“Heartfelt” discusses the importance of building multi-generational relationships that open the heart and bless the home.
In today’s busy and mobile society, women often live far away from extended and immediate family, making it ever more difficult to learn lessons of hospitality or develop meaningful relationships. Life lessons shared with nieces and aunts, grandmothers and granddaughters, crazy cousins and sweet church ladies are becoming less and less of a life experience.
In her new book, Heartfelt (Worthy Publishing, February 2015), Dr. Joneal Kirby shows women the importance of developing connected relationships with other women, gleaning wisdom from older women’s experiences, and gaining a sense of emotional intimacy and wholeness from being heard, known, and supported by women who truly care.
Dr. Joneal Kirby’s family; Photo Courtesy of Heart to Home Ministries.
Through the stories of real women, both mentors and mentees, Dr. Kirby shows how meaningful relationships with other women can transform women’s lives. By nurturing relationships and modeling hospitality and Christian principles, women in the Heart to Home ministry show how the other roles women hold—daughter, wife, mom, sister, etc.—become more focused and fulfilling.
“We’re creating bonds between women. Some of them—including me—might otherwise have never shared a meal with each other. (And I feed a bunch of folks at my table, so that’s saying a lot.) We might never have become friends because of our different ages and stages of life and living in different social circles. Now we do know each other, and I mean really know each other. Through hospitality and through the life lessons and spiritual lessons we share, we’re getting below surface conversations and interactions to the real us. As our relationships develop, we’re learning we don’t have to hide and cover our deepest needs. And that level of trust stays with us too. The relationships we make continue to bless us for years to come.
Missy, Kay, and Jessica Robertson with Dr. Joneal Kirby; Photo Courtesy of Heart to Home Ministries.
“As humans, we’re not designed to share with strangers. The bonds between the young and old, the scriptures explored, the discussions about life issues, the teaching moments—those things cannot occur via a casual “How are you?” in a church foyer, which is the only way many young women ever interact with the older generation in their churches. Only with time invested in each other do we reach a more intimate level.” (Chapter Three of Heartfelt, Lauren and Beverly’s Story)
“In order to disciple as Jesus did, we must call each other “friends” (John 15:15). Being a friend gives us the relationship to influence one another, to impact each other’s lives. Being friends with our church members means we are to know each other well. To rub our lives up against each other. To sharpen each other as stone against stone. To challenge each other. To encourage and to build up the faith and the spirits of each other” (Introduction, Heartfelt).
Heart to Home Conference
The ministry modeled in the book is now being shared at the Heart to Home Conference. Hosted by Heart to Home Ministry and Mason Jar Productions, the conference will feature founder Dr. Kirby, the Women of Duck Commander, and many other national speakers Feb. 6–7, 2015, in Monroe, La. Heart to Home is the multi-generational mentoring program developed by Dr. Kirby and outlined in the book. It is based on the Titus 2:3–5 to help Christian women connect and develop meaningful relationships, and to encourage spiritual growth and development.
Speaker Tracey Eyster; Photo Courtesy of Heart to Home Ministries.
The Women of Duck Commander—Kay Robertson, Missy Robertson, Korie Robertson, Jessica Robertson, Lisa Robertson, and Mia Robertson— have all been involved in and influenced by the ministry and principles of Heart to Home. Missy and Kay’s stories are in the book. They will be speaking in various sessions sharing their stories and how generational mentoring has impacted each of them in their marriages, families, and homes. Other speakers include Jase Roberston, Tracey Eyster, Mary Beth Chapman, Tammy Daughtry, Pat Domangue, Leslie Fullmer, and more.
Ticket information is available at HeartToHomeConference.com
Prices start at $79 for general admission. The Heart to Home Conference will also be available to churches and individuals around the world via simulcast. For more information, visit HeartToHomeSimulcast.com
Dr. Joneal Kirby and Missy Robertson; Photo Courtesy of Heart to Home Ministries.
About the Author
Joneal Kirby, Ph.D., is founding director of Heartfelt Ministry, a women’s mentoring program and conference. She is the author of Heartfelt (February 2015), Heart of a Family for Mom: Common Sense Parenting with Wisdom from the Word and Hope for YOUR Family: Six Keys to Connecting with Your Teen, in addition to more than fifty Bible studies.
Dr. Kirby earned a PhD in marriage and parenting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and has taught about marriage and parenting for more than thirty years in churches, on the Legacy Network’s talk show Girlfriends, as a popular conference speaker, and as host of Heart to Home Radio. She and her husband have three children, a daughter-in-love and a son-in-love, and four grandsons.
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