Say Hi to Niki Goodman

Mentorship. Someone to walk alongside you. An experienced and trusted adviser. To train, lead, teach, equip, and be available. Niki is passionate about mentorship. She is a mentor and raises others to do the same. Her heart breaks for the lack of mentoring in the body of believers, and her dream is to see more mentorship flourish in the body of Christ. 

Niki is the North Central West representative on the PennDel Women Dream Team. Her dream for her section is that women connect more often. Aside from her ultimate passion for Jesus, she is fervent about helping people realize their God-given gifts and talents and encouraging them in those gifts. She wants to see women who have walked with the Lord for years find a newly devoted follower of Christ to walk beside. She desires to see sisters in Christ who have been in similar seasons walk together. She says, "Women need women cheering them on and encouraging them to step out in faith and do the hard things God is calling them to." 

Titus 2:3-5 says, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." 

Niki says, "Mentoring is not based upon age, but maturity in the Lord. If someone has just walked through a season you currently are walking through, ask questions! Seek answers! Get to know what's helped them through this season so you can walk through with confidence."

She believes each woman has a gift given by God that He wants us to use. She says, "I see His gifts molded in me every day. We just have to step out in obedience to begin to see our gifts!" 

Niki's journey with the Lord began when she was just a little girl. Raised faithfully by her grandparents, they were the most significant influence on her life. "I accepted Christ when I was eight years old. My grandma had led me in the sinner's prayer. It was truly a special moment!" She exclaims. She was raised in her grandparents' home from high school, which shaped her fundamentally as a believer. She came from a broken family, and moving in with her grandparents changed everything. As Niki became more involved in her church and youth group, things continued changing. Living in a new environment steeped her in the Lord's presence. It was a home that portrayed what a relationship with Christ looked like daily. "My grandparents both truly exemplified what walking with Christ looks like." She says. 

The best advice she has ever been given- or shown rather- was exemplified through her grandparents. She saw them wake up early every morning to spend time with the Lord. "I saw their walk with the Lord, and I wanted what they had." So, she followed suit and continued the practice for many years, rising early with the Lord and sitting with Him. She spent time with the Lord daily. She wants to leave that impression on her kids to follow one day. 

One thing she wishes she could tell her young Niki self still goes back to mentorship. "Always be seeking someone who has walked through the season you are currently in. Seek out mentors! Don't be afraid to ask someone to give advice on the things they've learned."

One thing she wishes someone had told her when she first started pursuing God's calling was that taking big steps of faith is hard. God hasn't promised this walk would be easy. "When we take steps of faith, we are strengthening ourselves spiritually. It's like a muscle; if you exercise it, the stronger it gets. The same goes for our spirit. If we exercise faith, the stronger we get spiritually. So keep taking steps of faith and trusting God!"

Niki is currently co-leading Life Community Church with her husband, James, of 14 years, this May 24, 2022. The couple church planted in Dubois, PA, eight years ago. They currently live in Dubois, a little rural town in the state's center, about an hour west of State College and two hours east of Pittsburgh. Niki currently homeschools her three little ones: Hannah (seven years old), Ethan (six years old), Micah (four years old). She says, "Never would I have dreamed I would be homeschooling! Never say never to God!"

 She says she tends to be shy. "I'm a quiet person generally. So it may take a little bit until I talk - I'm working up the courage to say something!" she giggles. Outside of church, she loves mentoring more! She loves hanging out with other ladies with a cup of coffee or tea. She enjoys crafting, but if someone leads the craft and tells her what to do! She loves to cook dinner for her family and try new recipes. "Thankfully, my family isn't picky!" she smirks. 

Her favorite restaurant is Chili's, and she loves Mexican food. But her current craving is Sour Patch Kids! "I can't get enough!!" She laughs as the couple is joyfully expecting baby number four - due Aug 2022! 

Niki wants to be a resource to you- especially in mentorship. She says, "It's my heart that mentoring among women would occur as God designed." Reach her through email at nikigoodman08@yahoo.com or Facebook. Now reach out to a sister! Be a mentor, find a mentor, and always be ready to make the first move.