The Zone Gathering

Today, we shine the spotlight on Kacey McGowan, the rising Team Leader for the NCC arts groups. Kacey began leading a traditional small group and then decided to run after her passion for the arts by leading the Stage Left small group this summer. The group recently performed Portraits of Healing at Ebenezers. Kacey brings a unique mix of administrative skills and creative talents to her leadership. She also apparently likes smiley faces

Today, we talk to Kacey about life, ministry, and cheerleading (she’s going to kick my butt for that…).

How long have you attended NCC? What brought you to NCC?
October will start the beginning of my 3rd year at NCC. I had been doing some serious church hopping and just hadn’t found my place yet. My softball coach, who I didn’t even know was a Christian at the time, gave me a list of about 50 churches to try in the DC area. So I stared at the overwhelming list of options and began praying very specifically about where God wanted me to be. I knew I was moving into Ballston right near the mall and found out that NCC had a service there so I gave it a try. My first Sunday there, I was greeted by Cheryl who was heading up the hospitality ministry there at the time and within the first 5 minutes of me being there, she had invited me to visit the small group she was a part of and just made me feel so welcome and valued. From that moment on, I never left – I knew I had found the place where God wanted me. And my appreciation for NCC and my awareness of my place in it has grown immensely over the past couple years. (and Cheryl has become one of my very dear friends too

Tell us a little about the small groups and/or ministries that you lead and how that experience has impacted you.
When the small group I was a part of (the same one I visited by the way), multiplied, there was still interest in keeping a Ballston/Shirlington area group going somehow but someone needed to step up and lead. I felt totally unprepared and inadequate but as a friend and I talk about often, that is probably how I knew I was really ready and prime to be used by God in that way. So last September, I began leading the 5th Day Ballston group – first semester we did a study on authentic relationships and “one anothering” and then second semester we studied the mind of Christ. While I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, challenge and encouragement of the Ballston group, I knew God was challenging me to really listen to and fuel my passion for the arts more and to use it in service to him and to others in the arts community at NCC and beyond. So this summer, NCC Stage Left, a group of performing artists and those who appreciate the performing arts convened for the first time. Throughout the summer, I was amazed at how God is able to bring together an eclectic, random and unique bunch of somewhat strangers in one place, with one purpose – to reclaim the performing arts as messenger and medium of truth. I am constantly humbled by the giftings God has placed on all of us, but specifically (and fully admitting bias here;-) the artists he is rising up and using at NCC.

Where can you be found on Sunday mornings?
I have been attending Saturday night services at Ebenezers for the most part but also still attend Ballston sometimes too.

When did you start following Christ and what have been some of the spiritual turning points in your life?
This is an interesting question to me – I first accepted Christ around age 5 but I can honestly say that I didn’t actively and passionately start “following” him until college. I grew up in a Christian family with a godly father and mother – I realize now years later, how blessed and fortunate I was to have that. However, at the time, through my personal rebellion against normalcy and my burning desire to be different, I rejected it, abused it and denied it all – including God. I struggled pretty hardcore as a young teenager and even into my college years. I won’t go into all the details here out of respect for the fact that you didn’t sign up to read the “Life and Times of Kacey P” but would gladly share more if you asked. Anyway, I learned throughout the years about God’s whisper and shout theory. When I was straying and turning a deaf ear to his leading, he had to shout to get my attention and shout he did. Suffice to say, I have had 2 particular situations in my life that by all logical reasoning should have killed me…but God had other plans – in the form of a giant wake up call that would ultimately begin a series of turning points until I was staring again into the face of Jesus. Now years later, I have learned to lean in close and be still – enough to hear the soft gentle whisper of my Lord. I have learned about grace because I have been showered in it and bathe in it everyday when I am able to wake up and get out of bed in the morning. I have learned about love and how to love because I have been unconditionally loved. And I have learned how to forgive because he forgave - others…and myself. And now I live, clothed in healing and hope, knowing I am a child of the Beloved.

Tell us a little about your background.
I was born in Muncie, Indiana and then moved east to southern New Jersey for my growing up years (don’t boo and hiss – the southern part of the state really is The Garden State;-) I grew up in a very conservative Baptist church and I still have a lot of questions about that experience. I attended college at Taylor University in Indiana, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Theater Arts and Sports Medicine. After college I moved to Philadelphia. Lived there for 5ish years and during that time, I was in graduate school at Philadelphia Biblical University, studying Education and Organizational Leadership. I then moved to DC in 2002 and spent my first couple years here missing Philadelphia really bad. I still miss it but know that I am where I am supposed to be for now.

My mom and dad still live in the house I grew up in and teach at the public high school I attended. They’ve been married for 37 years and still date each other. It’s awesome! I have one brother who is 2 years younger than me. He’s married and just moved to New Haven to attend Yale Divinity School. Aside from that, I have a 4lb feline leukemia cat named Kirby who I rescued from an abusive situation while I was still living in Philadelphia. I don’t care for cats but I have made sure to train her to be more like a dog

What is your favorite Scripture passage?
Wow – that’s like asking me to keep my words concise – impossible! One passage that has taken on new meaning for me in the past few years is found in Exodus 35: 30- Exodus 36:1. It is the account of Bezalel and Oholiab. For reference, I have included it here:

“ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. 36:1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”

I like this passage because it reminds me that God is the source of our skill, knowledge and abilities – and he gifts us each differently. Some are artists, some are scholars, some are shepherds, some are teachers, etc. But I like the reference to specifically the artists here – reminds me that there is a place for us in the body of Christ and the work of the Lord – we may never be the teachers or the scholars because that is not our role but we are called to lend our gifts still and those gifts are just as valuable and needed in the eyes of God. Hmmmmm –how encouraging;-)

What are your favorite books?
Irresistable Revolution - Shane Claiborne, The Four Loves - C.S. Lewis, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - Annie Dillard, Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky, Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe, Letters to a Young Poet - Rainer Maria Rilke…

What are your favorite movies?
almost all Audrey Hepburn films, Finding Neverland, Garden State, Dreamlife of Angels, My Date with Drew, I am David, In America…

What is your favorite fast food?
Ssshhhhh don’t tell Christian and Nina….I have been known to enjoy some Chick Fil-A every once in awhile

What is something that most people at NCC would not know about you?
Oh boy here goes…I was the captain of the varsity cheerleading squad in high school! And I had really blond hair then too I won’t even try my normal defense of “it was a co-ed competitive squad and we did all sorts of stunts and stuff” I have pictures to prove it.

Tell us a little about your day job. What is your dream job?
I am an Associate Director of Marketing at a non profit organization here in town. My job is to raise many millions of dollars each year so that we can provide quality of life services to our members who are all in wheelchairs from catastrophic injury or disease to their spinal cord. I enjoy my job and it definitely affords me the ability to create and enjoy art on the side. However, if I could have my dream job, it would be all about the arts – something that would allow me to direct community based theater, co-create art of all kinds with urban peoples, teach others how to use art as part of the healing process (basically art therapy), and just be available to people as an encourager and motivator.

Who is your hero? (besides Jesus or any other member of the Trinity)
I don’t really have any heroes so to speak – I echo what one of the other leaders said earlier about everyday people. I think sometimes we get caught up in a bit of hero worship when really we are all the same – wanderers and vagabonds There are people out there though really truly making a difference and I guess that is what I think of when I think of hero – those people who sacrifice their own comfort, happiness and gain so that someone else can have a brighter day. And by that definition, I am blessed to know many everyday heroes

What do you do in your free time?
Read, journal, fellowship with friends, submerse myself in some sort of artistic expression – whatever is apropos at the time…and sometimes, I just like to be…no sound, no agenda, no activity – just silent and still being.

In NCC:THE MOVIE who would play you? Who would play Pastor Mark?
Disclaimer – None of the suggestions I make here are at all referencing what these people’s personal lives might be like

Pastor Mark would definitely be played by James Spader – can’t you see the resemblance????

I would be played by: Idina Menzel – for no other reason than I just love her! For those who don’t know who she is, she originated the roles of Maureen in RENT and Elphaba in Wicked

What is your favorite Pastor Markism?
Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 8th, 2006 at 9:13 am and is filed under News and Updates, Spotlights, Team 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.