The Zone Gathering

Today, we begin our new Tuesday Staff Spotlights: The Zone Edition. Some of our zone leaders have already been spotlighted because they pull double-duty on staff, and you can find their spotlights on the sidebar to the right.

Today, we shine the beam on one of my best friends, Leslie Adams. I became friends with Leslie during my first experience in DC. We remained friends while I lived in Nashville (despite the fact that she had the wrong phone number for me for 2 years), and when I returned to DC, she was gracious enough to let me stay in her Hobbit Hole and feed her pizza for 6 weeks.

I love the fact that Leslie likes to laugh– at herself and others. Leslie has a steadfast and fervent passion to grow in her faith and to share the love of Christ with others. Today, we caught up with Leslie to talk about life, faith, and her love of cross-cultural service.

How long have you attended NCC? What brought you to NCC?
I’ve attended NCC for about eight years. I decided to check out NCC after taking a Berean course on Theology which was co-taught by Pastor Mark along with several other area pastors. When I began to look for a church home, I decided to try out his “little inner-city mission church!”

Tell us a little about the small groups that you lead and how that experience has impacted you.
I currently serve as a co-zone leader, along with Alan Alvarez, for an incredible group of community group leaders!

I first began leading a small group in the fall of 2000 in Rosslyn with Christy Adams and Jim Richardson. We multiplied from the Wednesday night Capitol Hill group led by Eric Hillegas and the Thursday night Capitol Hill group led by Christy, Ryan Zempel, Ruth Sessions (now “Walk”) and John Walk.

NCC small groups have introduced me to some of the best friends that I have in my life. They’ve helped me to develop the gifts God has given me, challenged me to live out my faith in practical ways and have been a source of strength and encouragement through some very difficult times.

Where can you be found on Sunday mornings?
Ballston location

When did you start following Christ and what have been some of the spiritual turning points in your life?
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home and began following Christ when I was 5 years old. When I was in upper elementary school, my church showed a New Tribes Mission film about two missionary women living in Papua New Guinea. I remember that as a particular time when God really began to put a passion in my heart for foreign missions.

In high school, I completed a program with some of the kids in my youth group called “Fire”. It was during this program that I first experimented with many of the spiritual disciplines which had a significant impact on my spiritual journey.

When I was a junior in college, I went on my first mission trip to Paraguay which was an awesome experience that increased my understanding and excitement about foreign missions.

A recent turning point in my life began about a little over a year ago when my mom passed away. God has allowed me to see good that He’s bringing out of this really difficult situation and is using this time to stretch my faith and trust in Him.

Tell us a little about your background.
I’m a local, growing up in Arlington, Virginia. In fact, I went to kindergarten at Jackson Elementary School which is about a five minute walk from Ballston Common Mall. There were just four of us in my family including my mom, dad and sister.

I went to Asbury College in Kentucky and received a B.A. in Elementary Education. After college, I returned to Northern VA and taught fourth grade. The following year, I went to Bolivia, South America with a mission organization and taught at Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center.

Soon after that, I returned to Virginia and went to James Madison University where I received an M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Since then, I’ve worked in the Fairfax County Public School system. I started out working as a Speech Therapist and have been teaching English as a Second Language in an elementary school for the last two years.

What is your favorite Scripture passage?
(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

(2 Peter 1:3) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

What are your favorite books?
The Life You’ve Always Wanted (John Ortberg) Practicing the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence), My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)

I also like any kind of suspense books like those by John Grisham and any historical fiction books so I learn some history.

What are your favorite movies?
The Wedding Singer, The Saint, Hitch, The Italian Job, The Bourne Identity, Kingdom of Heaven

What is your favorite fast food?
Baja Fresh (I figure it counts as fast food since Nina included it!)

What is something that most people at NCC would not know about you?
I spent three years in college pursuing a Nursing degree. Asbury had a joint program with the University of Kentucky. By the time I did some hands-on nursing I was a junior in college. After shaving a fellow student’s legs and giving multiple sponge baths at UK’s hospital, I decided Nursing wasn’t my thing! After that, I want to say that I have immense respect for nurses. It’s such a demanding job that requires a very strong and caring person.

Tell us a little about your day job. What is your dream job?
I teach English as a Second language in an elementary school in Annandale. This year, the majority of my time is spent teaching first graders. I feel like God has put me in the middle of a foreign mission field. The student body at our school is made up of about 85% English Language Learners.

While I really enjoy my “day job”, I’ve always thought it would be fun to have my own business like a little book shop or novelty store.

Who is your hero? (besides Jesus or any other member of the Trinity)
Besides my dad, I’d say George Mueller and Amy Carmichael are my heroes.

What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I like to read, hang out with friends and family, watch movies, run with my dad and just be outdoors.

In NCC:THE MOVIE who would play you? Who would play Pastor Mark?
I know he’s a TV star rather than a movie star, but I really think that Ty Pennington from ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition would be perfect as Pastor Mark (*Editor’s Note: Does it strike anyone else as funny to have a handy-man play Pastor Mark?). I think I’d like Sandra Bullock to play me because she laughs at herself.

What is your favorite Pastor Markism?
I like it when he does his two-toned laugh in church (Eeeeee….Heeee!)….that’s the best way I can describe it in words!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 at 8:47 am and is filed under Spotlights, Zone Leaders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.