October 2016 Event Recap – Deneen Grant

“Finding Confidence Through Christ”

Deneen Grant is the Managing Partner and Founder of Progressive Leadership Group, a consulting firm that marries leadership strategy with business strategy. She helps CEOs and senior executives develop the leadership teams and culture that drive growth, high performance, and engagement.

Deneen brings extensive experience to her consulting work, having over 20 years of HR business partnership, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness experience in the banking and financial service industries. She holds certifications as a Senior Professional in HR (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and is a certified John Maxwell Coach, Teacher, Trainer, and Speaker.

Deneen has been married for 20 years to her husband Ray, and they have one son (Dereque). She’s been active in church music ministry for over 37 years. She attends New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Renton, WA, where she sings and directs a 75 voice women’s choir.

Deneen has a beautiful singing voice and uses it to glorify God. From the age of 5 or 6 she was singing in the Angel Choir at her church and playing the piano. She credits her mother for modeling and faithfully living God’s love. At the age of 10, Deneen accepted the Lord, and He imparted His Spirit upon her. She refers to music as her Christ-centered confidence home base. She excels at singing, playing the piano and serving…this is where God has uniquely gifted and where Deneen finds her rest in the Lord.

Deneen talked about the importance of knowing we are always good enough in God’s eyes. “For Thou art my hope Lord God. Thou art my confidence from my youth.” Psalms 71:5. Yet doubt has its ways, and knows our past and our fears. James 1:6 says “for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Deneen her life story of how God brought her to a place a confidence in her talents, skills and career path through Christ. The doubts developed from “a pathological need to please and the need for approval.” For years, she felt so flawed that only God could love her. She experienced being the only one in the room that is different, and people only seeing the difference.

God has equipped Deneen for His work in the world, through good leaders that have made a difference in her life. Deneen is intelligent, hardworking and creative and others have recognized and rewarded her for it. Deneen gives all the glory to God for equipping her with His power to do His will. Psalm 37: 23-24 speaks to us “The steps of man are established by the Lord.” Deneen develops leaders to be servant leaders, to be humble and vulnerable, to sacrifice, to have good corporate values, and to serve people.

These were Deneen’s words to us: The Lord directs and He will give you everything you need. You are good enough. Jeremiah 17:7 confirms “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.” Go out in Christ’s confidence and do what God has equipped you to do. You can rest in the amazing power of God.

Questions:
*In what area has the Lord uniquely gifted you? What is your confidence base?
*How have you seen the Lord’s hand guiding your career? How has he equipped you for your vocational ministry?