Latest / This Is That: Believe Again / Ep 4 - A Conversation with Kim Poteat
Transcript
- Kim Poteat: I've seen that happen so many times in my life where I'm going through this really hard time. I just don't think there's anywhere to turn. I don't think any good can come from it. in a peer a period of time. It doesn't happen quickly all the time. in fact, mostly it's not a quick process, but he uses it for good. He Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: either uses it for my good or he uses it for somebody else's good. And then he gl his name is glorified through it. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Amen. Kim Poteat: So just know in your hard times, he's there and you're going Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: to make it through it and he's going to use it for good. And The more he does that in your life, the more you hand it over to him to do that, you will see more and more goodness. And when the struggles come, they get a little easier because you can look back and remember what he's done in your life and Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. Kim Poteat: see that good is coming, even in the midst of the storms. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Amen. Welcome to This Is That, Believe Again. in episode three, Dry Bones Living Again, we explored the question, Lord, what is my part? And we looked at ordinary people throughout scripture and history whom the Lord prepared and positioned for their particular moment. Today we get to continue that thought through the life and story of someone from right here in these mountains. So And I've had the privilege of getting to know her. So I have here with me Kim Petit. Kim and I met through a local prayer group and I've gotten to know her and I've seen her heart and drive and passion for the Lord and for children, for families and communities. She's a wife, mother of nine, grandmother of sixteen, and she serves in a number of areas that we'll talk about along the way. So but first Kim, welcome. I am so thrilled that you're here. Kim Poteat: Thank you so much, Yvonne, for having me. I'm so privileged to be here with you and excited about this. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Awesome, awesome. So so Kim, I I loved reading your bio and learning more about your family and the different organizations and ministries you support. It was amazing. So since prayer is actually how you and I first connected, so let's start there. Okay, so first I'm gonna pray and so Lord we invite you by your spirit into this conversation. So please lead us and guide us. to cover what's on your heart, Lord. so thank you, Jesus. So so Kim, you have a thriving family and a are you're very active in ministry at your church and in the community and you still consistently when we were part of that prayer group showed up to the prayer group and and so why is taking time for prayer so important to you? Kim Poteat: Well, Oswald Chambers says it best, prayer does not prepare us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work. And I truly believe that. That was in a devotional of his called My Utmost for His Highest. And when I came across that, it just really resonated with my spirit and and caused me to see how important prayer was and is. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's awesome. Yes, that's awesome. It's one of my favorite books. That's that's amazing. I don't think we've ever talked about that. That's amazing. Kim Poteat: More. Yvonne Denise Hicks: So that's great. So can you share just a a mum how how has prayer influenced the way you approach things, you know, that you're involved in today? Kim Poteat: Well, prayer became so important to me when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was in a relationship with Jesus, but it was not where I am now, nowhere close. And I began to sit on my porch swing, unsure of what the future held. And just begin praying scripture, word for word, turning it into prayers. And he showed up mightily. And since then it's just gone deeper and deeper, more powerful, just him showing up when I mainly pray his word, turning it into prayers. It's powerful. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That is powerful. Thank you so much for sharing that. So wow. So Kim, now that I've come to know you, when I see and I hear you speak, I see and feel the Lord's heart for children, for families and communities. And so what is it that you see as you look at your own family and the families and children in the community? what do you believe is especially important in this season? Kim Poteat: Most important in my eyes is showing up for our children, being there, listening to them, giving them a clear path of what's right and wrong. And for me, I turn to the Bible for that. And then showing them that they are truly loved and valued and that They weren't a mistake. Nothing about them is a mistake. And I don't know, two decades ago, the purpose-driven life, maybe longer than that, I started studying that book. I I did that study. I led that study Yvonne Denise Hicks: I don't know. Kim Poteat: multiple times. And there was a poem in that book that really spoke to me about my not being a mistake. And that's that truly is what we need to share with our children. They were created for a purpose. There is no mistake in them. And if they will seek the Lord, he will show them exactly what they were created for. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. That's what scripture says, right? We're all made in his image and likeness and he knew us, right? in our mother's Kim Poteat: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: womb before, you know, he placed us there. that that's so powerful. So where in in talking about children, where where do you see opportunities for us to make a difference? You know, w what what do you think would would give hope to child y you know, I know you're involved in many different things and so just just share what's on your heart regarding that. Kim Poteat: Well, first off Helping them to understand that they aren't a mistake. for me, the Lord showed me so much as a child in my difficulties. He showed up in prayer. I would have nightmares, same nightmares over and over again, and I started praying. And They went away. I asked him to take them away and they went away. It s so one teaching them prayer, call out to their Lord, show up for s at school board meetings. Get involved in what's going on in the classroom. It's important to know exactly what is being taught to our children because there's so much out there that's not truth and they need to know truth. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. I I know that that's a part of my testimony in in r relationship with you and and the moms for liberty that you founded the chapter here in this area and I remember you know attending ev even over Zoom, right? meetings and just hearing what was happening in terms of gender ideology, what certain states and certain school districts were going through and the parents going through with people stepping into that parental relationship with their children and you know hiding things from the parents and all of that and I know that I was so stirred that I I I you know I I don't have any children. I'm new relatively new to the to the mountains and to the the county and so forth. I went to the school board meeting. I had actually attended a couple before that, but I actually put my name on the list and I made my three minute comments and just because I saw from what you were sharing and the group was sharing, I just saw what was happening. I went and read the statistics that our our kids are are are failing in school. Like the this area is like C average and and going down. Right. And so Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: many emotional problems. And, you know, their solution was just to hire more social workers, you know, that kind of thing. And I I just I was like, these are God's children. The the children belong to the Lord and belong to family. So I I just wanted to do a shout out for for the things that you're teaching us in and sharing and all of that. I it's just so powerful. and so I just what what what is in on your heart in terms of what what more we can do and just just whatever you feel l led to share, just talk to us. Kim Poteat: So recently I saw a training for teachers where the leader was explaining to them that they need to help children understand that they cannot trust their parents. So we need to be very careful with what is being taught in classrooms, which means that we need to be involved. Parents need to build relationships with the teachers. And who knows, those who are being led astray by this kind of leadership, parents may make a difference and show them that they can be trusted. the the teacher can actually trust the parent and building those relationships with the teacher and their child. the The state that we're in today, deception is running rampant. And truth is very important for our children. It's very important for our families. And the example that we set can make a difference. We can influence our children. We influence our churches, we have influence in our communities. And ultimately our nation. And that's what we need to work, take action in to move forward and affect all those that are in our path. Yvonne Denise Hicks: So so what are some of the things that, you know, for parents in in this environment with their kids, what what are just some of the practical, you know, day to day things? 'Cause I I I know for example you you homeschool and I know that there's tidbits probably in in what you do on a homeschool level that any parent can pick up and and and do do something to just bridge the gap that's there. 'Cause, you know, i this the Bible says that that children were given to parents. We're g you know, part of a family Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and that, you know, the responsibility to train up children i belongs in the family primarily, right? The the Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: education system is a support. So what are some of your thoughts there? Kim Poteat: So parents pay attention to the curriculum. Ask to see the curriculum. It's not out there as it should be, very transparent. So you have to go in and ask for it and then sit and look through it and pay attention. and if you need help, Moms for Liberty Bunkham is here to go and sit with you and help you look through the curriculum. We can't go in ourselves and do it, but we can go with a parent to help look at it and see what's there. Again, showing up at school board meetings, paying attention to the policies that they are putting forth, and then even speaking at school board meetings. l as you have done, sharing your concerns, sending emails to the school board members, building relationships with your principal, again with your teachers, showing up. I mean, we have made a mistake, and I have been guilty of this, of blindly trusting our education system and the leaders. you thought you were sending them to school to get an education in the basics. of education being math, reading, writing, science and history, true history. But now mental health has come into the picture and I don't think that belongs in school systems. Teachers are educated to teach those basic subjects, not to provide mental health. We now have health systems in our schools and we need to be careful Yvonne Denise Hicks: Wow. Kim Poteat: for of those. If you sign a blanket permission slip at the beginning of the year, you don't know if you're going to be contacted or not. They say they will contact you, but that's not always the case. So be very mindful. My personal recommendation is not to use those health centers to go to your family doctor with your children and also to not leave the room so that you know exactly what is taking place in those appointments, what is being said, and then you can direct your children in the way that you prefer them walk because you know your child best. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, yeah. So so Kim, how did how did what sparked you to start a Buncombe County chapter? You're the founder and chair of the Buncom County Moms for Liberty. can you share a little bit about that journey and d about Moms Kim Poteat: Certainly. Yvonne Denise Hicks: for Liberty? Kim Poteat: Yes. So I ran for the Board of Education in 2022. That honestly was not in my plans Yvonne Denise Hicks: Mm-hmm. Kim Poteat: or my dreams. I received a few phone calls asking me to run. my thoughts were I'm not a public speaker and that's going to require speaking in public. But people kept asking and I said yes. I lost. I was a little devastated because Yvonne Denise Hicks: Hmm. Kim Poteat: I knew that we needed voices, conservative voices on the board, because we don't have that right now. We haven't had that for a while. And I also learned that the board members normally ran uncontested. So Yvonne Denise Hicks: Wow. Kim Poteat: I decided then that I would work hard to always find somebody to run against the board members that was conservative. Well, I lost and for a few days I was down and I began praying, you know, Lord, I lost. Now what? These children don't have a voice. I heard him, Holy Spirit speak and say, You're not done yet. We have work to do. Join a moms for liberty. So I went seeking for a moms for liberty group. There wasn't one here in Buncombe County. So I had I said it out loud. I said, Lord, there's not one here. So I Yvonne Denise Hicks: Ha ha. Kim Poteat: can't join one. He says, that's right, you're gonna bring one. So that began the journey of bringing a mom's for liberty bunkham here. So from Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: my loss, he brought good. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. And and I Kim Poteat: To the scan. Yvonne Denise Hicks: love your that it's steeped in prayer that, you know, the Lord speaks to us and Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: directs us. And so even in despair or even, you know, in an uncomfortable place of you know, you're you're stretched, you know, and he Kim Poteat: Yes, yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: shows up and gives you the next step and there's I that's what I love. There's no there's no failures in the kingdom. It it's just alert stepping stones, right? a process. Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: And sometimes that it it's the breakthrough to to move forward 'cause what the Moms for Liberty that you've formed here is powerful. you you you know, recently I remember the the the tea, the the Thanksgiving tea, the different events, that have been held here. I mean, the stirring in the community is just so powerful. my gosh. So I I don't know, is there I know we've been talking about Mons from Delivery. I know that there's some other things that you're we're doing and we're gonna include things in the show notes so that people can find out about it. But is there anything else that you, you know, feel led to share or in in along those lines? Kim Poteat: Yes, so I'm also involved as a co-leader with Embrace Grace through our church and that is a ministry that reaches out to single women with unplanned pregnancies and we come alongside them, we encourage them, we help them provide for their babies. we have baby shower for them, if they choose to give up the baby for adoption, then we also celebrate that when that takes place. So it's a very important ministry to come alongside be a woman who is feels alone at that time when they're single and there's no one there for them. So yes, if you're alone and pregnant, you have an unplanned pregnancy, please reach out. We would love to walk with you in it. And then then Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, that's powerful. Kim Poteat: we also have I I'm a co founder with Beating Hearts Turning Hearts and that is a ministry where we Come alongside those who are struggling, who are who are down, depressed, the in crisis mode. We plan a weekend away and we do a Bible study. Helping them to draw closer to the Lord, to our Jesus who walks with us in those times, and he takes those difficult times and he brings good from it for you. And then he brings glory to himself. and that's so important. I've seen that happen so many times in my life where I'm going through this really hard time. I just don't think there's anywhere to turn. I don't think any good can come from it. It doesn't happen quickly all the time. in fact, mostly it's not a quick process, but he uses it for good. He Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: either uses it for my good or he uses it for somebody else's good. And then he gl his name is glorified through it. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Amen. Kim Poteat: So just know in your hard times, he's there and you're going Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: to make it through it and he's going to use it for good. And The more he does that in your life, the more you hand it over to him to do that, you will see more and more goodness. And when the struggles come, they get a little easier because you can look back and remember what he's done in your life and Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. Kim Poteat: see that good is coming, even in the midst of the storms. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. That's awesome. That's powerful. wow. So and I I've been noticing your your background. It looks like you know, you're I I I've been to your home, so I I love that your mountain view and and things like that. So I'm a part of one of the things that I'll be bringing forth is is about America the beautiful and for people to engage with with nature and engage with the Lord in in nature. So can you just like share a little bit about your love for the mountains and even, you know, what it does for families and in and communities and things like that, even if people have to just stop by for a visit, like you were saying, you know, sometimes getting away, you know, just like you're doing Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: in different ministry things is powerful. Kim Poteat: It is powerful. You know, I look at the mountains and I see his glory. I see his creation. And I I I think, how can anyone doubt that God exists with this beauty? And I'll wake up and I'll see the mounts, I'll see the beautiful sun coming up, the pink skies, and I'm like, thank you, Lord. Such beautiful art that you give to us. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: And He draws us together in family, in that creation. You are blessed together to know him, looking out over all that he's created. And how thankful I am for that. And this this the America that we live in, this United States of America, we are so blessed to live in this country, even amidst all the struggles, even amidst the not so good situations that have occurred over our past, but we can learn from those and do better. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. I I truly believe that because you know, I grew up in the city in in Philadelphia and you know, the Lord moved me to the Carolinas 'cause actually my family is from from this area, but moving to the mountains, you know, prophetically he he's he sent me here, you know, through dreams and things like that. And the glory that's here. This is called what it called the the land of the sky. Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: in this area because of the the sunrises and sunsets and along the Blue Ridge Parkway and it's just like i it in part of that dream was like the Lord was saying stop. Stop stop the busyness and stop the the rushing Kim Poteat: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: through and and come aside and take a look and I love, you know, hearing you talk about the mountains and you know, I think you even like, my husband's got a cut. part of that tree so I can see my mountain, you know. So Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: it's it's powerful. It's it's it's beautiful. And the the other thing that I wanted you to speak into was I'll be doing an episode about the constitution. And I know that we we share a similar passion there. So so can you Share a little bit about what you do concerning the one of my episodes w will actually be on September the seventeenth and so or released that day. And so anything you wanna share about just your passion for, you know, our founding documents or just whatever because it's so important, particularly now. There's a lot of warfare over who we are as a nation and where Kim Poteat: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: God created this land for us and you know, and all of that. So Whatever you want to share. Kim Poteat: Well, so Moms for Liberty Bunk in next month we will be working hopefully with the community to disperse the 250th pocket constitutions to all eighth graders across Buncombe County. We will need volunteers to help with this. But and we will also have for our chapter meeting in September, Doug Powell coming to speak. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Great. Kim Poteat: to share the importance of our constitution, what education originally began for. so September 14th at 630 PM, you can email me for the place. But come be apart and let's hear about our founding fathers, the sacrifices they made. We have no idea the Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: the intense sacrifices they made. They lost so much to fight for the freedoms of this country and to bring forth the Constitution. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: So come and join us on September 14th. Sign up to adopt a school to deliver a decorated basket of handheld constitutions to our school's eighth graders. And you'll you'll be a part of helping to teach that to eighth graders across our county. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's powerful. Yay, yay. And Kim Poteat: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: I I and I love their there are organizations that you can you can get like the I don't you know, there were a couple of organizations I know that you used you know different meetings you had materials and and things like that. so even if you can't participate, you can get these you know, these d documents. There's even websites you can download. some pieces of that so that people who might be seeing this that are not in the Buncombe County area, don't let that stop you. You know, there there are ways to to get the information, but if you're in Buncombe County you need to be helping Kim. That's all I'm saying. Kim Poteat: Yes. And the 917 Society is partnering Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yes. Kim Poteat: with us and they give us these handheld pocket constitutions for free. So if if you're not in Buncom County and you would like to see this taking place in your school system, you can contact the 917 Society and they will help you get po constitutions for your students in your area. Yvonne Denise Hicks: that's p awesome. Thank you so much for sharing that. That it's important. And they have a great website. So so Kim, I just want to give you some some moments to, you know, to talk about what what gives you hope for for our nation, for your family, for our community, and anything else you want to share. Kim Poteat: So hope. Jesus. Jesus is our hope. Yes, we can hire we can vote politicians in. Elections are good. We need to go and vote. Because if we don't vote, if we don't take our freedom to vote seriously, we will lose it. we don't take our freedoms to voice what we believe, we will lose that freedom to voice our freedom of voice. So Jesus is our only hope. And we need to vote people in who will put policies in place that line up with how we believe. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: That's so important. Yvonne Denise Hicks: We're Christian nation. The Lord founded it. I mean the earth is the Lord's. The earth is the Lord's. You know? Yeah. Kim Poteat: Yes. Every everything is the Lord's. Even what we own, he provides for us. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: What what we receive comes from the Lord. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, yeah. Powerful, powerful. So we're gonna have ways that people can stay connected with you, Kim, in in the show notes and everything. I I loved that you started this education watch. and just the different things, moms for living just I was just so impressed with when I when I got your resume because I didn't know all that that you did and and and I just I n I know you and and the spirit that comes out of you is is just love and care and and and fight. You know, fight for freedom, fight for the Lord, fight for your children, right? Fight Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: fight the enemy, you know, and Kim Poteat: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: restore so so we have a just you know a few minutes. Can you wind us down and whatever you want to share but but can you also pray for us? Kim Poteat: Yes, I'll be happy to. So one the education watch with Kim, I would like to share that that has one minute videos on it to keep you informed of what's going on in our nation, in our state and in our county. regarding our education for our children and it's so important that you stay up to date on that because it's changing every day. So go check that out, subscribe, like, and watch. And stay up to date on what's going on. And then eventually I will be doing podcasts. I am working towards that, but right now it's just short videos. And the short videos are because I know everyone's time is limited, so you don't have 30 minutes to sit and watch a lot of videos. So please check that out. And then just be there for your children. Pay attention to what's going on. Know they need you to stay informed. I know lives are busy, but our most precious gift is our children. And they are our most innocent. So therefore you're there to protect them. And thank you for protecting them. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kim Poteat: And let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, as we close, we thank you for being a God who redeems stories, heals broken places, and uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Thank you for every child you have entrusted to us. Give us eyes to see them. Ears to hear them, and hearts willing to protect, guide, and encourage them. Help us, Lord, to build strong families and churches where faith is lived, truth is treasured, and children know they are loved and belong. Bring healing where there is brokenness, courage and peace where there is fear. Hope where there is discouragement and truth where there is confusion. Lord, we lift up our nation to you as we reflect on 250 years of history. Give us gratitude for our freedoms, humility about our failures, and wisdom to learn from the past. Teach us to understand. That freedom is precious and it must be stewarded with courage, responsibility, and faithfulness. And if you are calling us into something greater, give us courage to say yes, Lord, even when we feel inadequate or cannot see the road ahead. Help us to act justly. Love mercy and walk humbly with you, Lord. Use our lives, our families, our churches, and our communities to point people toward Jesus. Let revival begin in our homes and spread throughout our churches and our nation. We surrender our children, our families, our communities, and our nation to you, Lord. May our lives reflect your love and bring you glory. When people look back on our lives, may they see your fingerprints and know that you used willing hearts for your purposes. We give you all the praise. All the glory and all the honor in the precious, powerful, holy name of Jesus. We pray. Amen. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That was awesome. Thank you so much. And Kim, thank you for your time today and for all that you do. And we'll we'll take that charge that you gave us in prayer, to to go forth and do likewise. Following the Lord, right? Following the sp Holy Spirit. Kim Poteat: Thank you, Avon. Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: So I I just want to encourage everyone to take a look at the show notes. We're gonna have links where you can stay connected to Kim and all that she's doing and also just come back for for episode five we're gonna be talking about America the beautiful and and and some of the things I've there was a powerful testimony and prophetic thing playing out now starting in Oregon and going across our our nation and so we're we'll start there but we'll intermingle some of the different testimonies about different places because people need to get outside of the city walls. You need to get, you know, slow down, turn around, come aside and spend some time with the Lord. It's it's he's created a beautiful place for us to meet Kim Poteat: Thank you. Yvonne Denise Hicks: with him and you know, so powerful. So Thank you so much, Kim, and and and thank everyone Kim Poteat: Yes. Thank you, Yvonne. Yvonne Denise Hicks: for joining and we'll see you next time. So God bless.