COVER STORY 32 MAY 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition The Bible describes a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. It paints the image of a remarkable woman involved in all facets of her community, active in the marketplace, involved in charity and managing the affairs of her household well. “Strength and honor are her clothing…She opens her mouth with wisdom and her tongue is the law of kindness…Many women do noble things…but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31: 25-26, 30). Once again, in conjunction with Mother’s Day, Good News presents our third annual feature applauding four Women of Distinction who are leaders in our faith community. Here are their thoughts on God’s calling along with a fewwords of advice. GingerMartin President and CEO American National Bank Ginger Martin has been president and CEO of AmericanNational Bank for 26 years. She began her career as a CPAwithDeloitte on the audit side for four years, then switched to banking where she has worked ever since. A small community bank, American National Bank was instrumental in helping small businesses and non-profits obtain PPE loans during the pandemic. Under Ginger’s leadership, their teamdid $100millionworth of PPE loans, making them the number one PPE lender in South Florida for their size and preserving the livelihoods of thousands. “It was just a really great way to support our community in a time of crisis and there are a lot of organizations and businesses that have stayed open because of it,” she added. Outside of the bank, Ginger serves on the board of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida, promoting charitable giving through donor advised funds and serving as aLifeworkLeadershipCoach formany years. Most recently shewas appointed to theMiami Branch of the Federal ReserveBank ofAtlanta, where she plays a role in establishingmonetary policy for the country. “It’s a huge honor,” saidGinger. “It’s really been an amazing experience, especially in the times we’re living in… I’m very prayerful about it, asking God to give me wisdom and direction.” Though she has nevermarried, Ginger became a foster parent to her nephewTravis and nieceAshley, and formally adoptedAshley as her daughter. “Being a mom is definitely a big deal,” said Ginger, adding “It was the hardest thing I’ve done and the most rewarding.” What is God’s calling for you? In this season, it is to be a light in the in the business world. Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby? I am on the Board of the Broward College Foundation, which is really trying to reach out to a more underprivileged population of students in the poorest zip codes whose families have never had anybody go to college. I’malso on theBoard ofAWANA, an international child discipleship program.Andwe have to mention human trafficking because I have not stopped doing the Freedom Challenges. Last year I did three regional hikes and the big one was Mount Rainier to base camp. Ginger has a passion to end human trafficking and has climbedMount Kilamanjaro and scaledmany other peaks as part of the Freedom Climb in conjunction with Operation Mobilization to raise funds to combat human trafficking. Did you have a family mission statement? “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). That was the verse I tried to keep in mind as a parent. What Bible verse has encouraged you? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5). What was yourmost challenging time as a mother? The most challenging time was in the teen years. I made the difficult decision to put my daughter in Teen Challenge at the age of 17 because I loved her and knewwhat was best for her and she needed help. When I dropped her off, she was hating me… Once she turned 18, she could leave the program on her own, but when I visited her at Christmas just weeks before her 18th birthday, she said, “Mom,myChristmas present to you is that I’m staying” and she completed the program. What was yourmost rewarding time as a mother? My proudest moment is when she graduated from the Navy Boot Camp, which was very hard, and she served our country for four years in the Navy. And then she went on to get an associate degree from Broward College on her GI Bill. What advice would you give women ormothers? Bothas abusinesspersonandas amother, it’sProverbs 3:5-6–“Trust in theLordwithall your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, andHe shall direct your paths.” KimBoland Administrative Coordinator Cross Community Church Kim Boland serves as administrative coordinator at Cross Community Church, where her husband Dr. Tommy Boland is the lead pastor. It is the church they founded together in Deerfield Beach, having originally served at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. The Bolands have been married for 30 years and have four adult children. With a bachelor’s degree in management, Kim worked as a claims adjuster for an insurance company after college. When she met Tommy, he was opening a Fitness Center, and the two operated the business together for 11 years, with Kim handling the business affairs behind the scenes. When the couple began having kids, Tommy started working on his degree at Knox Theological Seminary, eventually teaching at Westminster Academy and serving on staff at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Kim served with him, also coming on staff as his ministry assistant. Together they launched out from Coral Ridge to plant Cross Community Church in 2012. “Since 1992, we’ve alwaysworked together in some capacitywhether it was as volunteer orme being on staff,” said Kim. “I’m not an out-front kind of person. I’d much rather be in the background and supporting the details” Kim is also heavily involved in supporting women in the church, often developing relationship with them in which she can be a listening friend and mentor. In regards to an accomplishment she’s proud of, Kim said, “Certainly, just being a mom is my greatest joy, but in terms of a particular project, stepping into anything new and unfamiliar and feeling accomplished with that draws me and excites me. For example, two years ago we did a building project at the church, and I ended up with the project manager’s hat. I learned the ins and outs to make it happen and that's really rewarding to me. Learning is a big thing for me and not being afraid to learn something new.” What is God’s calling for you? My true passion and gifting has been administration, so that's where I continue to serve.Whether it's Tommy's vision or the leadership's vision of the church, it's how can I help support what it is you all want to accomplish, and what God has given you for this church? Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby? Withmuch of the family’s timewrapped up in church service I don’t have a particular charity outside of the church. One passion of mine is watching sports, and it doesn’t matter which one. Most recently it’s been baseball. Earlier both of our daughters played volleyball, the boys played football and baseball and I’ve missed having a child that's immersed in playing sports. Did you have a familyMission statement? We took the thematic approach to faith with our kids that God is in everything we do. He's in every thought. He's in every action. He's in everything little thing, and that's the most important thing you can carry with you through your life. What Bible verse has encouraged you? “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). What was yourmost challenging time as a mother? Our son Zack was diagnosed with a chromosome duplication, so he has special needs and went to Calvary Christian Academy for their exceptionalities program. He's worked hard to overcome and he's incredibly gifted in a lot of ways, especially musically. We know he'll do fine in life, but that's been our hardest thing is dealing with Zack’s condition and understanding his academic and physical limitations. What was yourmost rewarding time as a mother? The most rewarding is just seeing any of our kids do hard things and do them well. Especially as young adults, watching them reach for God in their challenges is pretty encouraging to see as a mom. Good NewsApplaudsWomen of Distinction 2023 By Shelly Pond Good News Editor Ashley Martin and Ginger Martin Back row: Tommy Boland, Brock Boland, Zack Boland; Front row: Jenna Boland, Kim Boland, Katie Boland
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