S.H.A.P.E. Assessment Results

Thank you Marla Gardner for taking the SHAPE Assessment. We encourage you to meet with a Church Leader that you respect, to go over your results, so that they can help you discover a place to serve in the church and/or community, and also to help you fine-tune your 5 Main Focuses/Priorities listed at the bottom of this email under the ‘Wrapping it up’ section. May God Bless You!

[S]piritual Gifts

Here is how your spiritual gifts scored (in alphabetical order):

90%

25%

65%

78%

53%

25%

21%

81%

53%

To see descriptions on the Spiritual Gifts and how you can use them to further Christ’s Kingdom on earth, visit this link.

This gift’s evident in my life in the following ways:
I’m an accountant by trade. And I served as a leader/senior manager in a large corporation. I’m strong in team building, leadership training, problem solving, process efficiency and public speaking.

This gift’s evident in my life in the following ways:
I feel compelled to do God’s work, but understand at this stage of my life I’m unable to commit to large scale roles. Due to life experiences I can relate and empathize with people struggling through financial struggles, divorces or family members with mental health issues. I believe God expects me to use these experiences to help others deal with their own issues.

This gift’s evident in my life in the following ways:
God has always provided for me. Even when I had no money to buy my children a coke and saw no hope in finding a job, God provided. And He did so abundantly. I feel the need to give back.

[H]eart

1. Spending time with family/friends; learning/reading; leading, team-building, and developing people.

2. Learning, reading and studying

3. Team-building, developing people to reach their full potential and leadership

Recent college graduates or people starting a new stage in life

Alcoholism
Policy/politics
Other – Mental Health Issues

[A]bilities

Disabled

Financial Manager with Entergy Nuclear and banking

Leadership, public speaking, process efficiency, leadership development, team building

Diversity, leadership development, financial literacy

The ability to analyze an issue or problem and develop potential solutions

[P]ersonality

50-50 Extrovert/Reserved

Low Risk

Peace Maker

Project Driven

Leader

Team

Variety

Your Primary was ‘The Lion’, with your Secondary coming in as ‘The Beaver’, and here are the descriptions of your Personalities, and how they can be used for God

Lion- This personality likes to lead. The lion is good at making decisions and is very goal-oriented. They enjoy challenges, difficult assignments, and opportunity for advancement. Because lions are thinking of the goal, they can step on people to reach it. Lions can be very aggressive and competitive. Lions must learn not to be too bossy or to take charge in other’s affairs.

Strength: Goal-oriented, strong, direct
Weakness: Argumentative, too dictatorial
Limitation: Doesn’t understand that directness can hurt others, hard time expressing grace

Beaver- Organized. Beavers think that there is a right way to do everything and they want to do it exactly that way. Beaver personalities are very creative. They desire to solve everything. Desire to take their time and do it right. Beavers do not like sudden changes. They need reassurance.

Strength: High standards, order, respect
Weakness: Unrealistic expectations of self & others, too perfect.
Limitation: Seeing the optimistic side of things, expressing flexibility

[E]xperience

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and believe all my life. I formally accepted Jesus Christ in my early teens.

Central Presbyterian- Elder (6); Deacon (3); Stewardship Committee; Youth Committee Leader.

Central Presbyterian- provided food for youth group meetings; hosted youth progressive dinners, attended various church camps as adult chaperone at Church Camps and retreats – 6- 8 years

Accompanied church group on Mexico Mission trip to build houses for Christian living in horrible situations

An elementary Sunday School teacher used a parable of trees being pruned as how God prunes us to make us grow into strong beautiful trees. It hurts when we are being pruned, but we need to thank God for the tough times. And have faith He will use it to make us stronger. It may also give us experiences to help someone else. I don’t know how many times I’ve used that lesson in my life to help someone else.

My maternal grandmother and paternal grandparents instilled the importance of attending church. We went to Church every Sunday. It felt so warm and comforting when they rubbed my head or put their arms around me in church. They, along with my Mother, used Biblical examples in teaching me life lessons.

God’s hand opened the door to a way a wonderful career after college. It allowed me to provide for my family as well as giving me the gift of doing something for which I loved. Lots of people aren’t so lucky. But, perhaps more importantly I was able to influence others to prioritize God first, family and then job. Everyone knew these were my priorities. I was constantly amazed at how many opportunities I was provided to help others. I’m humbled at how God used me even in a work setting.

Growing up in a single parent household with a Mother who was seriously ill. Having to take care of her as a child and throughout my life has taught me responsibility and compassion. It also taught me how to trust God knowing He will provide. These are life lessons that taught me to be sensitive to identifying situations where others may be going through tough situations and opportunities to share strength through trusting God.

This life altering disability turned my life upside down. I went from being an active, independent person at the pinnacle of career who flew alone all over the country to constant unbearable pain, unexplained and uncontrollable neurological issues issues and total disability very quickly. It was totally devastating and scary. My faith in God saved me. I’m so much more understanding of others going through chronic illness. My respect for caregivers has grown exponentially.

Being a single parent to two children for 13 years makes my heart hurt for other single parents and children growing up in single parent homes. Trying to do all the things necessary to raise them well while having to work and provide financially was very challenging and physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting at times. My heart bleeds for single parents.

Wrapping It Up

The Challenge: Based upon your S.H.A.P.E. Assessment above (the way God wired you), If you knew you couldn’t fail … and ‘lack of money, or time’ was not an obstacle… list your Top 3 Things you would ‘Focus’ your Life on, next to #1 Loving God & #2 Loving Your Neighbor (these would be your ‘3 God-Sized Dreams’ for your life)?

1. My Relationship with GOD

2. My Relationship with Others

• Putting Your Spouse First
• Your Kids Second
• Everyone Else After those

3. Set up scholarships for single parents wanting a chance to improve their lives

4. Travel to see the Ark

5.