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Category Archives: Ministry

Join the M.O.M. revolution!

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I asked my dear friend Stephanie Shott to share with us today about an exciting new movement she’s initiated. If you’re a mom, a grandma, an aunt, or ever want to be a mom, don’t miss this!

 

The M.O.M. Initiative

Many women dream of being the perfect mom who has all the right answers, never raises her voice and never has to count to three, but we all know being a good mom is not that easy. Those sweet little bundles of joy don’t come with instruction manuals or warning labels and moms are often left to figure it out on their own.

What is the M.O.M. Initiative?

“Mothers On a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers” is a group of moms and a package of resources to equip, enable and support women as they experience Titus 2 principles in real life. It is a mentoring package of resources that give Christian mothers an easy, hands on approach to passionately pursue mentor relationships with younger mothers and mothers-to-be, and ultimately impact the next generation for Christ. Simply stated, the M.O.M. Initiative exists to help moms become the best moms they can possibly be.

The M.O.M. Initiative website

Virtual encouragement for real life moms: The website is a safe place to grow as a mother, to gain a better understanding of what a mother is and what a mother does, and to foster and support mentor/mentee relationships.

Virtual mentoring in times of need:  Find practical tips, helpful tools, godly wisdom, and informative insight on current issues. The M.O.M. Initiative website also offers a private chat room where a mom can connect virtually with a mentor and find help in times of need. The website offers help for both the mentor and the mentee.

Practical articles for every season of life: A diverse and experienced group of moms provide the helpful and insightful articles on the M.O.M. Initiative website. Not only are they passionate about ministering to the hearts of mothers, they are also writers, speakers, counselors, nurses, or experts in their fields who devote much time and effort to serving other mothers.

The M.O.M. Initiative workbook

This workbook – currently in development – will be an invaluable tool to help Christian moms mentor other moms in the church and beyond. This eight-week study, five lessons per week, study will:

  • Present moms with biblical truths and solid information on the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and developmental needs of a child
  • Foster insight through thought provoking questions
  • Encourage moms to implement proactive mothering techniques
  • Include a M.O.M. mentor guide and a missional planning guide

Giving birth to the M.O.M. Initiative

M.O.M. Initiative founder Stephanie Shott was a single mom at age nineteen. Without Christ and without a mentor, she made a series of serious choices that affected her precious young son. When Stephanie became a Christian five years later she learned being a mom is much more than a three-letter word and a handful of sacrifices. The significance of Titus 2:4-5 deeply impacted her.

Stephanie’s experience fostered passion for mentoring moms and birthed the vision for the M.O.M. Initiative. Her goal is to impact not just church moms, but to also facilitate mentoring relationships with young moms wherever they are found – in homes for unwed mothers, low-income housing projects, apartment complexes, homeless shelters, prisons, juvenile shelters, schools, hospitals, the mission field and more. (Planning guides for each of these venues will be available in the back of the book.)

Will you join the M.O.M revolution? The M.O.M. Initiative is not just a book. It’s not just a website. IT’S A REVOLUTION!

 

Do we really need women’s ministry? – #4 Post of 2011

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This week I’m sharing the most read posts of 2011. The following post also had the most comments of any post of 2011. Click here to read the original post (December 2, 2011) with all the comments.

There’s been a bit of debate in recent years about whether or not churches should have separate  programs just for women. In fact, many churches have discontinued their women’s ministries. Some say it’s a financial decision. Others say that churches simply don’t need it.

I’ve been in women’s ministry leadership for many years. I’ve seen God do amazing things through women’s Bible studies, women’s outreach events, women’s mentoring programs, women’s retreats, and more. Through my experience I’ve learned several things about women and I could tell you story after story to illustrate them:

  • Women are usually more open to discussing spiritual things than men.
  • Women are more willing to be vulnerable and open to new relationships.
  • If we can reach the woman, we can very often reach her entire family.

I’d love to get a dialogue going about our need for women’s ministry and what we can do to best reach women in our community. Here are a few online articles I’ve come across recently that make great fuel for our discussion.

  • Women’s ministry has incredible potential to impact the women of your church and community. Great thoughts in this article: “What Women’s Ministry Can Be.”
  • We need women’s ministry now more than ever. According to a recent study, the percentage of women attending and leading in churches has declined. According to this article in Christianity Today we must be training Christian women to reach out to other women: “The Newest US Mission Field: Women”
  • This author emphasizes that women’s ministry should not be another social club. We need to help women find Jesus, deep community, and spiritual growth: “Why We Don’t Need Women’s Ministry”

So let’s talk! You may be a ministry leader, volunteer, or participant. I’d love to know what you think about this topic. I’d also like to hear about what your church is doing.

Nothing, but everything in common

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What does a 50 year-old American woman have in common with a group of eastern European twenty-somethings? Nothing except for Jesus, but that is more than enough.

Last month, I was blessed to spend two weeks in Moldova teaching an intensive course at the Moldova Bible Seminary in Kishnev. My students and I spent forty hours together studying the New Testament book of Hebrews. I’ve taught God’s Word in many different settings – Sunday School, women’s Bible study, middle school Bible club, retreats, conferences, and workshops – but a seminary class was a new experience for me.

The Moldova Bible Seminary, located in Moldova’s capitol city, trains young Christians from Moldova and Ukraine for a range of ministry work. This small seminary, a ministry of Kishnev Bible Church, is committed to spreading the Gospel of Christ in Eastern Europe and beyond. (Find out more about the seminary, other KBC ministries, and how you can help, here.)

Many of the professors – volunteers like me – are from Great Britain and America. So, thankfully, these students learn English during their first year of seminary. The language difference was only a small barrier. The more proficient students help out the others.

Of course there are cultural differences between the United States and Moldova. Language, food, humor, lifestyle, and dress are some of the more obvious. And as gracious and welcoming as the Moldovans were, I still sometimes felt a bit awkward and out of place. For instance, every time I attempted to speak Russian, they just smiled. I could hear them thinking to themselves, “Be nice, she’s trying.”

But none of those differences are really important. On a deeper level we had more important things in common. We are committed to studying God’s Word. We all love Jesus. In fact, my students and I are all one in Christ. There is no dividing wall or barrier (Ephesians 2:13-15). We could all sense the family connection.

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:27-29, NLT

I love how God works. His presence brings unity, love, and common purpose. I hope God gives me the opportunity to go back. I miss my Moldovan brothers and sisters in Christ.

Have you ever experienced that “family connection” that only God can give? I would love to hear about it!

87 and Hungry – Moldova Part 3

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One ministry we engaged in during our recent mission trip to Moldova was home visitation and food distribution. We visited low-income, elderly people living in apartment buildings near Kishinev Bible Church.

One visit was especially memorable.  That particular morning I was the only American visiting with two of my new Moldovan friends, Sveta and Liuda. It was our last visit of the day, in fact, our last visit of the trip.

Liuda knocked on her door and explained why we were there. “Americans have come to visit and to bring you food.” The woman invited us into her apartment and led us into her small kitchen. She pointed to a bowl of hot cereal on the table and spoke to Sveta in Russian. Sveta translated, “This is all I have to eat. I have five children, but they can’t help me because they don’t have jobs.” Read more

Diggin’ my Scripture Dig girls

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I just returned from the “She Speaks” conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. This conference, held by Proverbs 31 Ministries, trains women’s ministry leaders, writers, and speakers. I spent the weekend in the company of 600 women who long to share Christ’s message with the world. Pretty awesome!

However, the best thing about the weekend was the time I spent with just five specific women. In case you haven’t heard, I am part of a brand-new and exciting online discipleship ministry called Scripture Dig. (You can check it out here.) I had only met the other team members via Facebook, Twitter, and email. But all of us attended “She Speaks” and I got to meet every one of them face to face.

I’ve been amazed at what God has been doing during the short two months that the Scripture Dig ministry has been active. This weekend was no exception. After personally meeting the team members, spending time with them, and doing some planning together, it’s very clear God put this group together.

I’m very grateful God would allow me to be included in this godly – and fun – group. I came home with five new friends and great anticipation about what God is doing with Scripture Dig. Would love to have you join us over at The Dig!