Covering Testimony: Tasha Cantrell
| Name: Tasha Cantrell | Age: 31 | Location: Durant, OK | Started Covering: October 2013 |
1) Introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Tasha. I have been married to an amazing man of God for 12 ½ years. We have 2 beautiful children, ages 5 and 8. My husband has pastored a church out of our garage for almost 1 year now. I work full time outside of the home right now but would love to be able to stay home and homeschool my children one day. On top of pastoring, my husband owns his own business. This is has been a blessing that enables him the freedom to lead and care for his congregation as well as spend lots of family time with me and the kids. I have served God all of my adult life but have only truly sought Him out with every bit of my being for about the last 5 ½ years. He has begun to do a great work in me which has included lots of molding and shaping. Praise the Lord!
2) Where do you attend church? Tell us a little bit about it.
About a year ago, my husband answered the call to pastor his own church. We now hold church in our garage 3 times a week and are growing rapidly. We are currently trying to purchase some land to begin the next step of faith on this journey.
3) What led you to start covering?
My story began a little over 3 years ago. I had never been around anybody that covered except for 1 family and I’d only see them every couple of years. They were the only family that covered in probably a 6 or 8 county area. God kept bringing my attention to the verses in 1 Corinthians and I just couldn’t shake it. I ended up contacting one the above mentioned family members to ask them questions. Anyway, I began covering full time but that only lasted about 3 months and I quit doing it. So for 3 years I was on again and off again wearing head coverings (I know…so wishy washy). My husband and I started our own church almost a year ago and God began speaking louder and clearer to me on the issue of headcovering. I started doing some intense research but more than that, searching out the areas of my heart that God was dealing with. Around March of 2013, I wore a covering to every worship service and then by the first part of October 2013, I put my head coverings on and have wore them full time ever since. I will tell you that it is the most wonderful thing and I am loving every minute of it!
4) Your story of covering on-and-off is actually very common. For you, what reasons led you to stop so often and what changed in 2013 to where you started being consistent?
When I first started wearing head coverings I did good with them. My husband loved them and thought they were beautiful. This helped a lot. However, my husband and I were attending another church at this time and believe it or not, I was more concerned with, not what the world would think, but what my church family would think. I didn’t want my pastors to think I was confused. March 2013 is when we began having church in our home and with my husband being the pastor, I just knew it was time. I guess I worried too much about what other people would think. Like I said before, I do work outside the home in a business profession so I am around many people every day. In my profession, I hold a supervisor position so it probably helps others keep their opinions to themselves. I have never had anyone come against me or even question me on my journey. I suppose I just had it in my mind that I would…
5) You said about covering “it is the most wonderful thing and I am loving every minute of it”. What specifically is so wonderful?
The liberty….where the Spirit of the Lord is…there is liberty. I have learned that this is just who I am. I am a child of the One True King. I am a wife and a mother and I thank God for the position He has placed me in. I feel beautiful in my head coverings. My husband tells me this and so does my 8 year old son. 🙂
6) Since your husband is the pastor of your church, how has your church approached head covering? Do all female members cover? Are they required to?
Well, head covering in our area was practically nonexistent…with the exception of one family that travels and sings. Like I had mentioned before, I was on and off for about 3 years with my head coverings. We began New Horizon Fellowship in March of 2013. I was not wearing them at this time and had no intention of putting them back on. Well, after the first service (in our living room) it became very evident that God intended on me to put my head coverings on. I have had several woman in my church speak to me about head coverings. I have done extensive research on this subject and even wrote out my own study on it to share with them. They have read it and are currently studying it out on their own. I guess you can say that they are on their on-again/off-again journey. Because of the way God dealt with me on this subject, my husband and I have agreed that we will not require anybody to wear a head covering but will simply share what we believe. I believe in time, most of the ladies will wear them as they allow God to speak to their hearts on the subject.
7) What kind of covering(s) do you use? Where did you get them?
Well, I believe that a woman should dress feminine and pretty. I love being a girl and my head coverings are no different. I wear them all! 🙂 I wear shorter veils, longer veils, thicker headband styles, snoods, scarfs, and in the winter time I wear knitted hats at times. I like for my head coverings to match or coordinate with my clothing. I wear all colors, all styles, and even some prints. I love Garlands of Grace for almost every day wear. (my favorite is probably the stretch Cecily in all different colors) I even wear holiday themed (hearts for Valentine’s Day, etc..) scarfs as head coverings when I am lounging at home. My kids are young and they love it!
