This is Whitney Klinke, age 33, resident of Washington IL.
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The Connect Center is the place of employment for Whitney.
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At Connect, Whitney spends 6 days a week working as a children’s pastor
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On a daily basis, Whitney works hard preparing messages, mentoring leaders, and in meetings …..
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Whitney is a hard working mom, but needs time in her day to pour into herself.
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“She is clothed with strength and dignity” Proverbs 31: 25
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Being a mom of young children requires many responsibilities including laundry, lots and lots of laundry.
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Whitneys dog olive provides an escape and comfort for her in the midst of her chaotic days.
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Picking up the house is a daily chore.
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In her home she displays the artwork of her children.
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Constantly picking up after her children is a regular occurrence for Whitney.
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Cooking dinner while her husband is getting home from work and kids are running around often causes stress.
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Home.
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Whitney Klinke is a 33 year old working mom who wakes up every day exhausted and overwhelmed from yesterday attempting to refresh and make each day amazing for her family. Simply being a mom can be the hardest job in the world, working on top of it takes a strong woman. Whitney says “I am myself first and then a wife and mom second. Being a mom doesn’t define me. I feel I can be a better mom and a wife if I am a happy and healthy person first.” She stresses the importance that above everything else she needs to be herself, She needs to be consistently filling her cup to pour into others. Whitney is a resident of Washington IL and works at a location church as a children’s pastor. Her day starts bright and early getting her two young children ready for school. Once they are ready then she then gets to go be herself. Whitney says “I am a follower of Christ and a child’s pastor. I make sure Sunday’s are prepared for and my leaders are equipped and happy.” Everyday at work for her is different, sometimes meetings, other days printing and prepping, some days writing messages, and the others are spending intentional time with the leaders above her and under her in order to grow others and herself within the church. Whitney states that “Working in ministry isn’t easy by any means.” She is constantly giving up herself for others as well as in the light being questioned and judged by others for her beliefs, although she does it because she feels called to and loves Jesus more than anything. After the work day, Whitney doesn’t get to go home and relax, much like most all other moms. She heads home but most days that’s when the craziness begins. She cleans the house, cooks dinner, helps with homework, run kids to all their activities, attempts to spend time with her family all together, and then gets everyone ready for bed. “My job is never done. But I enjoy it. I love the mess. I love the chaos and I wouldn’t have life any other way.” Whitney is a hero because working isn’t easy, being a mom isn’t easy, and doing both is definitely not easy. But she wakes up every day with a positive outlook on life striving to be her best self for herself, for her co-workers, and for her family.
Josie Wudtke 