By Dr. Joan Singley Schrysen
What is a nudge? Less than a shove but more than a tap, it prods gently to draw one’s attention to something. Living Waters has had a number of holy nudges over the past quarter century.
In 1994 we initially planned monthly gettogethers of sharing, Bible study, and prayer for Christian educators. Before long our first nudge pointed out that we were producing more guilt than encouragement. Teachers just didn’t have the time or energy for another meeting, no matter how worthy. Responding to the nudge, the Board adopted the present format of monthly Board meetings to pray for the entire educational community and specific requests.
Another nudge put our president in contact with a retired colleague Gloria Wilson who shared her church’s prayer letters. We adopted the practice, tailoring the letter to our situation. Some years later, in 2011, another nudge refined this format when Debbie Keith accepted the position of Prayer Chair. Since then she has searched out contacts in individual schools to submit prayer requests. In recent years she also compiles our monthly prayer lists and writes the monthly prayer letter. She and Susan Joy address and mail out the letters each month.
In the early years we were nudged to publish a short newsletter of inspiration and encouragement as a way to stay in contact with Christian educators. Kept purposefully brief to accommodate teachers’ time constraints, Jackie Sommerlad named it Waves. We tried publishing monthly but soon decided that three issues a year was more realistic.
Through the years, subsequent nudges put us in contact with many individuals who helped us learn the art of newsletter production. Kistler London and Mark Hawks gave Waves a more professional appearance and Ruth Bethea designed our logo.
During all these years, Connie Pryce has served as Editor, assuring that Waves articles were both readable and the appropriate length. In 2016 Dr. Peromnia Grant assumed the position of Publisher, laying out each issue and arranging the printing, folding, and envelope labeling. Following her own nudges, Peromnia had a website created and is working on an online edition of Waves.
None of this is possible without funds. Our longtime treasurer, the late Carol Abbott, developed a plan for an annual fund drive, and countless readers have followed their own nudges over the years, allowing us to publish and mail out Waves as well as our monthly prayer letters. Subsequent Treasurers Toni Jordan and Sue Fitton continue this practice.
In 2017 Dr. Carolyn Burhans took on the responsibility of President, allowing the founder to retire after 23 years of leading the group.
After a quarter century of holy nudges, the Living Waters Board awaits the next nudges, praying for the wisdom and discernment to follow them.