INSIDE COVENANT | Jessica Authement

We sit down with our preschool minister, Jessica Authement, to talk about the quiet work that helps families thrive at church. We laugh, swap stories, and get serious about how safety, welcome, and steady love can open hearts to Jesus.

• Why childcare during worship is a ministry to parents, not a convenience
• How physical comfort helps preschoolers receive Bible stories
• Jessica’s testimony and how motherhood reshapes faith priorities
• The value of creating a church where young families feel wanted

Covenant Church Houma

Transcript

Welcome And Podcast Mission

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Main Thing Podcast with Pastor Steve, equipping you to respond and thrive in the world we live in today. Keep the main thing the main thing has been a saying that Pastor Steve has told for decades. It means no matter what is happening around us, Jesus is what we need to have front and center in our lives. There couldn't be a more powerful reminder for us to recall in today's divisive and dark culture. From foundational truths and scripture to the hot topics of today's culture, allow this podcast to inspire and motivate you on your faith journey.

SPEAKER_03 0:33

Well, thank you so much for joining us for the main theme podcast. Uh today, the last few weeks, if you've uh been noticing, we've been doing something a little different. Uh, we're giving Pastor Steve a break and we're talking with our staff about ministry and uh what we're doing here at Covenant Church. And today, I am really have been looking forward to this one uh because this is uh somebody I go way back with. So please welcome Jessica Odomo. Almost said Jessica Williams, but Jessica Odomo to the podcast. Jessica is our uh preschool minister. Jessica, welcome.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Thank you, thank you. Excited to be here.

SPEAKER_03 1:05

Yep. Well, look, I know you were worried about the questions, so I will start with an easy one. Okay. Could you give me the theological and cultural ramifications of the premillennial uh position on Jesus Return?

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

Um I'm just no I won't do you were so worried about questions, so I thought I'd start you off.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

This is a little outside of my comfort zone, so um, you know, I'm just I'm sure you'll do fine. Just a mom.

SPEAKER_03 1:28

Sounds like a new song. I'm I'm just a mom. Just a mom, yeah. When Stephanie would be proud. Tell me about yourself and your family. How how did you end up here at Covenant? And uh and what do you do here?

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:42

Three questions and one.

SPEAKER_01 1:43

Okay. Um, my parents started coming to Covenant when I was in the third grade. So it's been well over 20 years we've been here. Um, my husband, the same, they started coming around that same time as well. Um, and we both grew up at Covenant and we've been here ever since. Um, my husband's name is Daniel. We have two kids, uh, Jackson and Charlotte. They are seven and three. Um, yeah. And so we've just been at Covenant. Well, back when it was First Baptist Homa. Um we have been here. Yep, yep. It's all we've known pretty much. So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

Well, so uh what's your first memories of Covenant? Talk about Kid Blast all those years.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

I remember Kid Blast. Yeah, I actually remember the first time that I ever came to Covenant First Baptist Homa. Um the only thing I remember is playing moonball in the gym.

SPEAKER_03 2:38

Who wouldn't remember moonball in the gym?

SPEAKER_01 2:40

So so real deep there. Yeah. I remember playing moonball with the big, which uh for those who may not know what moonball is, it's a big beach ball, and everyone stands in a circle and you just hit it around and can't let it touch the floor. That's it.

unknown 2:52

Of course not.

SPEAKER_03 2:53

Well, cool. Well tell me, how did so how'd you end up being the preschool minister here at Covenant? Tell walk me through that story.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Well, um, I have served in the preschool ministry probably since I was a teenager. I think my mom used to serve, and I would go with her and help probably starting at like 12. Um, so just been serving a long time. And um, it was actually your lovely wife came up to me on a Sunday um and was like, Jessica, have you ever thought about like doing this position, being the preschool minister? And I was like, you know what, Miss Kelly? When you're a teenager, you like daydream about all these different like career opportunities and stuff. And like I always admired um the previous preschool minister, and I always thought that was like a really cool thing to get to do. Um, so that was like a cool god moment because I was like, you know, I actually have uh daydreamed about that. And um yeah, Miss Kelly kind of got the ball rolling for us.

SPEAKER_03 3:50

Well, you know, she she came home one afternoon because we were looking for a preschool minister, right? And look, I think preschool ministry is is can be one of the hardest ministries there is. Uh there's just my opinion. Yeah. But she comes home one afternoon and she says, Have you ever thought about uh Jessica being the preschool minister? And I was like, No. And she's like, I think she'd do a great job. And uh, and so that's how uh we I guess we first contacted you.

SPEAKER_02 4:14

Yeah, yeah.

Why Preschool Ministry Matters

SPEAKER_03 4:15

Yeah. So I was very grateful she had noticed that in you. Yeah, yeah. And you have been doing an incredible job. But uh tell me why preschool ministry is so important.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

Oh gosh. Um, well, I think there's two sides of it. Obviously, the first side being that we are here to provide parents an opportunity to get to go worship. Um, so super thankful to get to do that. Um we always stress to parents like, you know, like your child is safe when they're with us. Um we run through safety measures that keep both our children and our volunteers safe. Um, so that is super important because we feel really blessed um to get to be able to do that for our parents. Because preschool ministry is a little different because you're not baptizing babies or toddlers, you know, you're not having like big declarations of faith um or that kind of thing, but getting to take care of their kids for a while so they can go sit and learn about Jesus is really special. Um so like super thankful to get to do that. Um and I think another part of it is just making the most of our time with them. Um we get them for most of them for an hour on a Sunday. Um, and we just want to make sure that our time with them reflects the love of Christ. And we're not here to chastise them, we're not gonna pinch them, as Pastor Steve likes to say. Um we just really want to make sure that we are being loving and yeah, sometimes that looks like changing diapers and wiping noses and passing out snacks. Um but it's a blessing to get to do that for them. Um, because what I know about a preschooler is that if they feel physically safe, if they feel physically cared for and loved, they're more receptive to what they're gonna hear. So, like our Bible stories. Um, you know, so if they feel taken care of physically, they'll be more open to hearing about Jesus. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:07

You know, I got such warm memories of being a preschooler uh at the church I grew up in. You know, I can still remember we had this massive Snoopy that was like five feet tall. And to me, for a four-year-old Brent, I was the ultimate right there to sit in Snoopy's lap.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

I like that. We need a Snoopy.

SPEAKER_03 6:28

Well, you know, I don't know if that's in the budget right now. But no, but I but I think back to um just just the the feeling of comfort like you were talking about, right? I have such good memories of you know being a a little one at the church I grew up in. So yeah, I I think that's so important. And I I don't think we can ever overstress uh the importance of a parent being able to sit in church with a piece, knowing that you know their child's taken care of.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Yeah. I mean, I'm a mom of two. I've been there. I've been, you know, um we took a little break. We had a few years in Mississippi where we lived, um, and we took some time like church hopping, trying to find the right fit. And as a mom of a young parent, it is paramount that you know that your kid is safe um and loved for and taken care of. Um, so we really stress that. And our team is just so wonderful at just being so kind and compassionate and caring. Um, it's not like we're not always telling them we're not here to discipline these kids, we're here to love them. You know, we redirect a lot. Sure. Um love that work. Yes, absolutely. Redirect, redirect, redirect. That's what we do. Um and of course, we'll have instances where we have to like pull a child for safety and get with the parents. Um, thankfully that's rare. Um, we have a good, a great, great group of volunteers, so super thankful for them also.

SPEAKER_03 7:51

Well, let's uh switch tracks a little bit. Tell me about your story, just how how did you come to Christ? How'd you make that decision to follow Christ?

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Yeah. Um I am very blessed that I have parents who grew up in church and felt very passionate and strong about raising us in church as well. Um so super thankful for you know them doing that for us because it really did lay the foundation of my relationship with Christ. Um it was actually I was 12 years old, it was at a testify concert. Do you remember Testify at the little church? Testify, yeah. Yep, they came in for like a night of worship and the Lord just pulled on my heart that night and I actually spoke to you. Um and we went, and then a few weeks later I got baptized, which sidebar, Daniel and I always joke. Have you seen the show Boy Meets World?

SPEAKER_03 8:44

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

Daniel and I always joke that you're our Mr. Feeney because you have been in our lives since we were children and you've kind of like grown up with us a little bit. So, Mr. Brent, for those who don't know, has baptized me. He baptized Daniel and he also performed our marriage ceremony. So you're our Mr. Feeney. You've just been there for all the stages of the time.

SPEAKER_03 9:08

I hope I look a little younger than Mr. Feeney though. You do absolutely do.

unknown 9:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

But just because he grew up with them, you know. Um, he was with them from when they were young and all the way up to college.

SPEAKER_03 9:19

So I think that's why I was so looking forward to this one.

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:22

Because I I did get to have a part in you guys' journey, really, almost your whole life. Because because y'all were the group that uh when you hit eight um seventh grade, I think, that's when I moved from children to youth.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 9:34

So I just got to teach you guys the whole way through.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah, and look, we loved it. We were blessed. You know, you did a lot for us teaching us Bible at CCA.

SPEAKER_03 9:44

And look, you you said you moved to Mississippi for two years. We have forgiven y'all for leaving. Thank you so much. Appreciate that. Appreciate you coming back. No, it it is a blessing. It's it is such a blessing uh when kids that grew up in the church come back as adults and serve and and get to be on staff. I think that is that is so cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Well, and that's it's really cool too, like doing what I do because I get to see a lot of parents that I grew up with come in and come back to church and like bring their kids into preschool. And I get to like be kind of like a familiar face. Um so that's really cool to see like their because sometimes they'll take a little break and you know they'll just be out of church for a while, but getting to like welcome them back um is really cool.

SPEAKER_03 10:26

There's something about having those little ones that make you reassess where you are in life. You know, I I feel like we do that, we see that all almost every Sunday. Somebody who grew up at CCA or grew up, you know, in the church and and now they're back.

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Well, and that's actually part of my story because uh I was baptized at 12, but for a while it was almost like I view church as like a social activity in high school because I mean, going to school where I did, um we were affiliated with Covenant.

SPEAKER_02 10:54

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Yeah. Um so like all of our friends were at church every Wednesday and Sunday. So um I think it was really becoming a mom. And when we lived in Mississippi, um, like I said, we didn't have a church home. Um, and so moving back is really like what started to strengthen my desire to get closer to the Lord.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

So now was Jackson born here or in Mississippi?

SPEAKER_01 11:16

He was born when we lived in Mississippi, but Daniel made sure he was a Louisiana boy because he was born in Slidell.

Parenting Stories And Rapid Questions

SPEAKER_03 11:23

Okay, there you go. We're gonna cross the border to Yes, yes. Well, tell me what your favorite parenting story is. Oh gosh. I know you got a bunch, right? They're hard to choose from.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Yeah. And I mean they're all hilarious to me because I'm their mom, right? But um one that comes to mind is when Jackson, who is our seven-year-old now, was three. He was in a mom's day out program and they were doing a little Christmas performance. Um, and he got to be a sheep, and he was so excited to be a sheep. Um so who wouldn't be, right? Right, right. He got to go up on stage. It was his first time doing anything like this. So um we get up there, like it's a packed house. I mean, people show up for little kids when they're on the stage. Um, so it's a packed house. We get up there, they're doing their song, and my child just decides that he wants to strip his sheep costume off right on stage. Um, so just starts pulling it off right in the middle of the song that they're doing. Um thankfully we were so worried. Thankfully, his pants did not come with it.

SPEAKER_02 12:29

All right, excellent.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Um, so but yeah, he's so he's like just running around the stage acting crazy. He keeps going up to the mic saying, check, check, check, um, during the song. So really goofy. Um, but that was just something that that comes to mind.

SPEAKER_03 12:44

But did you put it on YouTube? Because I'm sure that would have gone viral.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

You know what? I should have. I should I still have the video, it's not too late.

SPEAKER_03 12:50

There you go. Wait till Jackson's about 17.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Yeah, we're gonna definitely use that one for blackmail. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:56

Yep. Yep. All right. So here's the spontaneous questions. I didn't tell you what was was coming, okay? Okay. All right, here we go. Favorite TV show.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Gosh. See, I don't watch a lot of TV. I'm more of like a movies kind of person. Um, so I don't know. I watch a lot of HG TV. I know that's not fun, but I really like enjoy home decor.

SPEAKER_03 13:17

So this will not surprise you, but there's a lot of home decor on the on the TV at our house. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

No, that does not surprise me at all.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

Shock you at all. Okay, favorite movie then.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

Okay. Um, I'm really into musicals. So I think Wicked is probably one of my favorite. Um, and then I also like the sound of music.

SPEAKER_03 13:34

Sound of music. Why do you like sound of music so much?

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Oh gosh, every single song in it is just so good. Um, and I mean Julie Andrews is just awesome. So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:43

It's are your kids old enough to introduce them to like those old musicals?

SPEAKER_01 13:48

See, I think Jack is, but he's just a boy and he does not care about that at all. Like if it's not like Sonic the Hedgehog or Pokemon, not his not his thing. He's not gonna sit, huh?

SPEAKER_03 13:57

We had the biggest shock of our lives one time. We introduced um Singing in the Rain to the kids, and they all love that movie. And we're like, I can't believe you like even your little ones liked it. Well, no, I'm I'm talking about the oldest ones back then. No, the little ones, there's no way they would sit. They'd be like Jackson. There's no way they'd sit still for that. All right. Um, let's see. Favorite hobby? What what do you like to do uh in probably the extra five minutes a day you have? Yeah, it's not much.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Um lately I've been going to the gym, so that's been fun. Um, been taking some me time, uh, really enjoying that. Other than that, I do like to cook, even though my kids don't think that I cook. Um, so funny story. Jackson's birthday was yesterday. He just turned seven. And, you know, like all lovely mothers do, I'm like, why don't you tell me your favorite meal that I cook? Um, and I will make it for you for your birthday. He's like, Mom, I don't even have to think about it. I already know. I'm like, great. I would love a happy meal for McDonald's.

SPEAKER_03 15:00

Whoop one of those up in the kitchen.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

Yes, birthday boy got a drive through McDonald's happy meal.

SPEAKER_03 15:05

Could have been a lot worse, right? Could have been a lot worse. All right, uh favorite, favorite book to read.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

The Bible.

SPEAKER_03 15:14

Besides the Bible.

SPEAKER_01 15:15

Oh gosh. See, I am a big like podcast listener. Um yes, yes, I love podcasts. Um, so I don't do a lot of like book reading lately in this stage of life. I feel like it's just a lot of mental calories to sit down and read a book.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

Sometimes you just don't have the computer. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

And sometimes I just want to hear like adults talking to each other. So I'll go pop in a podcast while I'm doing the dishes.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

So so what what podcast are you listening to right now?

SPEAKER_01 15:40

Um, well, the main thing podcast, shout out.

Bible Encouragement And Favorite Verses

SPEAKER_03 15:42

Oh, hey, you know what? Wait, stop a second. So I chat reminds me, I was supposed to say at this point, hit the like button or the follow-up button. We've never asked y'all to do that. So today's the day.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

On Apple.

SPEAKER_03 15:52

On Apple. Yeah. On Apple. And if you want to review. And if you want to leave a review, that would be really neat. Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Shout out.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Uh back to the back to the episode. All right.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Uh I like the uh Bible recap podcast a lot. Yeah. Um, so listen to that one quite a bit. And then I also like the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace podcast. So I listen to that one. Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:13

All right. I I love the way you say it. I like to listen to adults talk to each other every so often. You know. Chet over there wants to ask me, he said, How old do you have to be to start listening to talk radio? And I said, You're not old enough yet, but I'll let you know. But he's getting there.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:27

So yeah. So yep. All right. Um, let's see. So uh what's your favorite book of the Bible?

unknown 16:34

Oh god.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

Since we talked about it.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Oh I mean, I go to Psalms a lot for encouragement. Um, I've been doing Genesis lately, which has been good. Um I find a lot of encouragement in Sarah's story lately, um, Abraham and Sarah.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

Um so that's something just because as a woman and as a Christian in general, we find ourselves in like seasons of waiting. Um, and so I find her just really inspiring because I mean it was years and years and years before they got, you know, what they've been praying for. Um, and so I feel like as a woman, a lot of times that's relatable. Um just life in general. But yeah, that's what I've been doing.

SPEAKER_03 17:14

All right. So I'm gonna narrow it down a little bit. Favorite verse.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Oh gosh, I didn't prepare for this. I I mean it really it it depends on different seasons of life right now. Um I right now I would say it's probably um the fullness of joy verse, but basically just you know, when you're in the Lord's presence, just having that joyful spirit about you um at all times, even you know, when life's not looking too hot, you know, you can still have joy because he's with you.

Future Vision For Young Families

SPEAKER_03 17:44

You know, in in 2 Timothy, it um Paul talks to Timothy about uh he says that we need to lead people to the life that is really real. And that's uh that's I believe that's the NIV version. But I love that phrase, the life that's really real. Like we can we can just go through life breathing or we can have the life that's really real, you know, which is what Jesus wants to give that full jewel you're talking about. Yeah. So that's always been important to me. So as as we kind of finish up here, what uh what do you like best about being a preschool minister here?

SPEAKER_01 18:17

Oh gosh, we have so much fun. Um obviously the kids are very adorable. Um, but it's I mean, getting to work with the team that I get to work with, they're all like I've said, they're just so sweet and caring. Um but really getting to lay the foundation of church life for a lot of these kids. Um, we take that seriously because we want them to enjoy coming. Um, you know, we don't want it to feel like a harsh environment or anything like that. So we really try to make it feel loving. Um every kid that walks through the door, I make it a point to say their name specifically and say good morning to them because I feel like it just makes them feel welcome and loved that you know we remember their name. Um and something so small as that. Um, but it's really sweet getting to love on those babies, man. You just can't beat it.

SPEAKER_03 19:07

Yep. Well, look, I've often said with with babies, the best part would be rocking them and the worst part would be changing the diapers. Yeah. So you gotta have the good the good. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 19:15

You gotta take care of the bad before you can get to the good.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

What are you most excited about for the future here at Covenant and kind of the direction we're going?

SPEAKER_01 19:25

Yeah. Um, I think just continuing to see the church grow. Um, young families coming in is really, really cool to see. Um, because unfortunately that's not the case everywhere you go. Um, so I think we're really blessed here to have um the kind of environment that you know we have. And the Lord's really blessed, I think, our mission here and just getting to see so many young families feel comfortable bringing their kids in um and raising them in church. I mean, we have so many families I can think of right off the top of my head that have been here since their babies were little. Yeah. Um, some of them I worked with and now they're in the youth group helping me like serve on Sundays with me. Um, so it's really cool. Like the longevity of the families here is is really cool. Um and just the way that the church is continuing to grow.

SPEAKER_03 20:13

You know, you say that about young families. So uh when Pastor Steve had his 25th anniversary here, we we dug down, uh Colleen and and I held, but she found it. Uh, she was able to find the very first sermon he preached as the official senior pastor of First Baptist Homer. But what struck me about it is in that sermon, he said that um he wanted us to be a church where young families know that they are loved and that their kids are loved. Yeah. And he's shown that over the past he's been here 26 years now. He he's shown that over the past 26 years that we we've made that our priority. Absolutely. You know, and so uh we are always so grateful uh for just wonderful people in those areas.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

You know, I love that he gets on to parents for fussing their kids for like running into in the hallway. Like that cracks me up because I find myself doing it. Like I'm telling my kids don't run in the hallway. I would be one of those, like but pastor is like, do not fuss those babies. Like they are in church, they are here, they you know, they feel welcome. Um, and their kids, they're gonna run, they're gonna be loud. That's what they do. So I love that. Absolutely.

Thanks And Closing Goodbye

SPEAKER_03 21:19

Yeah, absolutely. Jessica, I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you being here on the team. Thank you. You have survived your first podcast. And so now when you go home, you can tell Daniel, I'm a podcaster, don't mess with me. And he needs to cook dinner tonight. Yeah, you had a rough day at the microphone.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Yeah. Yeah. Well, obviously, I can't, you know, because McDonald's is what I'm famous for. Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_03 21:40

Okay. Well, uh, do well as you order McDonald's to the drive through. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 21:46

Well, guys, thank you so much for joining us today. Um, glad you guys uh were with us, and God bless you. See you next time.

SPEAKER_02 21:54

Bye.