without, will somehow be gathered into a story of Love

Free Online Bible Study – Starts October 28

We’re excited to invite you to a powerful ONLINE Bible study hosted by the authors themselves—Tracy Daugherty and Lisa Da Silva! We are gathering for a 5-week journey through the Psalms of Ascent, designed to deepen your faith and connect you with our community, including inviting your own to join us.

🗓️ Mark your calendar:

Session 1: October 28, 2025
Session 2: November 4, 2025
Session 3: November 11, 2025
Session 4: November 18, 2025
Session 5: November 25, 2025

We are leading 2 groups to accommodate different time zones.
🕖 Choose which time works best for you: 7pm Eastern Time or Pacific Time.

Register Now

Meet the Authors

The Heart of Pilgrimage was born out of Tracy and Lisa’s own journey—through summit climbs, shared prayers, and the sacred spaces of friendship in Freedom Challenge. Over five weeks, we’ll walk together and discover what it means to move toward God.

Can’t make the scheduled Zoom sessions?

You can still participate! Consider doing the study on your own or gathering a few friends to go through it together at a time that works for you. The study is designed to be flexible and meaningful in any setting.

Get the Study
Lead a Group

“Just Enough: Trusting God For Tomorrow, Today” by Lisa Da Silva

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day…I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”  Exodus 16:4,12

 

It’s early and the house is quiet. It’s dark outside, but I can hear the first pattering of rain after a long, dry summer reminding me that Fall is here.

I’m not ready for it.

It’s been a difficult season. Our kids are growing, my role is changing, and life has become more fast-paced than I’m comfortable with. I’d welcome Autumn if it meant long evenings by the fire and leisurely family dinners with stew and apple cider, but our lives are hurried and scattered and we rarely seem to be in the same place at once.

The season feels like too much.

Too much running. Too much driving. Too much homework. Too many deadlines and expectations. Too many drive-thrus. Too much laundry. Too many hurried goodbyes and hasty “have-a-good-days”.

And too much often makes me feel like there’s not enough.

Not enough time. Not enough beauty. Not enough laughter. Not enough rest. Not enough waiting. Not enough together. Not enough quiet.

So I’ve been reading Exodus and studying manna. Because sometimes misery loves company and the Israelite grumblings make me feel right at home.  

 

Enough is Enough.

God heard the Hebrews’ complaints. They were tired, hungry, and confused.  So much so that they longed for the days of captivity in Egypt – Choosing chains over freedom so they would no longer be in want.

Then something unimaginable happened.

Provision poured down from the heavens and lay on the barren earth to be collected.

It was life-giving bread in abundance, but each was to take only what was needed:

When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. Exodus 16:15-18

They took just enough for the day to trust that more would come in the morning.

But a few didn’t believe enough was really enough.

Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it for tomorrow. But some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it.” The next morning it was full of worms and smelt rotten, and Moses was angry with them. Exodus 16: 19-20

Can I state the obvious here? Neighbors of the faithless would have smelled their rotten distrust. Those who couldn’t believe that the Lord would provide more manna in the morning had to deal with the putrid aftermath of their unbelief.

Hoarding and the desire for more than what we really need has consequences that may make others want to pinch their nose closed.

I fear smelling like the “need more” Israelite right now.  My failure to trust God’s provision in this season breeds a rotten attitude – One that reeks of discontent and selfish comparison. My sneaky sub-conscience tells me I’m more busy, more tired, spend more time in the car shuttling kids, have more people’s needs to meet, and need more time in the day than anyone else.

When we behave like we deserve more, we may very well smell like it – Discontent and distrust emanating from our pores.

But we can counter this by understanding and clinging to the Word of God. The deliverance of manna in Exodus 16 depicts this truth: His provision may not be what we expect or would have chosen, but will satisfy if we let it. He wants us to rely on HIM for sustenance instead of creating it ourselves or determining what we believe we need for tomorrow.

God wants us to receive his manna fresh each day.

And He wants us to remember that it was He who provided it.

I just love how Moses sums up the miracle and its purpose in Deuteronomy 8.  I know it’s long, but hang in there because it really is worth the read:

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; 12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 15 He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. 16 In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ 18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.

Everything we have and everything we are is a direct result of God’s provision. He gives it daily so we’re humble enough to know it’s from Him – To test our unbelief and keep us dependent.

When we’re not enough, don’t have enough, can’t be enough, He gives enough.

When our identity isn’t what it once was, our friends not who we thought they were, our dreams left unfulfilled, we can trust that He is enough and behave like it’s true.

 

Enough is Still Enough

Manna for the day doesn’t stop with the Israelites in the wilderness.  It continues in the New Testament when the disciples ask Jesus how they should pray. He gives them the most beautiful and all-encompassing example in The Lord’s Prayer.

While I encourage you to read the entire prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, let’s settle in on verse 11. Read it over a few times and allow it to soak in.  

 

Give us this day our daily bread.

 

THIS day.  

DAILY bread.

Enough nourishment for this day.

Enough sustenance for this day.

 

Just enough.

 

It doesn’t mean we don’t make other requests or tell Him our deepest longings.  We can pray bold and audacious prayers in expectation that He’s able to do the impossible.  But the intention in which we ask must be to further His Kingdom and honor His will.  

The rest of Matthew 6 testifies to this when Jesus addresses worrying about tomorrow:

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

Our good and gracious Father already knows our needs and will satisfy them all. There is no point to being anxious about tomorrow when our intentions are pure: Seeking His Kingdom and righteousness above all else.

Because He was enough for the Israelites and is still enough for us.

This is what I’m going to do in this too much and not enough season, and I hope you’ll join me: I’m asking Him for my daily bread and believing He will provide everything I need.

Let’s trust Him enough for tomorrow, today.

 

With expectation that He can and contentment when He does,

 

*Important note: This article was originally published by Arise in October, 2018. A community member recently read it and suggested we re-post it to make it more easily accessible during these unpredictable times. May we trust and know that He gives us enough. 

About the Author: Lisa DaSilva is a wife, mom, and advocate for women to love God with their heart, soul and mind as they engage in responsible study of His Word. With an M.Ed in Curriculum Development and a teacher by trade and passion, she writes, speaks, and teaches the Bible to anyone who will read or listen. As the director of Arise Ministries Collective in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Lisa believes every woman has a voice. She longs for the day when they find freedom to use it for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom. Lisa is a recovering striver, lover of simplicity and thrift store junkie. She often has to convince people she’s an introvert. Just a loud one. Loving Jesus and making Him known really is her everything.

 

 

Registration to Our Fall Quiet Retreat is Open!

Do you long for time alone with the Lord?  Are you working through a decision? Wondering what steps to take next? Tired? Anxious? Seeking guidance? 

We want to meet you in the quiet. If you’re local to the Clark County or PDX area, join us on Friday, September 26th to grow in relationship with Christ, spend time in His Word, seek His will, and be still in His presence.

There will be no obligations or demands to meet as a leader, mom, wife, boss, employee, friend or caregiver – Just a few hours of uninhibited time to sit, rest, and hear God’s voice revealed through Scripture.

If a retreat like this is new for you, be assured that there will be adequate guided practice and direction. If Christ-centered meditative retreats are familiar to you, know that you will have plenty of freedom and space.

Our prayer is that you would simply come and be open to how the Lord will speak.

Read below for the details, invite some friends, and be sure to register early. Space is limited due to the intimate nature of this event.

We look forward to retreating with you.
 

Date: Friday, September 26th, 2025

Time: 9:30am to 2pm – Please plan to arrive by 9:15 and commit to staying for the duration of the retreat. 

 Location: We will email you the exact address upon registration, but note that the retreat will take place outdoors at a private residence/acreage in northeast Clark County (98604). The commute may take up to 30 minutes from the Vancouver area. 

 Cost: $30 – The fee includes all materials, snacks, beverages, and a nutritious boxed lunch. Contact us if the cost would hinder you from coming. 

What to Bring:

  • Your Bible 
  • Pens or pencils
  • A reusable mug/container/bottle for warm and cold drinks 
  • A blanket to wrap up in 
  • Your notebook from previous retreats if you have one
  • Weather conducive and comfortable clothes –  A hiking trail is available, so wear appropriate footwear if you want to go for a walk
  • A favorite folding chair (optional). Portable seating is limited and you may want to move around the beautiful property. We’ll have a few available if you don’t have one.

How to Register: 

Secure your spot by paying the $30 fee for materials/lunch in Eventbrite.

Please understand that while we know plans change,  the registration fee is used to pre-purchase your lunch, snacks and supplies. We only charge what we believe will cover the cost of the day. Fees can’t be refunded, but your spot is transferable.

“Rhythm of Remembrance” by Jessica Zinck

A mother sits on the couch with her children. They are begging her to look at pictures of when they were babies. The family gathers close, scrolling through photographs as stories are told– tales of important milestones and silly moments.  

For them, remembering has become a cherished family activity.

Sharing photos and reminiscing gives children a stronger sense of identity and increased self-esteem. 

Among the many roles a mother carries, one of the most powerful is that of the family historian. How do kids learn what to value? Children see what their parents value.

By observing their parents,  children come to learn that remembering matters.

But remembering isn’t merely sentimental– it’s a spiritual discipline. 

In Deuteronomy, during his final address to the Israelites, Moses models a rhythm of remembrance. His words serve to strengthen the people’s faith, unify them as God’s chosen people, reinforce their identity, and give them a sense of value.

We see this in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV):

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The Israelites are commanded to love God with all their heart, soul, and might. They are charged to keep His commandments written on their hearts and to teach them to their children. 

Amid their daily rhythms, they are to invite God in and keep Him close.

Today’s believers are faced with the same challenge: Is God being invited into every part of daily life? Into school drop-off lines, into grocery shopping, into conversations, and into bedtime routines?

How much more significant would ordinary moments become if they were seen as opportunities to reflect on God’s faithfulness?

Children would see that God isn’t confined to Sunday mornings. He is present in the routine and mundane moments where faith is most often formed.

Moses told the Israelites to bind God’s word on their hands, between their eyes, and write it on their doorposts.

Why? Because humanity suffers from spiritual amnesia!

And Moses offers a solution:  Keep God close. Remember His goodness. Treasure His word. Make His truth visible and accessible in our homes.

Just as there is power in looking at a picture, there is even greater power in the written word of God.

Moses gave this charge just as the Israelites were about to leave behind their time in the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. After years of disobedience, God remained faithful to his covenant promise.

And yet, God knew the Israelites wouldn’t be able to keep His commands. He knew they would need an intermediary.

That’s why Moses’ message ultimately points us to someone greater.

Jesus. 

The one who lived the sinless life humanity could not,  and in love, bore the weight of sin on the cross.

Through him, humanity is set free.
Free from the punishment of sin.
Free to enjoy a relationship with God.
Free to live in remembrance, gratitude, and obedience. 

Moses equipped the Israelites to live in a faithful rhythm by retelling stories of God’s goodness.  His words weren’t oral history–they were a guide to Godly living.

Believers today need that same rhythm of remembrance.

During busy routines, may Christ’s followers take the time to remember who God is. And may they pass along this love to their children.

May believers leave behind a legacy of faith rooted in God’s unchanging word.
A legacy of an accessible Jesus.
A legacy of God-stories told.
A legacy of remembrance. 

 

About the Author: Jessica Zinck is a Bible study teacher and Women’s Ministry Leader who is passionate about equipping women to study God’s word and encouraging others to experience His life-changing love. Jessica lives in Joliet, IL. with her husband and three kids. She enjoys reading, lattes and the outdoors. Learn more about Jessica and connect with her here.

“The Heart of Pilgrimage” – Our New Bible Study & Doing it Together

ASCENDING TOGETHER

What happens when two women say “yes” to a God-sized dream? When they lean into friendship, faith, and the hard work of collaboration? You get something like The Heart of Pilgrimage—a Bible study born not just from study and prayer, but from mosquito-ridden mission trips, summit climbs, and countless cups of coffee.

In this podcast and article, Tracy and Lisa pull back the curtain on what it really looked like to write a Bible study together—and why we believe “together” is one of the most powerful words in the Kingdom of God.

THE SPARK OF TOGETHERNESS

Our journey began years ago in a small café in Vancouver, Washington. A mutual friend introduced us, sensing a shared passion for women, justice, and the Word of God. That first conversation was vulnerable, honest, and Spirit-led. It led to a whirlwind trip to Bangladesh, where we shared beds in humid rooms and witnessed firsthand the plight of vulnerable women.

From there, our friendship deepened. We climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together. We led conferences. We dreamed. And eventually, we wrote our first Bible study. But it was our second project—The Heart of Pilgrimage—that truly tested and refined our partnership.

THE MECHANICS OF COLLABORATION

Writing a Bible study together isn’t just about theology and structure—it’s about trust, communication, and honoring each other’s strengths.

We prayed. We planned. We blocked off four intense days to write – scheduling everything from meals to walks to quiet work time. Tracy brought the vision and passion for the Psalms of Ascent. Lisa brought structure, outlines, and a knack for turning ideas into action.

We gave voice to our preferences. We traded off when one of us got stuck. We worked 12-hour days, fueled by purpose and the occasional crockpot meal. And we finished—on time, with joy.

THE OBSTACLES (AND THE GROWTH)

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Togetherness requires humility. It means letting go of pride, inviting feedback, and trusting others to carry the vision forward.

When it came time to film the companion videos for the study, everything changed. Rain, logistics, and production needs forced us to pivot. Lisa, who thrives off-the-cuff, had to prepare scripted content. Tracy had to let go of control. We borrowed clothes, gave up our one day of rest in the middle of a difficult Freedom Challenge, and leaned hard on our team.

And it worked. Because we trusted each other. Because we trusted God.

WHY TOGETHER MATTERS

This Bible study isn’t just about pilgrimage—it’s a product of one. A journey of faith, friendship, and formation. And we believe it’s a model for what’s possible when women say yes to doing good, doing more than they thought possible, and doing it together.

So whether you’re dreaming up a new project, leading a Bible study, or just longing for deeper community—take the risk. Invite someone in. Pray. Plan. And trust that God will meet you in the process.

JOIN THE JOURNEY

The Heart of Pilgrimage: A Four-Week Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent is now available on Amazon. You can do the study on your own, with a friend, or join our online group this fall.

Let’s keep doing good.

Let’s do more than we ever thought possible.

And let’s do it together.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Listen to the Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/842389/episodes/17439163

Order The Heart of Pilgrimage: https://amzn.to/4lTLZBg

Watch the interview: https://youtu.be/P5vJYtNpFG8

Learn more and join a group: https://www.thefreedomchallenge.com/bible-studies

 

ABOUT TRACY & LISA

Tracy Daugherty

As the director of The Freedom Challenge, Tracy has more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry and church planting with her husband, Dan. Based in San Diego County, California, she holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and is an experienced Bible teacher and speaker. She continues to witness the power of women as environment changers, as culture setters and as forces of good in the world.

Lisa Da Silva

Lisa Da Silva is passionate about people, passionate about the world, and passionate about how the living, infallible Word of God can transform both. As the director of Arise Ministries Collective, Lisa longs for the day when women find freedom to use it for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom. Lisa lives with her husband of 26 years and two young-adult children in Vancouver, Washington.

 

 

“Unraveling Pride: Embracing God’s Invitation to Genuine Surrender” by Austi Baudro 

Something was off.

I returned to my room and couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering my soul. “What was that verse again and why was it prickling me,” I thought.

The retreat started much like others I had attended. The leader shared a passage from scripture, and we prayed over our time together. However, this particular retreat was meant to be different. I was there to learn how to lead silent and prayer retreats. Having attended retreats in the past, I thought I knew what to expect. What I didn’t anticipate was God calling me out for my pride. 

As the retreat leader read aloud, my heart ached. Shrugging it off, I took a deep breath and listened intently – wanting God’s words to ring true.

I listened, sat prayerfully, nodded, and whispered “Yes, Lord”. Yet, I could feel a sense of resistance within me. 

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Later in my room, I unfolded the piece of paper given to me during the morning session – Psalm 131 inked on the page. The passage confused me, so I pulled out my phone and looked up the word “haughty.”

“Arrogantly superior and disdainful,” I read aloud.

My gaze landed on the bell tower outside my window as I felt the presence of God. In my spirit, I felt God’s gentle nudge toward dismantling my lofty goals and surrendering to the unknown. But I knew it was more than surrendering, I needed to be completely content with the outcome – regardless of my own expectations.

Pride is a tricky thing. It shows up when we’re not expecting it – weaving its ugly, yet beautifully disguised, tentacles into the most vulnerable parts of one’s soul. Often it can be unnoticed for quite a while.

God wants to lead us to His kingdom work, where His glory shines the brightest and the only explanation is pointed directly back to Him. Our pride can slowly fester, decaying our chance of Him leading us. We get in the way. More importantly, it jeopardizes our personal relationship with our Almighty God. Pride can keep us from the One we’re longing to be closest to – Jesus.  

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In God birthing a dream and ministry within me, I inadvertently became focused on aspects that made the ministry more about me rather than about others and their relationship with our Triune God. My desire for ministry began to intertwine with pride. I wanted to host retreats that left attendees saying, “That was the best retreat I’ve ever been to!” Instead, my goal should be for people to say, “Wow, I needed that time with God. He’s so good to me.” 

I now understand that the resistance I felt during the retreat was God nudging me to recognize my pride. 

God has great plans for our lives and he invites us into His works. He invites us to collaborate with Him so that He can show off his extraordinary love.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV

He doesn’t desire our achievements; He longs for our hearts. The Holy Spirit reminded me that my hidden pride was obstructing His guidance and preventing His love from shining through me.

It’s not always easy to fully surrender, letting God lead us with unconditional contentment – like a weaned child. But I’ve also seen the fruit of trusting God wholeheartedly. He shows up in big ways. He shows up in ways that show off His glory. He shows up in ways that can only point back to His love, mercy, and grace.

I’ve watched God’s provision prove to be faithful in times when finances were tough for my husband and me. I’ve seen God open doors I never thought possible. My heart has been softened during painful moments where unexplainable peace covered me. 

Throughout these experiences, I have come to realize that God’s counsel in our lives is often a gentle invitation to a deeper connection with Him. Who are we becoming in the process as He walks with us in the journey? As I reflect on how God’s presence, I am reminded that these moments are not just about our circumstances but also about our readiness to embrace what He is calling us to. 

In your ministry, whether it’s in motherhood, an office, a church building, or on a sidewalk ask yourself, What is God inviting you into? Do you sense any unseen pride that gets in the way of God leading you? 

 

About the Author
Austi Baudro is an artist and spiritual director living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. A recent call to surrender everything inspired Austi to start her small business, Robe and Crown. Her mission is to help others prayerfully consider what God is inviting them to do. Through her art and messages, Austi hopes to encourage people by guiding them back to their relationship with God.

Robe and Crown is an online shop filled with scripture art and products such as devotional art prints, greeting cards, notebooks, and more. You’ll discover meaningful items and gifts, all featuring scripture art to draw you into God’s invitations.

Are you seeking a simple yet practical way to reconnect with the love of God? Download our free guide, “Breath Prayer Practice: 20 Breath Prayers for Your Everyday Life.” This practical resource will walk you through the practice of using breath as prayer, featuring the inspiring Robe and Crown art. DOWNLOAD HERE

Follow Robe and Crown @robe_and_crown on Instagram and https://www.facebook.com/robeandcrownmin on Facebook

 

Expect Conference – Meet the Main Session & Workshop Leaders

We believe in together, and think you might, too.

Use this link to join women from around Clark County and the greater PDX area for EXPECT – an interchurch conference that desires to explore who God is and better understand what we can expect as Christ-followers. Participants will enjoy food, fellowship, worship, solid teaching, and interactive workshops from local leaders. Please register early as capacity is limited and workshops are offered on a first come basis.

  • WHO: Women (13 and older)
  • WHAT: EXPECT – A two-day women’s conference
  • WHEN: Friday, March 14 (7-9 pm) & Saturday, March 15 (9 am-3 pm)
  • WHERE: Vancouver Church – 3300 NE 78th St, Vancouver, WA 98665

Cost: We want all women to be able to join us, and make every effort to provide the lowest price possible. Register before February 4th for $55 (includes all materials, generous refreshments during our community times, dessert Friday evening, light breakfast and a full catered lunch on Saturday, main teaching sessions, workshop sessions, and worship). Price will increase to $65 after February 4th. Students qualify for a special discount.

About Saturday’s main session speaker:

 

Learn more about Shelbi’s story here.

About Friday’s main session testimonial speaker:

About our main worship leader:

About the workshop leaders:

 

 

 

 

Join Us For EXPECT: An Inter-church Conference That Explores Who God Is and What We Can Expect As His Followers

Register here to join Arise Ministries Collective and women from around Clark County for EXPECT, an inter-church conference that desires to explore who God is and better understand what we can expect as Christ-followers. Participants will enjoy food, fellowship, worship, teaching and interactive workshops from local leaders. Register early, as capacity is limited and workshops are offered on a first-come basis.

WHO: Women (13 and older)
WHAT:  EXPECT – A two-day women’s conference
WHEN:  Friday, March 14 (7-9 pm) & Saturday, March 15 (9 am-3 pm)
WHERE: Vancouver Church
COST: $55 (early bird rate; January 14-February 4) // $65 (standard rate; February 4-February 24)

*Cost includes: workshops, main teaching sessions, worship, all materials, light refreshments and dessert on Friday, light breakfast and full lunch on Saturday, and refreshments throughout the conference.

WORKSHOPS

You will be asked to select your top three choices from the following workshops at the time of registration. While we will try to accommodate preferences, allocation will be determined by order of registration and workshop capacity. Participants will attend two workshops at the event:

  • Inductive Bible Study: Growing Closer to God as You Learn to Observe, Interpret, and Apply Scripture with Judy Friesen
  • Using Your Voice: Tips and Ideas for Creating a 20-Minute Gospel-Centered Message with Kirsten Galanter
  • A Tired Mind: Finding God’s Peace in Anxiety with Beth Claes
  • Leaning Into Lament: Embracing the Presence of a Trauma-Informed God with Marnee Alfson
  • Mission Possible: Understanding and Living the Great Commission with Becky Hurley
  • Waiting Well: Finding Strength for the Journey Through Heartbreak to Hope with Eka Frimpong
  • Time With Jesus: An Hour of Guided Prayer with Melissa Olson (*Please note: you will not need to pray out loud during this workshop)

**IMPORTANT: If you are only planning to attend the main sessions and NO workshops, please select that option during registration so we can accurately place other registrants in their desired workshops.**

**Follow us on Instagram to see pictures of our workshop leaders and read their bios.

MAIN SESSION SPEAKERS

Shelbi Shutt is a pastor, speaker, writer, and disability advocate who has given her life to teaching and empowering people to encounter God’s presence in and through their weaknesses. Shelbi has had the opportunity to share her unfolding story of steadfast hope with thousands of people across the country, igniting joy and resilience wherever she goes. Shelbi currently serves as the Pastor of Gathering and Teaching at A Jesus Church in Portland, Oregon, while pursuing her Masters at Western Theological Seminary. Alongside her work in the local church, Shelbi has been a collaborative partner with Alpha, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, The Fuller Youth Institute, BibleProject, and the Canadian Church Leaders Network. Shelbi lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Jordan and their pup, Cas You can connect with her on IG @shelbishutt

Ali Gadbaugh is a homebody, wife, and mom who is dedicated to her family and a fierce mental health advocate. Born and raised in the PNW, she likes to add a little sarcasm and humor to life, loves coffee and her French Bulldog, and is committed to deepening her relationship with the Lord and seeking His voice through His Word. 

WORSHIP LEADER

Becca Alexander Pickrel is a worship pastor, musician, and a born and raised Portlander. She fell in love with Jesus through singing and believes music has the power to bridge any gap. She is passionate about leading people into the presence of God and drawing them closer to Christ. Becca is a runner, has two children, and loves to lead worship alongside her husband Ryan.

SCHEDULE

Please note that the main sessions will begin promptly at their scheduled times. Plan to arrive early enough to park, check-in, and take advantage of opportunities for fellowship and/or prayer if desired.

Friday, March 14, 2025

  • 6:15 pm    Check-In  | Light refreshments available
  • 7:00 pm    Main Session | Worship & testimony (Ali Gadbaugh)
  • 8:30 pm    Closing  | Followed by dessert & fellowship

Saturday, March 15, 2025

  • 8:15 am     Doors Open / Prayer Opportunity | Light breakfast
  • 9:00 am     Welcome / Prayer / Worship
  • 10:00 am   Workshop Session A
  • 11:00 am    Lunch / Fellowship
  • 12:15 pm   Workshop Session B
  • 1:30 pm     Main Session | Worship & teaching (Shelbi Shutt)
  • 3:00 pm     Closing & Exhortation | Prayer opportunity

IMPORTANT

* While we understand that life happens and plans change, materials and food have been pre-purchased based on your confirmed registration. We cannot process refunds of any kind, for any reason.

* Our team is working hard to accommodate workshop preferences and want you to have the best experience possible at the conference. That said, we cannot guarantee workshops and simply do not have the capacity to reassign participants. Please take this into consideration at the time of registration.

* As volunteers trying to create an amazing event at a reasonable price, we must strictly adhere to our registration closing date of Monday, February 24. We will not process registrations after this date or onsite at the event.

 

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