When you are a member at NAOBC, no matter where God takes you, the love for NAOBC remains. It’s part of your DNA. Periodically we’ll spotlight women who were former members – see where they are today and what NAOBC means to them. Today we’re meeting Katie Duncan.
Q: Tell a little about yourself – family, occupation (if applicable), etc.
A: Robert is the pastor at Cash Creek Baptist Church. Lucie is in ninth grade and is involved in archery and wrestling during the school year and works with horses in the summer time. She really loves our dogs, especially Piper, who is a lab mix. Mollie is in sixth grade and is involved in archery and track. She now has braces and is very excited about that. She loves all things girly and our dogs, especially Copper, our chocolate lab. Maggie is in fourth grade and is involved in wrestling and softball. She loves being outside and playing with Misty, our outdoor cat. I am now an EMT with Deaconess EMS and I love it!
Q: When did you attend NAOBC? What brought you to NAOBC?
A: We attended NAOBC during the years of 2015-2019. We were invited. We planned on trying different churches, but never got past NAOBC. Robert and I said, “why try another one when we know we already love it here!?”
Q: Where did you serve while at NAOBC?
A: Robert was a door greeter, I was for a short time as well. I also helped out in AWANA.
Q: What memory from your time at NAOBC means the most to you still today?
A. The years of 2016-2018 were some of the worst years of our lives. We had 10-12 family members pass away, divorce due to affairs, a fatal car accident, Robert’s health began to decline (that is still going on), multiple trips to the ER, etc. The way our BFG came through for us time and time again was unreal. There really are no way words can describe how deep our gratitude and appreciation is for them. I often think about how many times they came through for us in so many unexpected ways. One way that stands out is when a friend pulled an all nighter with me in the ER with my youngest, Maggie. I wiLL forever remember that gesture of love.
Q: What is one thing you loved about NAOBC?
A: I loved that even though we were in such a large church, it still felt like home. It is a community of believers. You can truly feel God’s presence each and every time you walk through the doors. People are genuine and genuinely care. NAOBC is a hidden gem in Louisville.
On Mondays, we’ll take time to meet the women of NAOBC. Five questions followed by how you can connect with the NAOBC women on social media. Today’s interview is with Abby Braun.
Q: Tell us about yourself
A: I grew up in Louisville and Shelbyville, KY, but claim Louisville as home. I met my husband, Nick, while we were attending the University of Louisville and married after we graduated. We are about to celebrate our eleventh wedding anniversary! We are blessed with two kids Ethan and Charlotte. Ethan is four years old, kind, playful, and quite the introvert. Charlotte is almost two, sweet, and as fearless as they come. I am currently staying home with the kids which has been such a sweet and unexpected gift. I taught at two different elementary schools in Jefferson County Public Schools for nine years before staying home with the kids. Nick is in his tenth year of working for JCPS at the high school level. I also taught as an adjunct professor for IUS in their education program for a few semesters, which I loved! The current plan is to return to teaching in JCPS in the future. As far as returning to work we are taking it one step at a time as we see what’s best for our family.
Q: Tell us about your time at NAOBC
A: Nick and I started attending NAOBC in the fall of 2009. We were in college at the time, dating, and looking for a church to be a part of. A guy at Starbucks actually invited us to come visit the church and we knew right away that it was where we wanted to be. We were in the college BFG all through college, got married and briefly joined a young married couple’s BFG before being asked to come back and serve with the college group. This summer will mark ten years that we have been serving with the college BFG. I am also a co-leader of one of the ladies Wednesday night discipleship groups with my sweet friend (another leader in the college BFG) Danielle Holmes. I genuinely love NAOBC and the people that make up this local body. What a blessing to be part of a body of believers that is striving together to love the Lord and live out their faith!
Q: What is a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I like to play video games with my husband and now my four-year-old son. The Mario games are my favorites! I’m also a fan of John Mayer and have been able to see him live three times.
Q: What woman has made the most impact in your life?
A: This was a tough question for me to think about at first because I do not feel like there is a simple answer. There has not been one individual woman who has spiritually walked with me over the years, but many sisters in Christ who have walked with me in different seasons. The ladies who have made the most impact on me are the ones that I have had the privilege to serve with in the college ministry over the years. In our earlier years of serving Rebekah and Kacie were sweet encouragements to me in my growth. In recent years Danielle, Chanda, Liz, and Kathleen have been such a blessing, but there are so many others that I could name! The ladies I’ve been surrounded by are gifted in various ways by the Lord and I have learned from each of them. I am challenged by them to grow in the areas they are gifted in, encouraged by them to continue striving to love the Lord more, and loved by them in practical ways. These women walked with me through my hardest and most difficult seasons, rejoiced with me in the goodness of God, and loved me well in all the highs and lows. Some of the ladies have moved away, some are still here, and despite where they are I am thankful for each one of them and how God used and continues to use them in my life.
Q: What is something the Lord has taught you in the last year?
A: Something the Lord has been teaching me is that we are needy and there is purpose and beauty in that. We need more than passing greetings on Sunday morning. We need more than a couple hours a week sitting at church. We need more than a quick prayer here and there and skimming a few verses to check a box. We are all carrying burdens from this life, and we need to grow in our love and understanding of the Lord and grow in relationship with one another to reach the finish line. We need to dig in and truly strive to love the Lord and His people. God in his sovereignty designed us to be dependent on Him and His people. If we believe that we aren’t, we are missing out on understanding part of His goodness for us.
There has been a heavier burden on my heart for the people that the Lord has placed around me. Although I am also learning to be more flexible in how to love people in the season I am in with littles, it has been a sweet blessing to share life with other women as best as we can. It has also meant learning how to be loved on in this season as well, which has not always been easy, but I am needy as well.
My encouragement to you would be to dig in. Allow yourself to be transparent, needy, and loved by those around you. Look for people to love in simple, practical ways because whether they say it or not, they are needy as well. It takes time to know people, so start now. Commit and take initiative. The Lord loves His people, and we should too.
You can follow Abby on Facebook and Instagram @abby_rose6212
When you are a member at NAOBC, no matter where God takes you, the love for NAOBC remains. It’s part of your DNA. Periodically we’ll spotlight women who were former members – see where they are today and what NAOBC means to them. Today we’re meeting Karen Cook.
Q: Tell a little about yourself – family, occupation (if applicable), etc.
A: My husband, Hans, and I have been married for 27 years and have 4 daughters ranging in age from 25 to 3. I have worked a variety of jobs throughout my adult life, but right now I’m focusing on homemaking, homeschooling our high school senior, and caring for a three year old at 50 years old.
Q: When did you attend NAOBC? What brought you to NAOBC?
A: We joined NAOBC in 2013 while Hans was attending seminary. We needed a church with an active youth and children’s ministry and NAOBC fit that bill and more. With the increase in the ability to work remotely during the pandemic, we were able to move from Louisville in September 2020 to Maine to be closer to Hans’ parents and our oldest daughter, Jessica, who had moved to Maine for college.
Q: Where did you serve while at NAOBC?
A: I served in the nursery on Sunday mornings (my favorite age group was the two year olds). I also helped during VBS and AWANA on Wednesday nights. Behind the scenes, I served in our BFG (IC3) sending out prayer requests and announcements, volunteering for Fall Festival and other church-wide activities, helping with snacks, and keeping our BFG supplied with coffee and paper goods.
Q: What memory from your time at NAOBC means the most to you still today?
A: We forged some pretty special friendships through our BFG. We were loved on and supported through a variety of trying times in our lives. Our friends stood with us, prayed with us, and helped in practical ways.
Q: What is one thing you loved about NAOBC?
A: One of many things we loved about NAOBC was the sense of community and belonging. NAOBC will always have a special place in our hearts.
On Mondays, we’ll take time to meet the women of NAOBC. Five questions followed by how you can connect with the NAOBC women on social media. Today’s interview is with Megan Beverly.
Q: Tell us about yourself
A: My husband, Gage Beverly, and I have been married for just over 10 years. After eight years of infertility and four miscarriages we are expecting our son, Jude, on May 30! We also have three dogs Yogi (small mutt, age 14), Tigress (retired racing greyhound, age 5), and Zelda (sheepadoodle, almost 2).
I work for Wiley Education Services as an Enrollment Counselor. I finished my masters degree in Human Resource Management at the end of April and officially graduating in June.
Q: Tell us about your time at NAOBC
A: We joined NAOBC in 2017. We are in YC2 where I serve as a community group leader and our fellowship coordinator.
Q: What is a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I am an avid reader of almost anything. I typically read over 100 books per year.
Q: What woman has made the most impact in your life?
A: Definitely my maternal grandmother. She shared the gospel with me from before I can remember and always made sure that I had tons of Christian women (either currently serving or from the Bible or church history) to look up to. I hope she realized that she was the person I most looked up to and wanted to be just like her.
Q: What is something the Lord has taught you in the last year?
A: This pregnancy is a miracle in every way. I have been classified as high risk the whole time, and the waiting is so hard. I have learned so much and am constantly learning more every single day what it means to for God to be the sustainer of life and how to rely on Him.
You can follow Megan on Facebook and Instagram @mbeverly525.