Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Ricketts.
Suzanne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In my professional career, I had been teaching and coaching in public and private school for about 15 years.
In church, my husband, Mark and I lead couples groups for a number of years, but the Lord really began to put it on my heart to lead just women. I was hesitant at first because I enjoyed being with my husband and we had developed some very close friendships in our groups. God continued to move my heart to step forward in this new endeavor and trust where He was leading. I followed and began leading women’s groups for a few years and began a women’s ministry at the church we were attending.
The entire time while leading these wonderful ladies, the Lord was pulling me deeper. He wanted me to go further. Step out completely in faith and trust. This would mean stepping out of a paying job with benefits, well before retirement age, and depend on the Lord to provide and replace that income. We prayed and waited until we knew it was time and then I stepped out of my teaching and coaching career into full-time women’s ministry. It was a leap for sure. But being faithful and obedient is choosing to walk a path knowing you cannot see what’s coming but knowing Who is guiding. And God showed up in a big way.
My daughter, Jess Ricketts, is my ministry partner, worship leader and dearest friend. We began our ministry hosting Women’s Nights of Worship every three months and a Beth Moore study but it has taken off from there. I have an amazing friend, Kim Oravetz, who owns Red Oak Cafe in League City. She opened her doors to us to have events in her Cafe after hours. This truly was a Godsend! This basically gave our ministry a “home” and the Lord was calling us to invest more in women with different types of events and with greater frequency. Red Oak Cafe continues to have an “open door” welcoming for our ministry which is such a blessing!
Today we currently hold Women’s Night of Worship events every two to three months (and a local church, The Watershed, in League City has opened their doors to us as well).
We host a monthly gathering around a big table, where ladies will bring their Bibles and a journal as we open up and unpack scripture. We host different themed women’s conferences every three months to help encourage, equip and empower women in their identity in Christ as Kingdom women. We have also hosted a marriage conference for couples to begin to step a little beyond just ministering strictly to women, but also in those who are in the roles of being a wife.
We have some expansion in our near future with more events and venues opening their doors to our ministry to love on and encourage their women. More details as soon as I can share. Stay tuned to our website and our Facebook page. www.sheisministries.faith.
I cannot talk about this ministry without mentioning a few more people. Our prayer partners are AWESOME! That word is probably an understatement. God has surrounded us with these women that are powerful warriors in their lives and as intercessors. They pray for our events, every lady that will attend, the venue, the pastors, owners, speakers, worship leaders, EVERYTHING that involves our minds is covered by these ladies. I’m so humbled to be around them and that they volunteer their time to sow seed into this ministry and women for the kingdom. Some of them have their own ministries, are chaplains, certified counselors if that gives you an idea of how wonderful these ladies are.
And another great lady, Jenny, with My Faith Designs, who is our graphic artist for shirts, all events and any and every crazy idea I have for merchandise. Jenny donates a portion of her sales to our ministry. And our designer for photo backdrops is Melissa at Sweetie Bee Designs
Has it been a smooth road?
There have definitely been obstacles from the onset but our eyes being set on Jesus has kept us with joy in our hearts even when it looked rough.
With one of our main focuses being on uniting the body of Christ and all women locking arms and running this race together, we have found that we are not welcome in some places. At first, this was disheartening but we continue to do what God has called us to do and trust for the open doors, and we step where they are opened to us.
Another challenge, so to speak, is when one is in ministry, then you live in a “glass house.” Your life is out in front of the public and your words and how you live can bless people and point them to Jesus, which is the ultimate goal, but people can also become offended as well. So while it’s an amazing blessing, there are times where people will speak out against what you are doing because they do not agree. But I would rather please God than man, so Jess and I try to stay prayerful and make decisions based on scripture and time with Jesus.
And friend, if those things I listed are obstacles and the worst we have to deal with, then praise the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
I truly believe that our journey has been smooth for the most part. We get to mentor women and spend time one on one with them, praying with them, plugging them into places to help them or counseling. It’s a pretty sweet thing!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the She is… Ministries story. Tell us more about the business.
She is… Ministries is a women’s ministry. Our mission is to see women develop a deep, passionate desire for an intimate, covenant relationship with God. Our three word “motto” we try to implement at every single event we host is: encourage, equip, empower women in their identity in Christ.
I honestly feel we are known for bringing women together from all churches to fellowship, worship and learn together. Our Women’s Nights of Worship at Red Oak usually pack the house and our conferences sell out so I think women are hungry for God’s Word and time and encouragement from sisters. I think we fill that need and desire in this season.
What sets us apart is every event. Each local ministry has its own calling, its own “niche” to fill, its own part to play for blessing the body of Christ. Each and every one of our ministry events is unique to our ministry. I have a friend that has a large and beautiful ministry in the town next door to mine, and she is uniquely different from me, as well as her calling. So She is… Ministries is founded on the scripture from Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Which points us toward encourage, equip and empower women of God.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
God has definitely given me some vision for this ministry but I am keeping my heart and ear close to Him and being obedient to where and what He has for us. There is a scripture, Psalms 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Jess and I try to hold fast to that for our ministry as well.
Unless the Lord builds the platform, opens the door, builds the ministry, church or whatever you are putting your hand to do, it will be in vain if He does not build it. So we chose not to strive or stress or worry but to enjoy what we are called to do together and trust God. He’s the builder. It’s our job to be obedient and show up.
I know there are bigger things coming our way this fall and our ministry has grown tremendously as we are not even two years old yet. If the Lord builds a larger platform then we will step. If He desires to keep our platform as it is, we will surely step.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sheisministries.faith
- Phone: 713-882-1137
- Email: sheisministries@yahoo.com
- Instagram: she_is_ministries
- Facebook: She is Ministries
- Other: @sheisministries.faith
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