April 6th, 2023

CEO of M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Romanita Hairston will be joined by Founder and Executive Director of The Anchor Katie Robertson and singer, songwriter and producer Mac Powell

How to Watch

The Anchor at Home premieres at 7pm PST on April 6th on the Anchor YouTube channel. The whole Anchor community will be able to watch together no matter where they are!

5 Steps for a Successful Watch Party

Invite your family and friends to join you on Thursday, April 6th to hear from guest speakers Romanita Hairston and Katie Robertson and musical guest Mac Powell.

Important: Make sure to have your guests sign up & be entered in the drawing. Guests can sign in and enter the drawing by clicking here.

Be online and tune to the video link when it premieres on April 6th at 7pm PST. You can also subscribe to our channel and easily find our content. Moderate your discussion following the video.

Make sure to snap some photos, tag @theanchorgathering and #anchorathome on social media, and “like” us on Facebook and Instagram!

Email our program coordinator Loren with any pictures & videos you take at your Watch Party for a chance to be featured on our website & socials!

Mixer Prompts

Choose one, two or all three prompts to discuss so the women at your watch party can get to know one another.

  • Coffee or tea?

  • What is your favorite thing about spring?

  • What kind of music do you like?

Featured Guests

As Chief Executive Officer, Romanita oversees all program activities of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a private, nonprofit foundation serving the Pacific Northwest since 1975. An accomplished team builder, convener, and leader, Romanita draws on more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit, for profit, philanthropic, and board service sectors to help steward the mission of the foundation.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Hairston began her career in the nonprofit sector at World Vision, the largest child-focused private charity in the world. Over 20 years, Hairston gained a deep understanding of nonprofit service, management, and leadership as she held a variety of roles, including a decade as vice president of US programs.

In 2016 she entered the philanthropic sector, joining the Murdock Trust as a program director. During her tenure, Hairston walked alongside dozens of nonprofit leaders as they pursued capacity building grants with the charitable trust. In addition, Hairston collaborated with Murdock Trust staff, partners, and community organizations to develop enrichment programs and convenings designed to serve the diverse needs of the Pacific Northwest.

Hairston would move to the for-profit sector and join Microsoft in 2018, where she focused on the future of work and learning. In her role, she led a global skilling effort focused on improving employability in higher education through technical skilling and workforce partnerships. As the leader of the technical content portfolio team, Hairston worked to build capacity across Microsoft’s solution areas for its global customer, partner, and future generation audiences.

Hairston earned an MBA in global development and nonprofit management from Eastern University in Philadelphia and is the founder of MORE320, a nonprofit consulting company supporting organizations as they seek to effect social change. An active volunteer, Hairston currently serves as the board president for Global Women and is on the Leadership Council for Breaking Ground. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Seattle. She has served on the board of India Partners, the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Urban Alliance, Urban Impact, Impact Latin America, Kids In Need Foundation, and Renaissance Leadership Group as well as volunteered with the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and the Rhythms of Grace Women’s Retreat.

Katie, the Founder and Executive Director of The Anchor, is a graduate from the University of Washington, former teacher, and Seattle native who has devoted the current season of her life to speaking, mentoring and serving in her community. She has been involved in Young Life as a leader and mentor for over 30 years. An author, runner and mother of three, Katie and her husband, Ron, live in Gig Harbor Washington where they enjoy their seaside home and many boating adventures in the Northwest.

Mac Powell, originally from Clanton, Alabama, is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee, with both of them being the only continuous members of the band prior to their disbandment in 2018. Mac also delves into country music, having released several independent country albums. As of 2021, he continues his career in Christian music as a solo artist. He won Male Vocalist of the Year at the Gospel Music Association’s 2002 Dove Awards. Mac lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Aimee and five children: Scout, Cash, Camie Love, Emmanuel, and Birdie Clare.

Discussion Questions

We hope you enjoyed the Anchor at Home! At this time, your host can lead your small group through these discussion questions.

  • How did your faith journey begin, or if it hasn’t begun yet, what inspired you about Romanita’s faith journey?

  • Have you ever been at a crossroads in your faith journey? Is so, what did you do?

  • What has the suffering you have experienced produced in your character?

  • What purpose do you feel God is tugging at your heart to pursue or accomplish?

This Month’s Drawing

Guests at your Watch Party or women watching on their own will be able to enter the drawing before the Anchor at Home begins and until 9pm. Please remind your guests to enter the drawing when they arrive at your Watch Party.

March’s Drawing is for the Anchor “goodness” glassybaby and Anchor Moment speaker Katie Robertson’s book, Anchored: Walking by Faith, Living in Hope, Remembering Karina

How to Enter

Visit theanchorgathering.com/raffle to access the entry form.

Fill out the form and voilà, you’ve successfully entered!

Tips and Instructions for Hosts

  • Read guests the drawing URL (theanchorgathering.com/raffle) and they can visit it on their mobile device to submit the form.
  • Forward your guests this page or the Watch Party Kit PDF and direct them to these instructions.
  • Print out page 4 of the Watch Party Kit PDF fold in half, and set it at your Watch Party. Ask guests to scan the QR code to enter.
  • Pull up the drawing on your device (iPad, phone, etc.) and pass it around for each guest to enter.