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“She’s so completely real!” These four words have been used by multitudes mesmerized by Cathy Lee Phillips, the farm girl from Posey Road in Newnan, Georgia. Audiences are captivated by Cathy’s engaging personality, warm spirit, and unique way of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the twinkle in her eyes assures you that even her darkest days have not extinguished the flame of mischief that has been a central part of her character!
"When Cathy speaks, I feel like we’re sitting on the back porch
Her stories are simple yet profound in their message. They are humorous yet present serious spiritual truths. Whether spoken or written, Cathy delivers her words in her signature down-home style. As she shares, you will recognize yourself and your own struggles. Experience with her the joys and heartbreaks we all encounter and the humorous and heartwarming ways she endures, embraces, laughs, and learns life’s great lessons.
"Cathy Lee Phillips admits things we all experience but are afraid
What else can you say about a speaker whose most-requested story is called The Bra of My Dreams? Can you really weave a spiritual lesson from a simple training bra? Cathy can! "I read your book with my daughter, Clarissa. She especially enjoyed reading it. She would tell me, "Mom, let me read you this story because it is so funny!" Any book that can hold Clarissa’s attention must be a good book. Clarissa’s favorite story is “The Bra Of My Dreams.” She can relate to that story as we all can. I am amazed at how you see a glimpse of God and a story in everything!"
And not just a training bra! Her stories come from life itself . . .
"Cathy’s gift of writing shows in her knack for discovering deep spiritual truths in seemingly ordinary events. She will give you insight into discovering both hilarity and strength in your own circumstances." "It's amazing! Cathy can have me laughing hysterically one moment and sobbing the next. How does she do that? God is in everything and all around us, Cathy believes. The challenge is to train ourselves to expect spiritual surprises and to recognize the myriad ways God appears each day. Cathy’s inspirational parables reflect how she experiences a God who inhabits the ordinary things of life so that they become extraordinary. Her faith is heartfelt and peppered with a dose of southern humor. Her life is a rich tapestry of spirited and poignant stories encompassing her dreams, accomplishments, struggles, joys, and anguish. "The insights gained from the trauma and grief she experienced over the death of her husband are engaging. The purpose of her sharing is to connect with the lives of people in her audience. We feel her pain because it is familiar. In the sharing is healing. You will enjoy Cathy Lee Phillips and you will grow by knowing her." “I would stand in the rain two hours to hear Cathy read the phone book!” Cathy’s journey as an award-winning author, speaker, and soloist, began when a team of cardiologists spoke five simple words: “We couldn’t bring him back.” The him was Cathy’s husband, Rev. Dr. Jerry E. Phillips, an ordained minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. After years of vowing she would never marry (long story), Cathy and Jerry web in an enormous spring wedding in Atlanta. “It was, quite simply, the best time of my life,” Cathy shares with a smile. “For the first time in my life I knew I was completely loved. What an incredible gift!” In a tragic twist, an unknown virus attacked the pumping capacity of Jerry’s heart. The only solution was a new heart. Jerry entered Atlanta’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, remaining in Intensive Care for three months before a heart arrived via helicopter one spring night. After the transplant, Jerry returned to the pulpit and led a rich, fulfilling life. However, twenty months after the transplant, he experienced a severe rejection of his new heart and died suddenly. This was the defining moment of Cathy’s life. Suddenly she was a 35-year-old widow reeling from the loss of her husband and best friend. Normally strong and capable, Cathy slipped into a clinical depression she believed would last the rest of her life. Writing was her therapy. Gradually, God stirred in her the desire to follow a dream she held since she was eight years old. She wanted to be a writer. Cathy’s first book, Silver in the Slop, was born during this dark time in her life. It was so well-received that audiences asked for more. And she has been writing ever since. “My neighbor lost her husband suddenly. She was devastated and very alone. When I read about your loss and how you were dealing with it, I quietly took your book to my friend because you spoke the words I was unable to speak. When my friend returned your book, she told me that you spoke her feelings and totally captured the devastation she felt. I am so grateful I had your words to give her.” “Thank you for coming to Ohio and making a world of difference in my life. The stories you shared make it easier for me to face days that are rough on me. I knew the moment we met that we would become friends for life, bonded by faith.” Like all of us, Cathy Lee Phillips has experienced the full range of life’s emotions, and has felt the presence of God in each moment. Her deepest desire is that by sharing her story, you will learn to celebrate the joy and faithfully face the pain that comes into every life. Unafraid to show her vulnerability, Cathy admits her doubt and anger. Then she relates her miraculous story of receiving a bouquet of pink roses on the first anniversary of her husband’s death. Her words will assure you that God is ever-present in your life as well. “Know that you have made a difference in hundreds of lives in ways you may never know. But I know the difference you made in my life and I thank you.” “You’re just the most precious little thing!”
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