Dear Sisters in Christ;

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.

One of my greatest joys as an “older woman” is watching the young families in our church and remembering fondly when Jack and I were a family with three growing children. I reminisce about the sweet moments of laughter, hugs, singing, dandelion bouquets, discovery and joy.

But if I’m honest, there were many hard times too – sickness, messes, exhaustion, and endless laundry. And I must admit to my own times of doubt, fear, mistakes and insecurities. But I can also look back and see clearly the Lord’s grace and faithfulness through the years. It was so worth it! What a high and holy calling is motherhood. 

The Lord is your strength when you are weak and your wisdom when you are uncertain. These children are gifts for a season.

Don’t become weary of doing good, dear mom, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up. Ask a  grandmother!

Dear Lord
Show us Your way, O Lord, that we might teach the next generation. Be with these youngmoms and their families. Protect, guide and strengthen them for the task of raising godlychildren in an ungodly world. Help them to find their hope in You and Your faithful promises.When they grow weary and discouraged, increase their faith in Your unfailing love andabounding grace.

Love in Christ,

Daza

Daza Craig

Daza grew up in Houston Texas in a Christian home. She made a profession of faith at the age of eight and was baptized. She married her high school sweetheart, Jack, and he served in both the Coast Guard and the Navy for over 20 years. During that time, she and her family moved 13 times and had three children born in Japan, Colorado and Russia. Trained as a librarian, she worked almost 30 years in medical, engineering, school and public libraries.

She has been a member of Tabernacle since 2011.

She has a great desire for women to grow in their Christian walk and in relationship with one another in the Body of Christ. She has been blessed to be part of the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team, Women’s Support Team, and Tuesday morning Bible studies for the past several years.

Her hobbies include reading, traveling, gardening and visiting their grandson in California. She just finished reading All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore and highly recommends it. She and her husband grow vegetables and grapes and enjoy birdwatching together.

Katie Dell

Katie spent her childhood in a variety of places - Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut before her family settled in Charlotte, North Carolina for her teenage years. She attended the UNC-Chapel Hill for undergrad and afterwards moved to Charlottesville to complete her Master’s in Teaching at the UVa. 

Since then, Katie has worked in Albemarle Public Schools as a bilingual immersion Spanish teacher. Katie met her husband Parker in 2018 and they married in 2020 - right in the middle of the pandemic! Katie and Parker have been members of Tabernacle PCA for 2 years.

They live in Stuarts Draft with their 2 cats and flock of chickens. The Dells are delighting in their first child, a daughter, born in September 2023. Katie is thrilled to be starting this new chapter of life as a mother. 

Her hobbies include: swing dancing, board games, reading, and occasionally sewing. She and Parker love to travel and explore new places.

Katie is excited to begin serving in Women's Ministry and is hopeful that her organizational and leadership skills from the workplace will translate well into helpful contributions at Tab. As Assistant Director, Katie will be supporting Daza both practically and in prayer. She is also co-leading one of the summer women’s book studies and helping to plan the fall Women’s Conference. Katie is most passionate about looking for ways to include and serve women who feel on the fringes of the church community.

If Katie had to pick a verse of particular meaning for her life, it is John 3:14-15. That’s not a typo. Ask why.

Kara Mongold

Kara has lived in the Shenandoah Valley her whole life. She became a member of Tabernacle along with her husband Brian in 2005. Kara and Brian celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary this past December. They have two adult children, Garrett and Ella, who are also members of Tabernacle.

Kara taught in various roles in public school as an elementary educator, a reading specialist, and an instructor for adult ESL students for sixteen years. She homeschooled her children for seven years.

Currently, Kara is using her gifts and talents of organization, attention to detail, and love for people to serve as office manager for Love In The Name of Christ. Kara is humbled to serve alongside an amazing staff at Love INC and blessed to work with churches in our community committed to serving our neighbors in need. Kara has a new understanding of the power of prayer, and God’s power to equip his people for his work.

Kara’s hobbies include running, tandem biking with Brian, hiking, cooking, and reading. Kara is finishing the book The True Woman by Susan Hunt. She and Brian also complete the daily Bible reading Seeing Jesus Together.

She is excited to use her connections to bring opportunities for Mercy Ministry for the women of Tab.

Carol Pantuck

Carol grew up in New Jersey as a beach lover but headed to the Midwest for college. Shortly after graduating from Wheaton College in Illinois, she moved to Philadelphia and met her husband Ron at Tenth Presbyterian Church where they shared a common love for the preaching of their favorite expositor, Dr. James Boice, whose teaching planted in her a love for Reformed Theology.

She and Ron have been married for 47 years and raised their four children in the Boston suburbs. They currently have four grandchildren but are hoping for a few more!

With a love of homemaking and hospitality, Carol has primarily been at home with her children, but has enjoyed a variety of interests outside the home including volunteering in the church and community. A great joy has been hosting missionaries who have become dear friends. She also loves reading all kinds of books, music, gardening, sewing, hiking, swimming and studying the Word.

In their retirement years, Ron and Carol have been privileged to travel and enjoy making plans to visit new places. Highlights of each summer include family reunions at Capon Springs WV and “Grandparents Camp” when she relishes free rein with her favorite kids and together they enjoy fun outings, science experiments, cooking and digging into God’s Word.

A verse that has long been a guide and solace is Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.”

Rebecca Grow

Rebecca and her family have attended Tab since 2019 but have been residents of the area much longer. She graduated from Grace Christian High School in Staunton and graduated with a degree in English Language & Literature from Bridgewater College. She and her husband Nick live in Augusta County with their two young boys.

Rebecca spends her days working in digital marketing, ghost writing, copywriting, homeschooling, dog-walking, chasing boys around, maintaining a home, and doing many other various activities. 

In what little free time is left, she enjoys reading and dabbling in creative activities like crochet, watercolor, and sourdough baking.