Mary Southerland is The Stress-Buster, a leader at helping women manage stress and enjoy peace in their daily life. Mary also serves the local church as the Women’s Ministry Motivator, inspiring hundreds of women to joyfully participate in Bible Studies, Life Groups, and volunteer ministries.

Women identify with Mary, because she survived the road of clinical depression, infertility, adoption, full-time ministry, and the daily stress of life. She has worked “in the trenches” with pastor’s wives and women’s ministry leaders. Through God’s power, Mary emerged with joy, strength, and victory. Her heart’s desire is to encourage women and support leaders by helping:

...Create a culture of joy to face storms with strength.
...Turn past failures into future success.
...Handle difficult people with compassion.
...Motivate women to sign up and serve in helping others.

Mary is also one of the co-founders of Girlfriends in God, a non-denominational conference ministry that crosses generational and racial boundaries to bring the Body of Christ together as believers. Just as God sent Ruth to Naomi and Mary to Elizabeth, God continues to use women to encourage and equip other women in their spiritual journey. Through daily on-line devotions, conferences, published books, CDs and music videos, God is using this incredible team of women to bring the hope and healing of Jesus Christ to a hurting world.

Mary also offers a weekly online bible study, Light for the Journey, through which she addresses the relevant and timely issues today's woman faces. Thousands of subscribers agree that this study will change your life.

Mary’s books include, Hope in the Midst of Depression, Sandpaper People, Escaping the Stress Trap, and Experiencing God’s Power in Your Ministry. She also writes for Crosswalk.com and Rick Warren’s Tool Box on Pastors.com. As a speaker, teacher and radio guest, audiences appreciate Mary’s cheerful wisdom and expertise.

As a women’s ministry director, Mary led Women in Focus, a community bible study, at Flamingo Road Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with an attendance of over 400 women. She is now the Director of Women's Ministry at Westside Family Church in Lenexa, Kansas, where her husband, Dan, has is the Lead Teaching Pastor. Mary's experience has helped leaders across America embrace challenges, such as facing transition and developing essential leadership qualities.

One of Mary’s greatest pleasures is serving beside her husband, Dan, who is a pastor, church consultant and author of Transitioning: Leading Your Church Through Change. Mary relishes her ministry as a wife and mother to their two children, Jered and Danna...and now as a grandmother to twins, Jaydan Scott and Lelia Kay and to Justus Daniel.

As the Stress Buster, let Mary help you control stress before it controls you. And, when your women’s ministry needs a fresh start, call the Women’s Ministry Motivator.

“Mary Southerland is a one–of–a–kind woman...extraordinary wife, mom, pastor’s wife, Bible teacher, author, and friend. Don’t let her tiny stature fool you—she is a powerhouse! When she speaks or writes about her life, her ministry experiences, and her faith in God, people are moved emotionally, challenged spiritually, and inspired to go out into the world and live passionately for Jesus. I love Mary, and you will, too!"

--Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren, pastor, Saddleback Church and author of "Dangerous Surrender."