By: Molly Sargent
It can be tough to find a church home, a place where you feel welcomed, accepted, and encouraged in your growth as a follower of Christ. It can be hard to make personal connections and develop relationships, especially if you are not particularly outgoing. And for women, there are aspects of being female that only other women can understand. This is where the importance of women’s ministry At First Pres comes in.
The women who serve on the Women’s Leadership Board (WLB) came together providentially at the Women’s Conference (WoCo) last October, when God brought together women with a similar vision. WoCo speaker and FPC member Gerre Brenneman invited both newcomers and those who desired a stronger connection to other women in the church to meet on that Saturday afternoon of WoCo. The result was a rich time of sharing what brought us to First Pres, what we appreciated about it, and what we were searching for in our church community. As a result, a small group formed at the campfire that night where plans to revitalize women’s ministries at the church began.
With Pastor Jeremy’s blessing, this group began meeting regularly with the goal of providing personal connections and spiritual growth opportunities for FPC women. Since then, the WLB has welcomed additional members and hosted several events including Newcomer Connects for women, a series of no-homework Bible studies on Wednesday nights, the Valentine’s Day dinner, and, most recently, a women’s afternoon tea. We are especially excited about WoCo coming up on October 21-23, at ECCO in Oakhurst. We look forward to hearing from a variety of women as they relate their personal journeys with God through pain and triumph, joy and tears.
We are honored to be a part of the ministry of FPC. Our mission is to to enfold new and established women into the life of the church, to disciple and encourage women through Bible study and spiritual development, and to empower women to discover their spiritual gifts in the work of ministry. If you are interested in becoming part of the women’s ministry in any way, we encourage you to reach out to Gerre Brenneman, Elizabeth Rooney, Alisa Zimmerman, Molly Sargent, Brittney Slaughter, Kym Toews or Trianne Harabedian Flores (not pictured).
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
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