Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristie McCrary.
Kristie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I had been leading a women’s Bible study in Dallas for about two years and woke up on an ordinary day with the thought, “I want to do more.” So I researched different organizations around town to see if there was an opportunity to serve. Ironically, none of them followed up or seemed interested in helping me connect. I was definitely discouraged.
Within a month, my dad told me of his recent trip delivering an insurance policy to the Genesis Center in Kaufman, Texas. The Genesis Center is committed to providing safety and shelter, along with victim care service for women and children in crisis. He told me of his conversation with a recent graduate who had literally pulled up to the center on a bicycle to bring her offering. It was the only transportation she had. She wanted to bless the Genesis Center for all they had done to help her find redemption and restoration over the year she was a resident. A week later, I made an appointment to visit the Genesis Center and speak with the director, Pastor Nancy Schoenle. On that day almost twelve years ago, I found my passion project and a little piece of heaven tucked away and located on a little country road.
Since that time, I have been blessed to be a life and relationship coach for hundreds of women at the Genesis Center, many who still stay in touch with me after they graduate. And to date, I have had the privilege of baptizing hundreds women and children in either a bathtub, which is usually all we have or a pool where we do corporate baptism once a year. Pictured below is one of the baptisms from this past summer.
I have gradually taken the same life and relationship concept that I use at the Genesis Center into my life and ministry here in Dallas, as well as many other places including one of my most significant trips last year to Kenya. I was privileged to spend a week teaching life and relationship skills to women and children at Mully Children’s Family and to work alongside one of my heroes, Dr. Charles Mully, the father of the world’s largest family.
Life and relationship teaching truly holds the same concepts for everyone. No matter your surroundings or your dynamics in life, everyone needs encouragement and a strategy to be successful and reach the next level of their potential.
I also teach life and relationship concepts on the second Monday night of every month at a women’s Bible study called Blue Nest. Here, you will find women of all ages gathered in the heart of Dallas who are welcomed and experience a safe place to grow. Recently, I started a formal life coaching service called Nest Effect. Some of the most successful people in life have had a life coach and I want to be a part of helping people experience growth and fulfillment in their lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
You would be surprised to know that a great number of people go through life never experiencing passion or working and serving in an area that makes their heart race. Sadly, I hear that often. Life is precious and too short not to be purposeful. The road to fulfillment is seldom easy. It has been a lifetime of relentless pursuit for me and I have had my share of ups and down. Thankfully, I had an epiphany two years ago that would transition me from volunteering in my area of passion to now living it every day. As I stood on a high rise balcony overlooking the beautiful Dallas skyline, my mind immediately drifted to the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis. He was struggling with the reality that for years his wife had not been able to produce a child and it was beginning to look impossible. I thought about my own life and how at this stage I would most likely not have any natural born children. As I looked up at a multitude of stars on that clear and brisk night, I remembered what God told Abraham. “Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You’re going to have a big family!” And at that very moment, I asked God to give me as many children and people of all ages to mentor and teach as the stars in the sky just as he did for Abraham. That was the night that would change the rest of my life.
I have become more intentional than ever to live out my passion and do it every day with all the strength that I have in me. Some days are a joy and I see great accomplishments; and other days, I still experience disappointment. But it’s worth it all because I am living the life I was meant to live. I am so thankful.
Kristie McCrary & Nest Effect – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As I mentioned earlier, I lead and teach life and relationship concepts on the second Monday night of every month at a women’s gathering called Blue Nest. We meet in the heart of the Dallas Design District in the beautiful EC Dicken Showroom. There are women of all ages and backgrounds that come from across the Dallas Metroplex. All are welcome and I want to invite you to please come visit us soon. It is truly a safe place to grow.
I am also a life and relationship coach on a regular basis. A life coach develops a relationship with a client to help them accelerate the process of their spiritual, personal, and professional growth. If you find yourself or someone you know struggling with decisions or disappointments, needs spiritual wisdom, or you are looking for fulfillment in life, I would love to help. Go to the Nest Effect page on my website and fill out the intake form and email me so that we can set up an appointment. I have some clients that just need a one-time session to talk, and others are long term as we work through some of their challenges or make new plans and goals for a more fulfilling life.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I am most pleased and thankful in this season of life that my passion and my work are complementary and that I have found what makes my heart race… helping and serving people! I want more than ever to help others discover true joy and their passion in life. That is success to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristiemccrary.com
- Phone: 214.695.2196
- Email: kristie@kristiemccrary.com
- Instagram: kristiemccrary
- Facebook: Kristie McCrary
- Other: LinkedIn – Kristie K. McCrary
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