Amy McVicker holds an advanced biblical certificate from the Seminary Wives Institute at Southern Seminary and trained with the ABWE for missionary service in Japan, where she and her family served for a year. With over fifteen years of teaching experience and eight years of speaking opportunities, she is passionate about equipping others with God's truth through Bible study and discipleship. Amy writes on her blog and on social media, encouraging women to pursue a relationship with Jesus. Relatable and approachable, Amy shares practical wisdom from her own life to point others to Jesus. Through her writing and speaking, she encourages readers to find hope in God's Word and to walk faithfully with Him in every season of life. Amy is currently editing her book, Broken But Not Discarded, and the Companion Bible Study to be released soon.

Amy has been married to the love of her life, Tom, for twenty-nine years and is the mother of four children and an adorable granddaughter. She resides in Southern Pennsylvania, where she homeschools her youngest daughter and teaches creative classes at her local co-op. Those closest to her know her as just a girl who adoringly loves Jesus, is devoted to her family, has a coffee obsession, and tries to balance driving her teen everywhere, mountains of laundry, and everything else life throws at her.

Connect with Amy daily, see pictures of her crazy life, and follow her schedule.

Blog: www.amymcvicker.com

Facebook: www.facebook/amymariemcvicker

Instagram: @‌amymariemcvicker

TikTok: @‌amymariemcvicker

Welcome to 12 Minute Converse with Jesus Believers.

God chose first to have a conversation with us, his creation.

Our prayer is that this listening space brings growth and transforms your life forever.

Praise God for you Amy.

What part of the world are you in today?

Right now I'm in southern Pennsylvania which is right on the Maryland border.

It's a great pleasure to connect with you.

I'd love for you to share with us what missionary work was like in Japan.

It was very interesting.

We arrived in the midst of COVID, so it wasn't exactly as we had planned it, but we were blessed to have multiple opportunities to share the gospel with those that got placed in our paths.

My husband was helping with a church there outside of Kumamoto.

Our first couple years was supposed to be learning the language and building relationships.

It was interesting because with COVID, a lot of the outreaches that we might have been a part of were canceled.

In fact, three days after we arrived, they closed the borders.

And so it was looking back, we can see God's hand in all of it as he kept the borders open for us to arrive.

Were you afraid of not being able to get back to the U.S.? Three months after we were there, our grandson was born stillborn and we had to make the difficult choice.

Would we go back and be locked out of Japan basically because the borders were shut for over a year.

And so we chose to stay because we knew that's what God wanted us to do.

We were trusting in God.

What was the reason leading up for you choosing to actually decide to get to Japan?

Well, the Lord showed us through some missions conferences in our church.

He definitely convicted my husband and I that he wanted us to go and share the gospel as Matthew 28 says.

It was really cool because we were both feeling convicted, but we hadn't discussed it with each other.

And then one evening after a church service, I finally said something to my husband.

I'm like, I think God wants us to go and be international missionaries.

And I thought he was going to think I was absolutely insane.

And he said, you know what?

I think God does too.

And so that was confirmation that this was something of the Lord and not something that maybe we were thinking on our own.

How long have you both been married?

Coming up on 29 years.

How did you both meet each other?

I had wanted to be a police officer before I ever met my husband.

And so in a step to that, I was a security guard.

And he just got out of the Navy and had seen me.

And as he drove by in the little gatehouse, saw me.

And we were set up by another employee.

I'm like kind of a blind date because I didn't really know what he looked like.

And then the rest is history.

So that's how we met.

What an amazing story.

Wow.

And so we never would have thought the Lord would have had us doing any type of missions.

It was all part of his plan.

It is absolutely amazing how God works.

How did you come to meet Jesus?

I was seven years old.

I had been through some abuse as a child.

And when I went to church, I felt safe and I felt secure.

And so one time at church, I just was looking at the cross.

And I just said, you know what?

If you could die for my sins, Jesus, then I want to live for you.

And so that's when it began.

And sadly, I can't say that I always followed him.

As I grew older, I started to live for the world and not the Lord.

And one of those difficulties in our marriage, my husband and I started attending his church together, his childhood home church.

And I recommitted my life to Christ.

And then that's when the Lord started to put ministry on both of our hearts.

It's interesting how that works, though, why we step away from God.

You said sadly, what are the steps you're putting in place for that not to happen again?

Well, I think our relationship with the Lord, I didn't have a lot of discipleship.

So, you know, I would like to say it was kind of on that rocky soil.

It wasn't firmly rooted.

And so I pray that I have grown greatly by rooting in his word and the relationship I have with him has grown.

And by using all of that, I say sadly, but the Lord has been able to use all of my disobedience, sadly, things that have happened to me from other people's sin to minister to other women.

And in part of that, I finally was obedient.

And I've actually just recently written a book that hopefully, God willing, will be published before summer to help women.

It's called Broken But Not Discarded, putting the pieces back together and living the abundant life you were created for.

So I pray that I will never be in that spot again.

But of course, none of us, I want to be humble and never put myself on a pedestal because we each fall short of the glory of God and sin.

But hopefully now I'm more rooted in Christ.

And when I do struggle, I will never go that far away from him again.

Do you have any children?

Yeah, I'm blessed with four children.

I've had three miscarriages, but I have four children that are growing way too quickly.

God has blessed me with a granddaughter and then a grandson that is with him now that when we were in Japan, as I mentioned, passed away.

They keep me busy.

Let's imagine now five years from today, you're listening to this or even your children or your grandchildren are listening to this.

What's a message you'd leave for them?

That no matter what you do, you are loved and God has an amazing purpose for you.

He can use all of the bad and the good for his glory.

Nothing you do will ever separate you from his love.

Amy, this has been a great pleasure.

Before we leave, is there anything else you'd like to share with our amazing audience?

Just speak in prayer for the book, Broken But Not Discarded.

My prayer is that it will help many women heal and see how they are loved by Christ.

I'm wishing you all the best with that.

I hope you've put the deadline date and you're pressing towards the goal because I understand it's a very challenging task to accomplish.

Praying for your success with that.

Again, this has been a pleasure that I treasure.

Thank you for being on What Is Inspired by 12 Minute Convos.