Interview With Rita Prochazka

I’m excited to introduce my co-host on Bloom in Your Winter Season, Rita Prochazka. Rita is a Bible study teacher and facilitator for a women’s Sunday school class at her church. Her call to short term missions trips have placed her in many unique places in the world. In the planning stages is a book to be written to highlight those places and people that she prays will make it into the hands of her family for generations to come. Rita lives in Michigan with her husband Mark. They are parents to 2 married daughters and 1 married son. They are Papa and Grammy to 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. Her prayer for this blog is to encourage women to seek God’s plan for their winter season, to live it out and to give all the glory to God!

Rita thank you for stepping up and helping me with my blog. I am so excited to see what the future holds for our seasoned women ministry. Now without further ado lets get right down to the interview questions.

Rita, can you share some of your testimony with us?

My parents were in their 40’s when I and then my brother were born, so we were very much wanted and loved. We went to church, we talked about God and Jesus. God was in my thoughts and I felt close to Him. Fast forward many years, I married and had my children. We attended church and the pastor we had preached about Jesus and His great love and sacrifice for me. I heard it in my head, but not yet feeling it in my heart. As life goes, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and she died within six weeks. I had 3 kids, my youngest was only 6 months old. This rocked me like nothing in my life ever had. My mom was my best friend. I didn’t know how’d I’d carry on without her. Without her and without Jesus, I plowed along. I know my husband, family and friends were praying for me. Two years later, I attended a “Walk to Emmaus,” a three day spiritual retreat. I heard about Jesus again. His love, grace and forgiveness. I learned about the Bible, how to read it, study it and apply it to my life. God used this to bring Himself to the forefront of my life. I was tired of hurting, aching, asking for help, and floundering on my own. It wasn’t working! I came to the end of myself and looked up to Jesus. I knew I was a sinner who needed a Savior. On January 19, 1991 I became a new creation, a sinner saved by His amazing grace! For thirty-two years, now, I have followed Him, of course, not perfectly but He has been faithful. He is my strength and my shield!

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. This reminds me that I am new in Him and every day I can be who he has made me to be.

Briefly, what are some things you’ve learned in your walk with God in this season of your life?

I’ve learned in this season of life that He is faithful in whatever circumstance or trial or joy I am in. Prayer and the study of His word are a lifeline for me.

Rita, how have you prepared or been prepared for your ministry?

I’ve attended many Bible Studies, Sunday school classes and small studies. I have taken the Disciple Bible Study and seven years of Bible Study Fellowship. I’ve facilitated women’s Bible Studies for many years. It’s in that seat where I learned to come humbly to the Lord to pray, listen, sympathize and encourage women. I found priceless training and life lessons.

Can you share a time, recently, where you saw God work in your life, either in your ministry or personal life?

God worked in my life recently when I was led to facilitate a ladies book study in my church at the Sunday school hour. It was life-changing for me and my ladies as we learned (and are still learning) so much about God; ways to pray, journaling and listening to Him in the way He has created us to hear Him.

Will you share something about yourself that most people would not know? It can be fun or serious.

Fun fact – I took up running (yes races) when I was 58 or so. I ran 5K’s and even an 8K. It was fun while it lasted for a couple of years. Too hard on the old body and feet. I do take walks and try to stay active. I must add that chasing after grandchildren is a delightful way to keep moving.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement would be that we raised three wonderful, caring, capable adults from birth to grace this world with their unique gifts, talents and loving compassionate hearts.

Rita, would your life story make a good movie?

I think my story would make a good movie. My husband and I have been married 45 years and worked together in our small business for most of those years. It would be funny and dramatic at the same time!

Where do you see yourself/ministry in five years?

In five years I will be 73. If I was not able to physically do ministry, I can pray for others, mentor younger women, and be an encourager for my family and friends to get up each day and shine Christi’s light to whoever has been put in their path for that day. I pray I can be obedient and find joy in the small things of life.

Rita, what advice would you give to other “seasoned” women on how to stay active in ministry?

My advice to seasoned women would be to stay attentive to hearing God’s voice. From my experience, He will use you and stretch your faith and bring new things into your life that you would never have thought of or could see yourself doing. Be open and listen to His Spirit. He is always near and speaking to us.

Have you ever felt too old to be used by God? What made you decide God could still use you?

No. I don’t think I’ve ever felt too old to be used by God. I have found my way of ministering to others is changing as I age. I minister in small groups with study and prayer. I have gone on a trip to a ministry that collects clothes, books, school supplies and anything a school would need in a third world country and helped sort items for packing. I drive my grandkids home after Wednesday night Kids Krew. This is all ministry!

Rita, what seasoned woman in the Bible is an inspiration to you?

Ruth is one of my favorite women in the Bible. I know she was probably not in her winter season of life, but as far as her maturity level, her caring tender heart, her love and obedience to be with Naomi, and her work ethic speak to me very loudly. She was adventurous, discerning and grateful. This is everything I aspire to be.

If you’ve had illness or physical limitations, what accommodations have you had to make to continue in ministry?

I have taken on ministry that is not as physically taxing now. I have been privileged to go on five short term mission trips that were quite physically challenging. They spanned 20 years. I am open to God’s will and praying that this could still be a possibility in the future. Only He knows.

Tell us a little about your ministry.

My ministry, really at its core, is encouraging women, of all ages. I recently led a 12 week Bible/book study at my church. As you can see, Deborah Malone and I are collaborating on this blog. I am slowly, also getting my mind and heart ready to start writing about my adventures and lessons on the short term mission fields I have been involved in. I have also been asked to write a devotion for a book that is in the works. This is all new to me, but I know I can trust the One who has given me all these opportunities.

What are some challanges you’ve had to overcome in this time of your seasoned ministry?

I think a challenge I’ve had to overcome (and am still overcoming, if I am honest), is the fear that comes from the unknown. The idea of writing and blogging and technical computer stuff and all the ins and outs of that has stretched my faith. I do know that as I take one small step at a time, in faith and obedience to God, He is there to meet every need I have. He is so faithful. He just asks that I obey Him and step out and get moving.

Rita’s Contact Info: ritaprochazka73@gmail.com; FB- Rita Prochazka; Instagram- ritaprochazka

Rita thank you so much for sharing with us. It was a pleasure to learn more about you and your ministry. You have been a big supporter of mine for a while and you are an inspiration to me. Even if your schedule does make me tired. I look forward to working along side of you in our endeavor to encourage seasoned women that there is a place for them in ministry. God can and will use us!