July 1, 2021 • Third Third Journal
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Elizabeth Smith who has an amazing “third third” story. I’m excited to be able to share this conversation with you.
I have known Liz for many years. She has been a leader in my church, serving in a variety of roles. She and I chatted briefly at times, but only recently did we have an in-depth conversation about her life past and future. As I was listening to Liz, I kept thinking, “Oh, I’d love to share this with my third third folk.” So I asked Liz if she were willing to redo our conversation, this time using the recording function of Zoom. She was willing and we had a marvelous conversation yesterday.
The first half of our interview focused on Liz’s personal story, from her young life in Jamaica to her years in Southern California. Then, we talk about what’s next for her as she moves to Florida to be near family and begins a new adventure in her life. Liz has a moving vision for using what God has given her in life to serve young women in Jamaica.
What you hear from Liz will be instructive and inspirational. My hope is that it will encourage you to think in new ways about how God might use you in the third third of life.
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
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