Who Is Priscilla Wayfinder?

Priscilla Wayfinder is a made-up name, with a nod to the apostle Paul’s tent-and-disciple-making friend, to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and to one of my favorite Disney princesses, Moana. 

The historical. The sublime. The pop culture reference.

That’s me.

I’m also a 30 something woman, wife to a church of Christ preacher, mother to a beautiful baby girl. I’ve grown up in the church, as have my parents, grandparents, and most of my great-grandparents. I teach children’s classes and Ladies’ Bible studies. Sometimes I prep communion. I even bake the occasional casserole. To the casual observer, I am the quintessential preacher’s wife. 

The role chafes.

So why do I stay? 

I believe in God. I believe Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again. 

I love the church - this broken, angry, ugly, festering bride of Christ. For all their faults, the church brought me to faith. And they need to hear the gospel. They need a missionary.

But as I stay here, gently, persistently, pushing the local church toward greater faith, hope, and love, I worry. What about those who don’t fit? Those the church chewed up and spit out? The ones who couldn’t conform to the cookie cutter expectations? What I view as a slow, thankless mission to the Wednesday night crowd must surely look like simply agreeing in the eyes of others.

I don’t know the answer. To be honest, I’m not certain I even know the question! So for now, I will continue my gentle challenges to the church regulars in person, and I will write for the misfits. 

I’m no guide. I don’t really know where I’m going. But I’m going. Together, we can find The Way.