Getting to know Vickie Bakki

One of the concepts that is part of our church vision is our unquenchable desire to serve our community. RB Community is a big part of our community, and the dedication of the many volunteers that serve our church family brings that vision to life. We often are not specifically aware of what they do nor who they are, but we all feel their love drawing us together in Christ. Vickie Bakki is one of these volunteers. She is a long-time member here, so many may know her. She was born in Mississippi but considers herself to be a midwesterner. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in education and psychology. She moved to San Diego in 1980 from Minneapolis. While raising her family, she taught in Poway Unified, earned her administrative credential, and finished her career as a school principal. She and her husband, Sandor, will soon celebrate their 35th anniversary. As busy as Vickie was, she felt she wanted to serve at RB Community, where she served as a deacon, usher, and at VBS. When she retired in 2014, she increased her volunteer hours. She wanted to give back to God’s kingdom in the same way she had been blessed in her life here. God put the desire in her heart to serve our church family as she had loved her own. In Vickie’s words: I was raised a Methodist. I joined RB Community in 1997 after my youngest graduated from high school, as he was active in the youth program at First United Methodist in Mission Valley. My parents were both active members at RB Community, and since I worked in Rancho Bernardo, where I had many friends who attended our church, I moved my membership. I have experienced almost 30 years of friendship and spiritual growth with my present church family. Vickie says that her motivation to volunteer is to get to know other people and to pray for them. At RB Community, Vickie has used her career experiences in HR and Administration by volunteering for 18 years as a three-term Deacon and now as an Elder in her third term. Currently, she also works with For Community Care (4CC) to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables provided by local groceries to food pantries in the area. She values the growth opportunities in volunteering to learn more people skills and to use her spiritual gifts and practical skills as part of a team. In so doing, she feels she has become more patient and understanding of the needs of others. Vickie believes God is everywhere and in the power of prayer. She has discovered that the best way to experience God’s presence is through prayers of gratitude and renewal and through service to others in the RB community. She blesses us with her gift of love for us as a volunteer, while she fulfills her desire to be a part of building God’s kingdom right here. From Irene Dunny and Vickie