Kori Yates is the Founder and Director of Planting Roots (www.plantingroots.net), a growing organization building a community of Christian military women and wives worldwide. Also an author (“Olive Drab Pom-Poms“) and speaker, Kori is a former Marine and current Army wife. She is married to Kyle, an active duty Soldier, and homeschooling mom to two children. The Yates’ currently live in the Republic of Korea
Kori can be reached at: executive.director@plantingroots.net
Whether starting over, stepping into a new season, or simply sustaining friendships, building and growing a community can be hard. Tempted to take a break, we can start to wonder if making the effort is worth it. Here we’ll determine why meeting together matters and why it’s worth it.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
Kori Yates is the Founder and Director of Planting Roots (www.plantingroots.net), a growing organization building a community of Christian military women and wives worldwide. Also an author (“Olive Drab Pom-Poms“) and speaker, Kori is a former Marine and current Army wife. She is married to Kyle, an active duty Soldier, and homeschooling mom to two children. The Yates’ currently live in the Republic of Korea
Kori can be reached at: executive.director@plantingroots.net
We’re going to dig into parts of leadership – like conflict, unmet expectations, communication, making decisions for a group/organization, interacting with customers/those we minister to, etc. – all with the question of, “Do I love them enough?” We talk about loving someone enough to “lay our life down” for someone, yet we shy away from conversations and choices.
Leadership at the end of the day is about loving people.
Leadership has its challenges. Whether we’re leading people at work, leading in our community, or leading little people at home, we have the opportunity to make a difference. But leadership isn’t all about what we know or the skills we have; it’s about how we love. Together, we’ll dig into what it means to love others through both expected and unexpected moments of leadership as we ask ourselves, “Do we love them enough?”
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35
Morgan is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating book nerd and aspiring author. As an Army spouse, she has learned to lean heavily on Christ while walking this military life.
Morgan and her husband have four young children and a fantastic working dog. As a jack-of-all-trades, Morgan is always learning something new. When she isn’t homeschooling her children, writing for Christian publications, or training her Dutch Shepherd, Morgan can be found listening to Texas country music while lifting weights, reading, or cheering on the Texas Aggies.
Morgan is best known for her structure, discipline, and organization. She uses these skills as:
– The graphic designer for Mission: Milspouse
– The Director of Operations for Planting Roots
– A heavily involved member of her local PWOC
– The magic maker for K9 Farr Fitness
You can connect with Morgan on all major social media channels using her handle @morgandfarr.
It is OK to Meet and Multiply in nontraditional ways. We serve the creator of the universe. The same God that decided how massive to make the Pacific Ocean also decided how tiny a newborn baby would be. Have you ever seen New England in the fall? Clearly, our God is not afraid of creativity. So what if we stopped being afraid of it? What if we gave in to the fullest capacity of our creativity to Meet and Multiply?
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:4-13
Michelle Hieb serves as Director of Spiritual Development for Planting Roots. She received her BA in Psychology and English from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Her passion is seeing women grow in their faith as well as their knowledge, understanding and application of God’s word in their lives. She has seen the power of prayer in her own life and the life of her family through circumstances large and small such as unemployment, pediatric cancer, depression, deployments, PCS, miscarriage, parenting 4 biological children and several foster children, and most recently COVID-19 ARDS.
Michelle can be reached at: director.spiritual@plantingroots.net
Whether you are firmly planted in a vibrant community or temporarily uprooted, God always meets our needs. Drawing from the faith lessons Michelle learned living through her husband’s life-threatening illness and six-month hospitalization, we will dive into God’s word and explore the strength we gain from community whether you are the one in crisis or want to support someone in crisis.
Aside from Salvation, I believe community is the greatest gift God has given us.
Rachelle is an Army veteran, Army wife and mom of two adult young men. She has been a financial counselor in the military community for over ten years, a residential planner for nearly 20 years, a speaker and aspiring writer. She is passionate about helping military women create a lifestyle full of “ABUNDANCE.”
Rachelle can be reached at: rachelle.whitfield@plantingroots.net
Esther, a Jew, an orphan, and a Queen, is held as one of the greatest leaders in the Bible. Esther’s servant heart shined through her obedience to God’s call, her humble service to the King, and her willingness to sacrifice her life for her people. I may be a private or a lieutenant, but that does not hinder God’s ability to utilize me to multiply his kingdom. We have to do the work first of shedding the limitations of an identity that may not be in alignment with who God created us to be once we have done that, we can begin to work the plan and take action. It is developmental.
You were born for such a time as this.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
Andrea Plotner is a military wife (retired) and now a military mom. A long-time writer and editor here at Planting Roots, Andrea is now developing our new discipleship and leadership curriculum. Andrea and her husband live and work at Spring Canyon (Andrea is living her foodie dream running the kitchen), a retreat center ministering to the military in the Colorado Rockies. Looking back, Andrea sees both obstacles and opportunities of military life and likes to share “lessons learned” with practical ideas for loving God and loving others.
Andrea can be reached at: andrea.plotner@plantingroots.net
We have to “meet” in order to meet & multiply. Food & drink make this easy because “breaking bread” breaks down barriers with both God and man. Ministry doesn’t have to be complicated … make it mealtime. Join us as we look at simple ways to share a meal with friends, neighbors, and strangers.
Jesus came eating and drinking, and it seems like an obvious yet overlooked way to love our neighbors.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” But wisdom is justified of her children.
Matthew 11:19
Born and raised in our Nation’s Capital, April Dingle is the proud wife of a USANG man, “The Real” Eugene Dingle. They have been married for 19 years and are parents to four girls, two of which are adults, one teenager, and one vibrant elementary student! Currently, they are re-establishing life in D.C. as they both tend to the needs of their aging parents. It is April’s joy and desire to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, making His praise glorious here in the earth. Singing is something she can do, but worshiping our Father through song is what she loves to do! Recently April has released her very first Single Titled Love Is You, available on all music platforms.
April can be reached at: april.dingle@plantingroots.net
We as Sisters in the Faith, Sisters in Arms, Sisters in Community are all in this together. There’s no need that someone else in my community doesn’t have or has had and can’t be a support to me while I’m in need. We must push past the uncomfortableness, reach for our courage and ask. Everything we need is already At the Table.
Communion in the community; commonly leads to comfort.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Matthew 7:7-11He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:2-4
