Do you feel called to blog?
Friends, family, roommates, and strangers have asked me, “Why do you blog?” I smile and wonder where to start. There are so many reasons why I started this ministry. I think about my readers and the encouraging comments they leave, the community that has formed between other bloggers and myself, the pleasure I get in writing a post, or the excitement I feel sharing each post.
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“Joy, you are so vulnerable and so brave. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I could never be as bold as you to freely talk about these issues.” – Women’s Minister
That was the response I got from a women’s minister as I talked about the growing epidemic of porn addiction for women. Throughout my talk I shared how in 5th grade a friend first introduced me to porn, opening doors of curiosity inside my 11 year old brain. Next, I shared my story of date rape, which led me to turn back to porn out of more curiosity about sex.
In my talk, I was authentic, vulnerable, and bold – characteristics missing from many women’s ministries. If we as women’s ministers are not authentic, vulnerable, and bold, then neither will our women be authentic, vulnerable, and bold. As a millennial, I look for those characteristics in a church and a women’s ministry. Are you afraid of being vulnerable, authentic, and bold with the women you are ministering to? (more…)
A few weeks ago on the blog, I shared why I blog. (You can click here to read that post.) Now I want to share why you should blog. If you are a pastor of a church, missionary, or just have a heart for reaching people for Jesus, your ministry would greatly benefit from blogging. Blogging is essential for ministry today and can be an efficient way to get your story to the people God has called you to help.
Your story is one of your most powerful gifts. We all have been through challenges in life, by facing heartache, anger, sadness, and struggles. But if you are a believer in Christ and have a personal relationship with him, God can and will use your story to bring him glory. God has shown me how my story is powerful. He has used it to bring him glory. He has brought many women to me who have similar stories and used my story to help these women find healing. And God can and will use your story to bring him glory.
Understanding the power of your story is key to blogging. While everyone wants to know the secret to blogging success, the common denominator is to have a genuine and passionate voice that connects with readers. (more…)
For all my new readers, I wanted to share the reason why I blog. My name is Joy Skarka and I am the founder of Joy Skarka Ministries. I grew up in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, a town slightly east of Pittsburgh. In 2011, I moved to Tampa, Florida to attend the University of South Florida. My story is one of failure and redemption. (more…)
My newly updated eBook, The Joy of Blogging: 10 Ways to Find Your Voice as a Christian Blogger is now available for purchase on Etsy. In this eBook, I share all of my blogging secrets, practical tips, and thoughtful ways to have a successful brand and blog. If you are thinking about blogging, new to blogging, or would like to take your blog to the next level, this resource is for you.
New year, same mission – to have women experience Jesus, experience his joy, and experience his healing. I desire for each and every one of you to know how powerful your story is, that Jesus has a purpose and plan for your life, and that you are his precious beautiful daughter.
To reach even more women with this message, I have created goals for 2015. I need your help to reach every single goal. I need you to share this blog with the other women you know. Share it with the women in your small groups and the women you work with. Share it with your young cousins in middle and high school. Share it with anyone who you think the message needs to reach. Thank you for spreading the message of JP Ministries!
As we celebrate the new year, here are the goals of JP Ministries for 2015!
It is so important to set goals for yourself and your ministry. Write your goals down and then hang them in key places that you will see daily.
I also wanted to share my personal goals for the year. I want to publicly write my goals as a form of accountability. My hope is to come back to this list at the end of each month and see how I am doing.
My personal and ministry goals are not set in stone. I am continuing to pray and work through them. If God decides to lead the ministry another way, I will follow his lead. The above lists are a way for me to dream about the future. Remember, I need you to reach these goals. Thank you for being a part of JP Ministries!
Follow Joy Skarka Ministries’s board Goals on Pinterest.
Friends, family, roommates, and strangers have asked me, “why do you spend hours a week blogging?” I smile and think where do I even begin. There are so many reasons why I spend hours typing away on my computer. I think about my readers and the encouraging comments they leave, the community that has formed between other bloggers and myself, the pleasure I get in writing a post, the excitement I feel marketing each one, but none of those reasons are the reason why I blog.
If only one woman, one soul, would read my blog, and realize that Jesus loves her, then I would have fulfilled the purpose of this blog. I desire for each and every one of you to know how powerful your story is, that Jesus has a purpose and plan for your life, and that you are His precious beautiful daughter.
I dream about a world where every woman has experienced the life change of Jesus. They feel His power. They trust Him with their life and experience healing. Shame exists no more! They know that they are loved by their Father in heaven.
That is why I write and put countless hours into this blog.
That is why I created Joy Skarka Ministries.
Everything I do, is for Jesus.
I believe that Jesus will use me and my story, and you and your story, to help women. I invite you to join me on this journey, check out my posts, and invite other women to join us on this journey.
Experience Jesus. Experience His joy. Experience His freedom.
My name is Joy Skarka and I blog for Jesus.
