Barbara Coghlan
What are your hobbies outside your vocation? I love to walk on the treadmill while listening to JoyFM, family time (which often includes three generations) includes a lot of playing games. Our current passion is playing Monopoly Deal – it brings out the capitalist in each of us – and includes a whole lot of laughter!
What is your favorite Scripture? I’ve never understood having a favorite scripture … there are just too many. But as I look back on my adult life, the one I’ve used the most to encourage other women would be Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” To add one from the New Testament, John 10:10b “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”
Besides the bible, what is your favorite book you’ve read? Two books I couldn’t put down were, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti and The Spirit Controlled Woman by Beverly LaHaye.
Why is it your favorite? This Present Darkness painted a vivid picture of spiritual warfare and the importance of prayer. It made a huge impact on my personal prayer life. The Spirit Controlled Woman was the first of many books I read dealing with temperaments. Although it was an easy and fun book to read, it also opened the door to understanding other people.
Where did you grow up? South St. Louis The St. Louis question would be what high school did you attend and the answer would be Cleveland High School.
What is your favorite memory of working at Grace? One of my first opportunities to reach out to the neighborhood was when we learned of a very sick little two year old named Diego Calle. The people of Grace prayed, sent cards of encouragement and raised money to help the family. The first fund raiser was a car wash. There was little notice but an army of people showed up that Saturday morning to help. We had three assembly lines going and more than 30 people involved and many, many more came to have their cars washed. It was wonderful to see God’s love demonstrated through this act of service to a grieving family.
What has been your most proud accomplishment while being employed at Grace? I don’t have one. I’m just aware of my limitations and know that when something goes well, it’s because of God’s greatness. I really am in awe of the Great I Am !
How long have you been married to your spouse? 24 years as of February 28, 2011.
Tell about your conversion and about your walk with Christ. I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were great examples of living a committed, obedient, Christian life. They showed me that God’s Word was the road map for life, the one absolute in life. Although I lived an outwardly Christian lifestyle, it wasn’t until I was 18 that I truly received Christ as my personal savior and began a real relationship with Him. That’s how I would describe my walk with Christ. It’s real, it’s relationship oriented. The one fact I know is that there is a holy God who really loves me. Every blessing in my life is because of Him. I am always amazed at how He works through my weaknesses and how He leads me one step at a time.
What is your family like? There’s my husband, one son, one daughter, one dog (my dog, 15 years old, very special to me) and one puppy (I can’t believe we have a baby in the house again!!!). We have the usual family challenges but overall, when I think of our family, we laugh a lot. If anyone observed the four of us eating out for dinner, they would see lots of laughter! We also play games a lot and often include grandparents. Monopoly Deal, Phase 10, Dominos are a few of our favorites. And we pray together. I love when we hear about something and just stop everything and come together to pray for the situation. I am thankful for the unity we have as a family in Christ.
