I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  2 Timothy 1:5 has always been close to me, because I, as Timothy did, have a godly grandmother named Lois.  My mother is Nancy, not Eunice, but passed along the foundations of faith, as Timothy’s mother did.  Lately, I’ve been reminded how the Faith, which has lived in so many women before me, is being shared with me nearly every day.  This was the theme, if you will, in which we circled about over a rainy weekend in April, right on the beautiful Oregon coast.

That weekend was our Grant Avenue Baptist Church Ladies Ministry strategy session.  A mouthful, yes, but it was an incredible opportunity to seek God’s face through prayer, examine the surveys ladies had filled out weeks prior, brainstorm, and eventually come to some honed down ideas as how to proceed with our ministry to and by the women of our congregation.

We each expressed a heart to be part of a ministry which was a community of women for women, where we are now and where we’d like to be.  Rather than picking out traditional elements of some ministries, we decided to look at the gifts women of our flock already have been given, and design ministry around our strengths.  Women have already been ministering so much to one another among us, and so much of the hard work has already been done under the leadership of Lorna Jones for over a decade!  How blessed we were to be able to pick up from there!  We wanted to continue to be women who  help nurture our flock, then we will naturally nurture outside our flock.  Many felt mentoring, teaching, and generally walking beside women was where God was leading us.  We wanted to be connected to one another and to our Savior.  So, we began seeking a name and a mission statement, so that all ideas would align in the right direction.

Our new name is “Women’s Connection.”  Our mission statement is, “A community focused on building Christ-centered relationships.”

Community.  That’s what we want to be.  We desire to let God build us from where we are, so you can meet Him through us.  We want to “one another” to one another.  You know, “love one another,” “serve one another,” etc.

So, many of us are continuing to find exactly our place in this ministry, and are planning to present many new and continuing opportunities to you very soon.  We’ll soon be announcing a gathering of sorts for some fellowship, fun, and opportunities for you to sign up for Bible Studies, retreats, mission and ministry opportunities, etc.  Would you also pray as to where you may want to contribute?  And then, let me know!  This blog will serve as a source of information and maybe some inspiration for you.

Michelle Fowler
p.s.  I’d love to have a logo of sorts for our ministry.  Something that encompasses the idea of connection or community.  Any of you graphic designers out there?  I’d love your submissions!