Cover Story The Preacher's Wife by Connie Clay Woodard   Bookmark Tell a Friend Print

“I’m having a great day! This is my pampering day.  I have my me time.  It’s every Friday.”   Meet Kimberly McKissick, the first lady of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church.  When I asked Kim what kind of a day she was having, she told me about her “pampering days.”  She instituted pampering days about seven years ago just to have some time alone to recharge and rejuvenate herself.   In addition to her responsibilities as a wife and mother of three children, Kim has several responsibilities at her church. 

She sees her first and most important task as praying for the pastor, edifying him, and meeting all of his needs.  Additionally, Kim sings with the praise team and in the chancel choir.  She leads the marriage ministry and participates in the women’s ministry.  In terms of being first lady of one of Jacksonville’s largest churches, Kim says she chooses not to get caught up in the hype.  She is there for her husband.  She only worries about living up to God’s standards.

Kim is originally from Richmond, Virginia.  She is one of four children.  Kim describes her upbringing as “very sheltered, but tight knit.”  Her mother did not work outside of the home until Kim’s youngest sibling was enrolled in elementary school.  Kim’s father was also a pastor.  She accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of her life at the age of eleven.  Over the years, her faith has grown, and she has learned to trust her faith even when she can’t see the outcome in a situation.  At this point in her life, God is pulling her out of her comfort zone.  She says with a hearty laugh, “I don’t mind being pulled out of my comfort zone if I’m being pulled into another comfort zone!”   Recently, she was asked to lead the praise team on short notice.  She really didn’t want to do it, but because her pastor asked her, and she is there to assist him, she chose to lead the praise team for both services.   When she is in a funk, she chooses to pray herself up out of it.  Pity parties have a five minute duration.  Afterwards she asks, how do we solve this problem?  How do we deal with this?

Seven years ago, Kim found herself overwhelmed with the pressures of being a wife, mother, career woman, and active church member.  At the time, she was employed by the City of Jacksonville working from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Although she loved her job, she had to get up at 5:00 a.m. so that she had time to get her children, who were all under the age of five at the time, up and dressed for daycare.  Four nights out of the week, she was at church.  The family was at church for several hours on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.  She was directing the youth choir, singing with the chancel choir, singing with the praise team, and she was involved with the marriage ministry.  Evenings were hectic.  She felt that her home was being neglected.

Her husband suggested that she consider a career with Mary Kay.  Kim told her husband that she didn’t like make-up, and she had no interest in sales.  She told him that he was crazy for suggesting it.  He continued to work on her for six months.  Kim describes her husband as “very persistent.”  Her husband even went so far as to complete the application for her.  A couple of weeks later, her “start up bag” arrived.  She opened it, and then put it away.  Finally, she decided to try it just to show her husband that she would fail.  Her first class netted her $450.00 in sales.  In addition to the tidy little profit, she had a good time with her girlfriends during that first Mary Kay class.    At her second class, she made about $300.00.  At her third class, she got her first recruit.  Just like the first two classes, she had so much fun.  Her co-workers were shocked when she gave her two week’s notice.    Home and family were important, and she finally had a viable alternative to the 40 hour per week grind.  She loved the fact that she could work a few hours a week and be home with her children.  It took her a while to wind down.  She liked the fact that she could prepare well rounded meals and discontinue her reliance on fast food.  Life began to calm down.  There was order in her home.  She could have a schedule.   In the beginning, it was easy money. It occurred to her that if she had been successful without sales training, she could be even more successful if she committed to attend the sales meetings. It didn’t take long before her Mary Kay income matched her 40 hour a week income. 

“Warm chattering” is the method by which Mary Kay ladies expand their circle of prospects.  Once the family, friends and church members have been tapped for classes, “you have to branch out,” and approach strangers. “Feel the fear, and do it anyway,” is Kim’s advice to people who are terrified of sales.  Kim also practices the “three foot rule;” if a person is within three feet of you, the person is a prospect for a sale.  “There is skin everywhere,” says Kim of the limitless possibilities with Mary Kay.  If she is just running out on an errand and does not have her face on, she won’t attempt to sell.

Kim is driving her fourth free car in seven years.  It is a beautiful pink Cadillac. Her first free car was a Grand Am, then a Grand Prix, and then the first Cadillac. She earned her second Cadillac because she and her unit produced $96,000 in sales over six months.  A cash reward is available also. To start selling Mary Kay, a $100 investment is required.  Even at the level of director, it is possible to fail if the individual chooses not to work her business.   Despite her success in Mary Kay, Kim has contemplated quitting.  Last month for her was a failed month.  She reiterates that she must do all things in her power and rely on God to do the impossible.  Everything was ok.  All of sudden, her world turned upside down.  She learned from her failed month that she can’t rely on the persons in her unit to carry the load.  She doesn’t like being outdone.  Kim says that the key to success with Mary Kay is consistency

When she is faced with a recruit who seems to be failing at the program, Kim provides as much support as she can.  The program can work for anyone even for women who don’t like makeup.  With 55 people in her unit, Kim is on tract to become a National Sales Director with Mary Kay.  With that title, she will be able to take her husband on a fabulous vacation every year.  She says that the National Sales Directors will be going to Australia in May of 2008, and “WE WILL be on that plane!!!!”

Mary Kay is her ministry for women.  It doesn’t matter if she makes a sale, as long as she is able to be there and have one on one time with other women.  She thought of Mary Kay as a ministry from the beginning.  For her, ministry means that she is there for whatever reason necessary whether it’s to let someone cry with her or talk with her. Kim says that she uses Mary Kay to build women up and encourage personal growth.  She would advise all Christian women to live with integrity and keep their characters in check.

Despite her upbringing in the church and her immersion in it now, she does at times, doubt her faith.  She reminds herself that with faith the size of a mustard seed, she can move mountains.  She feels that doubting her faith is a part of being human.  She remains in constant communication with the Father.  She has learned how to yield to God and trust in Him.  Tomorrow, she vows to trust God more.