I’ve been an admirer of Amie Hayes Dockery for many years and for many reasons. To me, she has always been the picture of humility in action. She carries an air of dignity and grace that is always punctuated with a fiery determination to push through difficulty, fight against wrong and stand firmly for truth.
I love her for it and I am honored to be her friend.
Amie is a wife, mother, writer, speaker, minister and breast cancer survivor. Five surgeries and many rounds of chemotherapy later, she’s truly an inspiration of faith and fight! Her words and ministry carry the weight of someone who has spent time with Jesus on the mountaintops and walked with Him through the valleys. When she speaks, I lean in and listen.
Her latest resource, Unfollow Your Heart, unravels the reasons why we are heart-wired for self-sabotage and how we’ve been designed to overcome this in our lives.
I know you’ll enjoy this conversation with her and, as always, please post Amie an uplifting word of encouragement in the comments section before you leave.
Fight on, sis!
Priscilla
- If you could describe this season of your life in one word, what word would it be? Why?
Remission. I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last year. So, remission i.e. “HEALING” has been the word I most want to hear. But although in cancer terminology, remission means the disease has backed down to an undetectable level, I have also harnessed the word REMISSION as RE-MISSION; to be sent out on a mission again – to be re-deployed. My life has been turned upside down and inside out this past year, but I am more committed than ever to fulfill the mission God made me for.
- In terms of your career, before you knew you would be _______________, you almost . . .
Before I knew I would be a pastor, I was pursuing a career in journalism. Reading and writing were my greatest passions. I can’t say that has changed. The passions remain, only the application was changed. Instead of reading and writing for reporting purposes, I read and write in hopes of communicating the heart of God. The best reporting job for certain.
- In what ways do you ensure that your career path serves the purposes of God and encourages His people?
My parents planted Covenant Church when I was two years old. I have never known anything but ministry as the main focus of life. But as a female it was not assumed that I would become a speaker and pastor. I would say, everyone probably expected me to marry a preacher. I married a preacher’s kid, but he was not called to pulpit ministry. As it became more apparent that I was called to speak and specifically to teach, I leaned on the wisdom of my parents and mentors in steering me forward. I have not taken a traditional path in ministry. There are set paths for pursuing a women’s ministry career. I have not pursued those. My aim was simply to serve where I was needed. I am grateful for those years as I have learned the intricacies of many different roles. But the past few years I have been released to serve in the ways that come most naturally to me. And it’s a joy. ‘Serve first’ has been my career aim. I would say to encourage His people to do the same. Serve first and in return, your gifts will make room for you.
- Fill in the blank. I am not a very _____________ person.
You’ve heard of NONCHALANT? I am not a very NONCHALANT person. I am CHALANT. LOL
- Name your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? How has each served you as you’ve fulfilled your purpose?
My greatest weakness is indecision. I want all the information before I make a decision. Ironically, this can also be my greatest strength. Because I don’t rush to decisions, I learn so much in the research process. The wisdom to seek knowledge is a strength until it becomes an excuse to delay a decision. I have missed many opportunities because I over-think them. By the same token, I have made educated and strategic decisions that have born much fruit. I have several businesses that fund my ministry endeavors, and I have the freedom to live on the beach in Florida and remain on the team as a speaking pastor at Covenant Church in North Dallas.
- When is the last time you laughed so hard that it hurt?
A few weeks ago, my mother and I decided to pick up a couch I bought on Facebook Marketplace. It weighed 350 pounds. My mother fell off the porch while trying to carry her end down the steps. Video of the fall was captured on RING video. We laughed till we wet our pants. Then, we posted the video and laughed a few thousand times more. We are still laughing.
- What has been the most difficult season in your life? How did you get through it?
Would it be strange to say 2020 was the hardest season of my life? LOL, I have been in a fight for my life. My only sibling recently suffered incredible loss. Our church went through a huge leadership transition on top of the Covid-19 crisis. And, in the middle of it all, we moved from a ranch in Texas to a beach in Florida. It was the hardest year of my life. Without rival. However, on this side of it all, I am happier and healthier in so many ways. We got through the year by leaning into the places of pain and fear and choosing to navigate our way out. It would be easy to just “escape” the pain by numbing it or ignoring it. But we chose to let ourselves feel it all. And make a plan to break the cycle before we got stuck in our feelings or reactions. This year tested my decision-making skills, but I grew. I am grateful I didn’t overthink all the moves that needed to be made. I trusted the council of my inner circle. Had clarifying, but difficult discussions. And made some sacrifices and leaps of faith. And I have to say, I am so content with where I am now.
- If you could make three wishes and there were no limitations on what you could request, what would you wish for?
I wish everyone knew the intricate, extravagant love story of God and man.
I wish for a revival of genuine empathy, compassion, understanding and love to pervade society. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could truly put ourselves in someone else’s shoes without judgment or prejudice?
I wish the great minds and hearts of our generation would come together to activate solutions to eliminate unnecessary suffering. There is so much wasted that needs to be redirected. But it requires humility. That’s a big ask. But you said if anything was possible, right!?
- If this were your last year on earth, what would you want to spend your time doing?
This is ironically humorous to me. Specifically, because it very well could have been my last year. And it was the hardest year of my life. Today I can honestly say that I am spending my time exactly how I would if this were the last year of my life. I wake up happy. I take romantic walks on the beach before breakfast. I study and pray and hustle hard all day. I spend most of my time with my husband, children (and puppies) and my parents. And I sleep peacefully. I aim small with ministry goals, but I am seeing the most amazing fruitful community come together. Life is good.
- If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?
“Amie, for years you will look to the future with longing, to brass rings and big dreams. Then one day, without warning, your heart will change direction, it will turn around to face the past. And you will ache with longing for all you had in the beginning.”
*These blog interviews are designed only to be fun, informative and introductory. GB Ministries has varying levels of familiarity with each participant so their presence here does not equal our endorsement of or full alignment with theological doctrine or political perspective.
