It started with dirty diapers. Then first words. Homemade birthday cards. Fights with siblings. Mothers have seen it all. Chances are, our mothers have been one of the greatest influences in our lives, good or bad. According to The Dallas Morning News, "stay-at-home parents would earn $131,471 in annual salary, including overtime pay, if they were doing the same work for an employer." But for moms, it's impossible to put a price on the value of raising kids. For mothers in Campus Crusade, being a mom is about more than just changing diapers and carpooling. It is about ministry as well. They have a ministry to their children, to help them grow into followers of Christ, and they have a ministry to reach others with the gospel. Sometimes these two ministries seem to oppose each other, but according to Jane Mulvihill, Robin Rice and Julie Majors, the two are more connected than most people realize.

	Photograph by Tom Mills

JANE MULVIHILL

Sometimes I feel like I live in two different worlds," says Jane. "Some people see me as just a mom, and some people see me as a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member. But I'm both of those."

Jane and her husband, Joe, serve with Christian Leadership Ministries, a division of Campus Crusade that works specifically with college faculty members. Aside from meeting with professors at the University of Minnesota, the 52-year-old oversees the 40 women in CLM across the country.

Jane's four children are separated by over 11 years' age difference from oldest to youngest. When her youngest was entering kindergarten, her oldest was starting the first day of his senior year. "That was kind of a traumatic day," she says with a laugh.

As her children have grown (her youngest has just one year of high school left), Jane has not forgotten that praying for her family is essential. "I place a real priority on praying for my children," she says, "for their character and for their life choices."

Jane has especially tried to be involved in her children's schools. At the public school that her oldest son attended, she organized Mothers Who Pray, a small group of women who met on a regular basis to pray for the students and teachers.

When she first began the group, she called the principal to ask if there was anything they could pray for her about. But she was surprised when the principal responded negatively, questioning whether the group could exist because of the separation of church and state. Jane assured her that they could, and continued to ask the woman for prayer requests. Over time, the principal softened, and welcomed the group to pray and bring treats for the teachers. She began to tell Jane about ways they could pray for her.

"She saw that I wasn't her enemy," says Jane, "I was her friend."

Jane sees ways that her role as a mother has given her characteristics that are essential in reaching out to others. "Raising kids has helped me learn patience, humility and integrity. It helps me understand people and accept them for who they are."

	Photograph by Ted Wilcox

ROBIN RICE

One of my mentors used to tell me that as a woman, you minister as your seasons of life change," says Robin Rice. "I can minister to a college student, a married person, and now, someone who has kids. It's like God has given me more hats to wear the older I get."

With a little bit of help, Robin is able to wear many hats while raising three young children (ages 6, 4 and 2). She and her husband Robbie direct Campus Crusade at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Each year, Robin hires a student to help 10 hours per week with babysitting and office work. Robin sees this student not only as a way for her to do more ministry, but also as a way to encourage the student in her own faith.

"I'm able to get close to my student and mentor her," Robin says, "and she's definitely a part of our family."

Robin is also able to be significantly involved in the Campus Crusade ministry at SMU. The 38-year-old meets individually with seven ministry volunteers, and she is able to attend the leaders meetings and the weekly Campus Crusade meeting. She coordinates an evangelistic sorority fashion show every year and speaks to sorority leaders.

But the majority of her time is not on campus. Her ministry comes through sharing her life with others.

"As a mom, my ministry is not always going to be an appointment in the Student Center, but it's going to be more of a way-of-life ministry," she says, "letting girls into my life and into my home that don't have a home at college, and letting them see how I react when things happen in life."

She has been able to mentor each student who worked in her home, as well as reach out to women in her neighborhood.

"God continues to open up more and more doors for ministry the older I get," she says.

	Photograph by Greg Schneider

JULIE MAJORS

The world tells you that you have to be all, do all, have all—but you can't," says Julie Majors. "There's only so many hours in the day.

"The culture will tell you to have it your way, but anybody who's a mom will tell you life is not about them."

Julie and her husband, John, have one son who is almost 2 years old. They serve with Campus Crusade's ministry FamilyLife, and recently moved to Arizona so John could attend seminary.

While Julie takes care of their son, John Isaac, she sees her home as an obvious place for ministry to happen. The 30-year-old often organizes things like baby showers, brunches or game nights for her neighbors.

At their previous home in Arkansas, Julie created a phone list among her neighbors, and was surprised to learn some people had lived near each other for years but didn't know each other's names. When Julie and John moved to Arizona, their Arkansas neighbors threw a surprise going-away party for them, organizing a picnic on their front lawn.

"My ultimate prayer was that people would see something different in me," says Julie, "and that we would have opportunities to talk about Christ."

Julie has used her creativity to build community among other women, even friends spread around the country.ÊIn a culture that tells women they need to be working outside the home to have value, Julie delights in encouraging women with their roles at home. She created a meal-swapping schedule with other moms, she mentors other women through e-mail about their roles as wives and mothers, and she started a book club with new friends in Arizona, as well as encouraging her friends in other cities to start book clubs.

"I love for women to know and feel fulfilled by God in serving Him," she says, "specifically as a wife and mother."

All three of these women are being filled in their ministries, at home and wherever God has led them. Some activities for Jane, Robin and Julie might be similar, but others are unique to each woman. Each one has learned to prioritize their family, and they have creatively sought ways to continue reaching others. They want to be examples to their children of how to love and serve their families and other people.

"I'll want my children to know that the world is not about them," says Julie, "but it's about knowing and loving other people, and seeing others come to Christ."

You can contact the writer at Becky.Hill@ccci.org.

ACTION POINT - The Next Step >What does Julie Majors mean by "life is not about you?" Now read Luke 9:23-25.