More About Pam and Kathy’s Friendship

When Morton couldn’t find a study to do that, she wrote her own. She started with a 10-week Tuesday-morning class, combining themed Bible studies with discussion, fun skits, special guests and new ideas for recipes and home projects. She wrote and printed each week’s lesson herself.

“I got out my big industrial publishing company – a copier at Kinko’s,” Morton says. “I printed 52 and had 53 women come the first day. We were already out of print! They were walking away with Bible content and a new skill each week, and they really loved it.”

When Morton planned a lesson about writing, she decided her friend Kathy Jingling would make an ideal guest speaker.

“She used up the entire time, plus my time,” Morton says.

“That’s really true,” adds Jingling.

“I thought she was so zealous,” Morton says, “we might as well reign her in and have her teach full-time.”

Tuesday mornings changed to Sunday mornings, weeks turned into years and Morton and Jingling became a team.

To the initiate, their partnership now borders on iconic.

“When they get up and do their thing, it’s so hilarious,” says Susan Matthews, a longtime Creative Friendzy student. “Pam is a little freer and Kathy is a little stricter – what one doesn’t say, the other one picks up and says. You get the best of both worlds.”

When it comes to writing, new concepts seem to be Morton’s forte, while responsibility for structure and execution falls squarely on Jingling’s shoulders.

“Pam has all the ideas,” Jingling says.
“She gives me substance,” Morton answers.

The study’s style and execution took on new importance in 2004, when the friends were invited to share their curriculum at the Assemblies of God National Women’s Ministries Conference. Up to that point, Creative Friendzy had existed as a local class. But Jingling and Morton would need something solid and transferable to send home with conference attendees. They’d need published lesson books. And if they were going to go that far…