Meet Misty Hughes of Lead-Her Ministries

Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Hughes.

Hi Misty, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story began growing up in a single mother home with one sister. At 21 years, I became pregnant and got married to the father of our daughter. After 13 years of marriage and 4 children, he chose to leave. Our children were ages 2-13 at the time. I was a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled our oldest 3.

Not wanting to repeat my mothers’ story, I ached for the tools, wisdom, and resources to help my children write a different story.
Over the next few years, I opted to work ‘jobs’ and not pursue a career in order to spend as much time and emotional energy as possible parenting. I felt my children had lost one parent and I knew the journey would be difficult as a single parent. Alone, I would have to navigate the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical needs of my children. I had to show up every day to parent through life’s twists and turns and I didn’t know how I would manage.

In 2003, our family moved to Kansas City from Kentucky in order to be a part of a faith-based community. Over the next 5-6 years, I would become involved with the ministry, equipping and training children, educators, and parents from around the world to grow in knowing Jesus and leading children to know the voice of God.

During those years, I ran into many other single mothers who were trying to find their way; struggling to make ends meet, to be present in parenting, to find time to care for themselves, to find peace and joy. As a result, I began inviting women and families to our home to share a meal, play, find respite, rest, and encouragement. I also hoped to give these women tools for developing healthy families.

In 2008, these gatherings in my home became a non-profit called The Single MOM KC. I continued to meet monthly with single mothers, facilitate workshops, plan and implement conferences and equip others to do the same. The organization grew to encompass women from around the Kansas City Region and across the United States via social media. For over 20 years, I worked to launch my 4 children into successful adulthood, train and equip other children and parents, and empower single mothers to write a better story.

In 2020, when the world was changing day to day, I got married (after 22 years of singleness) and stepped away from the leadership of the non-profit I founded. Since that time, I have developed a for-profit business called Lead-Her Ministries where I utilize my talents, experience, and passion to serve, inspire and empower women who ache for something more, who long to live and love out of an inner well-spring of abundance, sure and steady in their destiny as women.

My greatest accomplishment is loving and launching my children well. They are amazing adults and that is my greatest success. Now my great adventure is learning to love my husband well. Every day I get to show up in a marriage and learn new things about the man I will enjoy for the rest of my days.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life has definitely not been ‘smooth’. As a single mom with a very limited income, most of the challenges revolved around a major financial need. I remember one time my car needed a new transmission. It would NOT go in reverse.

I drove the car for 9 months without reverse. People ask “how did you do that” you get creative and resourceful. Each ‘bump’ along the way allowed me to develop as a woman and mother. Our journey of twists and turns gave me an opportunity to develop resiliency in my children.

There were also many challenges in parenting. Having 2 girls and 2 boys gave me a lot of opportunity for growth, especially in raising the boys to be men. I knew nothing about raising boys (I grew up in a single mother home with one sister). I remember one time spending so much time worrying because my boys were fixated on knives and guns. I finally asked a family friend (who was a dad) and he assured me it was a normal thing for boys to like weapons.

As a mother with ADULT Children, I am now learning so much from my husband and I often wonder how my boys made it out alive and sane!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lead-Her Ministries?
I am known around the Kansas City Community for my work with single mothers. However, through Lead-Her Ministries, I am transitioning that arena to include all women, especially those women who are desperately trying to navigate home, building a business or career, parenting, relationships (dating or marriage), and specifically I like to work with those women who may be on a second marriage because an added family brings many additional dynamics. The women in this arena are in desperate need of support and encouragement.

Most of my work history involves creating a sacred, safe space for women to come and discover who they are. I believe the journey of a woman becoming the BEST ME starts with SELF. Women are often so busy serving the family, community, boss, team, and others they don’t take the time to discover who they are, what’s important to them, and their own needs and desires. As a woman grows in confidence and develops her inward beauty, she changes the world around her. Women create an atmosphere. Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, ‘if mom ain’t happy, nobody’s happy? That is the power of a woman… she sets the mood and creates the atmosphere, for good or for bad.

I specialize in equipping women to be all they are created to be through coaching, workshops, speaking opportunities, writing, retreats, and more. Through my own life experience and the vitality I bring into a setting, women are empowered to believe transformation is possible. One of the mothers I serve once said, “I believe my dreams are possible because of your story, I figure if God could do this with you, He can do something with me!” It’s a funny compliment, but however it happens, I want to inspire women to BELIEVE and HOPE.

As a part of this business, I offer one-on-one coaching, workshops, equipping through small groups, empowerment for women through speaking, and more. In addition, my husband and I give leadership to a small group of newly married couples and facilitate a pre-marital assessment, called SYMBIS, for those considering marriage.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am still dreaming of many things. Stay-tuned.

Contact Info:

• Email: misty@Lead-HerMinistries.com
• Website: https://www.lead-herministries.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadher_coaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadHerCoaching/?ref=pages_you_manage

Image Credits
Victoria Sandage and Monica Rodriguez