Meet Christine
Master of Ceremonies at the 235th Army Birthday Ball
Christine Leahy is my wife and best friend and partner in ministry. She’s also the founder of Women Stand Up!, a new kind of women’s ministry that’s passionate about reaching EVERY woman, including the hurting and abused and depressed and broken-hearted. Modern day misfits just like her. But it can’t be her day job. Not just yet, that is.
Because Christine is currently serving our nation as a paralegal and non-commissioned officer in the United States Army. Can you think of the last church speaker you’ve had who’s low crawled under barbed wire with an M16 in her hands while under live fire, or tossed live hand grenades? Don’t worry, it’s not part of her event!
Firing range antics
For the last several years, though, Christine has been just as busy under the lights on stage as she’s been on the firing range. Each fall for the last 2 years she’s been selected as the main narrator in the Army’s multi-million dollar production “Spirit of America,” a dramatic presentation of America’s rich military heritage. She’s traveled across the country with a cast of hundreds of her fellow soldiers from “The Old Guard” performing in public arenas before standing room only crowds of thousands.
Narrating "Spirit of America" before a packed house of 18,000 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
Christine has also been selected two years running to perform before 4,000 of the Army’s leaders at the Annual Conference of the Association of the United States Army, which was televised on C-SPAN (AUSA on C-SPAN). The audience included Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, Army Chief of Staff General George Casey, and Afghanistan Commander General David Petraeus. Just this past June, Christine was the Master of Ceremonies at the 235th Army Birthday Ball attended by 2,700 Army leaders, defense contractors and guests, which was televised globally on the Pentagon’s cable network. Talk about pressure under fire!
Closer to home, Christine started an all female soldier bible study for the women serving alongside her at her post at Ft. Myer, VA. Prior to serving in her present capacity as an Army paralegal, Christine spent 10 years working in various college administration positions in judicial affairs and residence life. Before that, she attended Central Michigan University and Illinois State University, where she earned a bachelors degree in Psychology, a masters degree in Higher Education Administration, and completed a year of studies while working towards a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, something she hopes to accomplish after leaving the Army.
Women Stand Up!, a women's ministry for EVERY woman
In her spare time, Christine stays involved in her husbands ministry, BraveHearts, traveling and speaking with him more often to give audiences a woman’s perspective on issues effecting BOTH men and women, like pornography, depression and anxiety, sexual brokenness, and the sexualization of the culture. When her Army contract ends in September 2011, she plans on returning to school to finish up her PsyD while also traveling and speaking some with Michael and BraveHearts and “Women Stand Up!” Until then, Michael and Christine will continue to live in the Washington, D.C. area.