Women Who Inspire – Cyndi Kay Green
WWI – Cyndi Green, Content Manager of CWL Magazine
Interviewed by Joy Mathis Chadwick
What an honor it was to get to interview someone who has become so very dear to me over the last few months. I “met” Cyndi in a Christian writers discussion on Facebook and stalked her until she agreed to let me submit something to CWL for review. (That might be a bit exaggerated.) But from my first day of interaction with her through CWL, I knew that I had made a new friend for life. I hope that you are as blessed as I was to read about Cyndi’s journeys.
Joy Mathis Chadwick: The readers of CWL Magazine see your name every day on at least one article that you have written for this outstanding publication, yet we don’t really know who you are. Tell us all about Cyndi Green – past, present and future.
Cyndi Kay Green: I am a daughter of the King and a lover of all things Jesus. Born a mountain girl in Salida, Colorado and raised in Leadville, Colorado, I don’t feel that I was the average girl. I was athletic and ready to join any sport that I could. In 1982 my parents and I moved to Stilwell, Oklahoma, where I changed from athletic to not so athletic. Became married at 18 and a momma at 19, and my life was forever changed.
In 1989, I became saved and started my tumultuous relationship with Jesus. I was not cold, but I definitely was not on fire for Him. I was just doing my best to be a good person. You know, the average “church-goer.” Didn’t last long, I was soon out of church and just doing the best I could in life.
In 2003, life changed and I was faced with a battle that no one wants to see. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and through that fear, a new love for Jesus was born and I became so determined to prove my worth that I spent all the time I could chasing Him. I found myself on my knees again, only it wasn’t by my choosing. During this time, I heard the song “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe on a day when I was just hurting everywhere and from then on, I was in love with my Savior. However, in another 5 years, that same battle would rear its ugly head again and I would once again seek the Lord for solitude, comfort, strength and focus. Psalm 91 became my motto and I learned to trust God like I had trusted no other.
Later on, my life changed even more, and soon I found myself divorced and feeling ashamed. So, being stuck in the muck of the flesh, I walked away from the church for fear of judgement and rejection. I won’t say I was a total loss, but I was definitely not where I should be. But oh how God loves us! He never left me nor did He forsake me. He brought me to a wonderful man that I had known for years. We married and now we share 4 kids with spouses and 4 grandchildren (with one on the way). We reside in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma and have since started attending church at Abundant Life Fellowship- Tahlequah. We are the Welcome Center Dream Team and I also co-lead the current Ladies Life Group. I also am a part of the Founding 5 Ladies Ministry team that falls under the direction of our Ladies Ministry leader. I absolutely love fishing, camping and exploring new places with my husband; as well as time with my grans.
JMC: How did you get started with CWL? Did you know Stephanie Kelly, Editor of CWL, prior to this working relationship? What do you see for this magazine in the future?
CKG: I met Steph when I answered a call for writers in a writing group in which we were members. We did not know each other at all and I was just wanting to get started in the writing field so I sent the email and submission that was requested. At first I was just simply a content writer and I submitted inspirational pieces. Our first publication was in February 2020 and it was so exciting to see God bring His promise to fruition. I could not have imagined what it was going to look like, but when I saw my writing published online; my heart was so full of gratitude that I cried for a few hours. He just awes me every time He manifests His promises. Soon, Steph and I began chatting and we realized just how much God had played in bringing us together. We realized that we were in this for the long haul and I am so blessed to be a part of this venture with such a sweet and amazing woman of God.
Our vision for CWL is that it will be the avenue of hope, love, comfort, joy, and understanding that women of faith need in today’s world. We hope to continue to grow and reach women across the globe and let them see that they are worthy, beautiful, smart, and loved by God.
We can see CWL becoming a print magazine, but we always come back to the most important part of our mission; Christian Women Living Magazine is based on God’s will for it as a ministry as well as a place for those in ministry to share the words and gifts that God has placed within them.
JMC: Please tell us how essentially two already very busy ladies find the time to produce a magazine, not just a weekly publication, but a top-notch work of journalism whose content is added to daily.
CKG: That is simple… God!! Honestly, without His ever present hand in all that we do, we would not be able to be where we are with CWL. We touch base daily, even if that means leaving messages at 3:30 in the morning!!
JMC: CWL readers have certainly enjoyed the interviews you have conducted since joining the magazine. Is there some “unattainable” someone you would like to interview if time travel were an option? How did you choose this person? What are your top two questions that you would most like answered by this special person?
CKG: Oh my sweetness… There are so, so many! I mean of course there is Peter, Paul, Martha, Ruth and Jesus. But then there is Maya Angelou, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, and the likes. I think I would choose Maya Angelou simply because she has had such an impact on my philosophy of “when you know better, do better” and that is something that, as Christian women, we should always be doing… Better. My top questions would be be: 1. Where is your favorite place to just be quiet? 2. Who is the one person that most inspires you?
JMC: How has being a writer impacted your relationship with Jesus Christ?
CKG: Since writing for me is not something that I went to college for, it has to come from Jesus. Meaning that, it is through Him that my writing is even legible, much less understandable. That being the case, I would say it has taught me to listen for His voice even in the middle of chaos, which in turn, has brought me so much closer. I have learned to trust Him more than I ever thought imaginable.
JMC: Why do you love writing? Do you feel that God has placed a calling on your life to write? How would you share your love of Jesus to others if you didn’t write?
CKG: I love writing first and foremost because it is a gift from God, and secondly because it always takes me to His presence. Everything He shows me to write is like I am sitting at a little white patio table having tea and scones with My Savior as He tells me a story and how to share it with others. So yes, I do feel that it is a calling.
Honestly, I don’t know what or how I would share my love for Jesus. Most likely through interaction such as praying, spending time with them, reading the Word with them, and other ways to just be present for them.
JMC: Have you had, or do you have, a writing mentor? Tell us about him/her.
CKG: Honestly, no. I sometimes think I need one, but then I try to remember that Jesus is my mentor and if He chooses to bring one into my life, then He will definitely bring me to that person.
JMC: Does your writing energize or exhaust you? Do you feel that someone could write effectively if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
CKG: I definitely say it energizes me! It is my happy place so to speak. It takes me to the place where it is me and Jesus and words that flow. I think you can write without emotions, but then it becomes technical and legalistic. Without emotion, we have no way to connect to our reader and that would defeat the purpose of writing for the glory of God.
JMC: What advice do you have for someone who might want to consider writing to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
CKG: Don’t give up and don’t think you know what it will look like. No one but you knows what God places inside of you to use and share for the sake of others. Don’t allow the adversary to tell you otherwise. Is it easy to write? Sure, if you are gifted and open to using it. Also, no, it is not easy. When you try to make it yours, it is tedious and time consuming. That is why I encourage you as a writer to always seek the words from God before placing them on paper. And sometimes you may not know the words, you may only know the topic; but it is okay. Just start writing and let the Holy Spirit lead your words.
JMC: What does literary success look like for you personally?
CKG: Success is knowing that I wrote what I knew to write and let it go. It is realizing that it doesn’t matter how many likes or responses I get about any given piece, it is about how many lives were touched by God’s words. Sometimes we know, and sometimes we have no clue who’s life was changed because of what we put out there.
JMC: What is one thing you would give up to be a better writer?
CKG: The one thing I already did, my job. I walked away from my job in 2020 because I knew God asked me to trust Him and just walk with Him in this journey.
JMC: Who influenced you to become Christian? Please tell us about your experience with coming to know the Lord and how that experience has impacted your life. Any regrets?
CKG: I would have to say my ex-father-in-law was my influence to become saved. He was such a gentle and loving man. If I am being transparent, I don’t really remember any “sounding brass and angelic singing” when I was saved. I was not the lover of all things Jesus that I am now. It was a slow start to the relationship with Jesus. I went to church and I walked the walk of being Christian, but my heart was not sold out. I was 23 and it was in a little country church. I walked down to the front of the church, which seemed like walking the Great Wall of China, knelt and simply gave my heart to the Lord. He loves to take me back and remind me of the simplicity of just being in Him and with Him. When life gets in the way and I get consumed with “my” things, He reminds me that it doesn’t have to be that difficult. He reminds me to just kneel with Him and let Him do the rest.
JMC: And last, but not least, tell us about any other passions you have other than writing such as family, hobbies, other ministries, involvement in church, etc.
CKG: My passions are my husband, kids and grans. I love to fish and camp when it is just warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. Exploring new places is a hobby that my husband and I didn’t realize we had until we started taking trips and driving around just to see the hidden treasures in even the smallest of towns. I absolutely love to listen to MercyMe. When the world is out of sync and things just don’t fit, a little MercyMe can always bring light to the situation.
My most passionate thing about being involved in church is worship. I am not just talking about the time spent with the worship team, but the entire service is all about worship. I get lost in the thoughts of what I am hearing and I find myself thanking God as the pastor is still giving his sermon.
JMC: For more info about Cyndi’s journeys and her ministries, contact her through: www.cyndikay.net
