About a year and a half ago, I joined with three other women to begin a “Connect Group” (aka Sunday School Class). The church leadership team had realized that single mothers didn’t necessarily feel that they had a place to belong, seeing as how most existing classes were for married adults or single adults without kids. One of my co-teachers was raised by a single mom, two of them are single moms, and I came onboard because I have a heart for fellow women. In fact, in a way, I’ve been doing “women’s ministry” through my writing all these years.
I have loved being involved with this class.
I went in hoping to serve through co-teaching, hoping to bless the women. But in that way He has, God has blessed me way more than I expected. It’s a joy to surround myself with this group of mothers. We focus every Sunday on the truest truth of the gospel. Namely, that Jesus loves us. And because of his sacrifice and grace, we have hope and a future. I leave each Sunday encouraged.
Last weekend, our group went on a girlfriend getaway to a ranch in the Texas countryside southwest of Fort Worth. When you think “ranch”, you might think “rustic”. This was not that.
It was gorgeous! This ranch is owned by a Christian couple who are friends of one of the teachers. Apparently, they’d always envisioned it as a retreat meant not just for them, but for others, to enjoy. So instead of building one big house, they built a gathering space plus four separate two-bedroom cabins spread out over the property. They keep their ranch feeling like an AirBnB so that ministries can come and stay and meet God there. When the wife learned about our class, she invited us to come.
Y’all! They let us stay there for free. They didn’t even charge us a cleaning fee.
I’m blown away by their generosity.
We had wonderful conversations and wonderful meals. We prayed. We laughed. We cried. We relaxed. Some of us played a late-night game of Rummikub. We delighted in the nature that surrounded us on all sides.
The Lord used the trip to remind me…
- When we step in to serve, He blesses us. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
- God intends for us to find our places of belonging because He made us for community. The women in our class are of all different ages and we like it that way. Age doesn’t have to be a barrier to friendship. In fact, having different ages represented has added richness to our group. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
- We can all generously share what we have. We might not be able to offer our ranch to others to use. But we can offer whatever He’s entrusted to us. Our time, our gifts. “Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8
Becky Wade
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Beautiful. What a treasured time!
It really was!
What a wonderful time of fellowship in such a beautiful space. I just taught a ladies Bible class last night, and I, too, love being surrounded by women of different ages and life experiences. Each brings something unique to the discussion, and I always leave having learned as much from them as from my personal study.
Yes, EXACTLY!!
What a blessing to your group to be able to get away to such a beautiful place! I became a single mom when my husband passed away and my kids were in high school, and being a single mom is just different, no matter how it came to be. I’m involved in two different women’s groups through my church, one is a widow’s group and we have quite a range of ages. The other is a mentoring group, which I co-lead, we have women in their 20’s and 30’s, and we all learn from each other. I appreciate these opportunities to do life with both groups of wonderful ladies!
How wonderful that you’re involved with both of those groups, Linda, and get to “do life” with them. 🙂 I love that!
So glad y’all were able to get away together! What a blessing of a place to go, too! I love that we all encourage one another in Christ–both “teacher” and “student.”
Right–we all have an opportunity to encourage others. And we ALL need encouragement!
This is wonderful, Becky. What a retreat and respite it must have been for these women.
Yes, single parenting of young children is so challenging. They were able to get away, slow down, and take some deep breaths.
I was a single mom for 20 years from my daughter’s first birthday to her 20th. We tried a small group for single parents in our church but scheduling was a problem for just the three or four members we had and it soon fell by the wayside. I would have loved to have a group like this so I commend you and the ministry. I did soon join the larger singles group made up of single parents but mostly those without kids. We had marvelous closeness and have such great memories of our times together.
I am praying for each of you.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Especially “when we step in to serve, He blesses us.” So true!
“scheduling was a problem for just the three or four members we had and it soon fell by the wayside” Your experience echoes what several of these moms found when they’d tried to start a class at a different church. It was too hard for them to make a “go” of it, seeing as how they were all single parents of young kids and already stretched so thin. The difference with this class is that all 4 of us teachers are not parents of young kids. Two of us have teenage+ kids. And two of us are grandmas. We’re at a different stage that allows us to ensure someone is there to teach every single Sunday.
Fabulous!!! Loved reading all that the Lord has blessed you with through this group!!! And, that ranch is AMAZING!!!!
Amazing!!