the new kid on the block

BY LEONDRA "TRICIE" LAWERY

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I am so excited to introduce myself as one of Common Ground Montgomery's newest staff members. My name is Leondra Lawery, but everyone calls me “Tricie”. I am a wife and proud mother of four children. I am a minister of the gospel and have served as a youth pastor for 15 years. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, I graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and Troy University in Montgomery where I received a Masters of Science in Education in School Counseling. Recently I received certification by the National Board of Certified Counselors.

When I graduated a several months ago, little did I know that God would lead me to CGM. It's funny how God works sometimes. It was actually at my graduation party that I found out about the Lower School Director position that was open. As I learned more about the position I began to pray and seek God’s direction. You see, this was not the path I thought I would take. It just wasn’t my plan. My plan was to find a school counseling position within the public school system. But God had a different plan for my life.

Now I know that all of those years of going to school at night after a full day of work, staying up all night long writing papers, studying for months for my certification exam was God’s way of qualifying me to serve the children of Washington Park at CGM.

I've only been working with the kids at CGM for the spring semester, but I can honestly say I absolutely love them all! This is the best job ever! I thank God for the opportunity and I pray that God will give me the love, patience, compassion, ENERGY, and creativity, to minister to all of my babies here.