Courtney-3.jpg
 

CHILDRENS DIRECTOR

WHO IS COURTNEY MEANS?

I was born in San Diego, California to a General Contractor Dad and a homemaker Mom.  I grew up in a Christian home where church and related events had priority.  I felt the pull of the Holy Spirit constantly growing up, directing my steps, and instructing my heart into what was right and wrong.  The moment I felt the power of God transform me was when I was 18.  I was at a Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia and went to a breakout session on the Holy Spirit.  My friend and I thought it was an intellectual meeting about the Holy Spirit, but it was, in fact, a full-blown revival with healings, signs and wonders.  I had never experienced or seen anything so powerful or so beautiful in my life.  I ran up to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and that’s when the power to overcome so much (what Paul wrote in Romans when he said, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.") overtook me.  His power sustained and stayed after that meeting.   I knew then and there that I would follow Jesus all my days.

My husband, Kyl, and I have 2 children (son and daughter).

  

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR PRESENT ROLE AT LIFEPOINTE?

LifePointe has given me a fresh perspective on how beautiful church and church community can be.  It's not perfect, but man it's transforming!  There's so much life-change that has happened since being part of this church.  My marriage, my parenting, and my heart needed encouragement, guidance and connection with others more than I ever knew! Not only that, but I had built up so many incorrect ideas about God - those lies have now been broken down and I can see and understand God in the right way.

My greatest passion and purpose is for people to be whole.  For individuals, specifically mothers, to have processed and healed through their past and their experiences so they can  be the best version of themselves.  I believe revival begins in family.  I believe that the great commission to "go and make disciples" is exactly what parents do, day in and day out, with their children.  My hope is that parents and caregivers are seen, heard, understood and encouraged in their roles to disciple and love children through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I currently oversee all of the children's ministry. Everything from training our team captains to making sure the rooms are fun and engaging for their age group.  I get to choose the curriculum, the content that we're giving our children so that they would love Jesus and experience the power of redemption.  I get to connect with parents and caregivers, offering friendship, support and partnership with their child's life in God.  I love pouring into those who serve our kiddos every Sunday! And I especially enjoy getting to know each child and who God uniquely designed them to be!

I love connecting with families and partnering with parents and caregivers to build the foundation for a child's life in God.  It's been said that children's brains are like wet cement, what we press and pour now is what sticks with them into adulthood.  I'm all about giving, sharing and walking shoulder-to-shoulder with parents to see their children love Jesus and the tools to remain victorious in life.

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIFEPOINTE?

Groups is my favorite part about LifePointe.  It has been the place of continued growth for my life in God, my marriage and for my kids. Without groups, I would not have the deep work done in my heart through our connection time and workshop videos that have transformed my emotions and my quality of life. 


PERSONAL FAVORITES

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

I love teaching my children about nature and science, bringing them outside for hours to be left in the wonder of a butterfly drinking nectar, the way the leaves of each tree is different or the joy of finding a robin's blue shell.  We like to take nature walks a couple of times a week.  Also, my family loves to fish!  I could sit for hours and read.   I always have 3 to 5 books that I'm currently reading.  I love passing on this love for books to my children and will read for hours with them intermittently throughout the day. If I don't have children at my feet, I love to be immersed in a new recipe in the kitchen, uninterrupted, with nourishing and life-giving foods.  Because I'm an extrovert - I love to grab coffee or lunch with a friend and chat for hours!

 

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

Trust your gut.

 

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO SCRIPTURE VERSE THAT CONTINUES TO SPEAK POWER TO YOUR LIFE?

JAMES 1:27 NKJV Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?

Mona Lisa Smile

 

WHAT IS A FAVORITE SPIRITUAL OR SELF-HELP BOOK YOU HAVE READ AND WHY?

Whatever book I'm currently reading! Which right now is Parenting From the Inside Out  by Daniel Siegel.  But a book I love to re-read is the small booklet called Intra Muros by Rebecca Ruter Springer.  It’s about her experience in heaven in the late 1800s.  It's so beautiful and full of love for Jesus.

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AND WHERE?

Basil Fried Rice with Chicken at Lulu's Thai Shop in Crossroads

 

DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY

Wake up around 7:30 am on a Saturday morning and grab coffee at Second Best Coffee on my way down to the Kansas City River Market District for the farmer's market.  After gathering fruits and veggies for the week and a lush $5 bouquet of flowers, have brunch at the Farmhouse.  Go home, take an all-family nap and then swing in a hammock outside in the backyard while the children play and Kyl grills out. That's my perfect day!

 

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED BY, FUN FACT, OR NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW?

I like to learn about different foods you can forage in the woods and on the roadside to incorporate in your everyday meals.  One day, I hope to have a self-sustaining farm with my family with almost zero