By Elise Daly Parker with Annie Ly Johnson, MOPS Coordinator, Montclair Community Church

MOPS groups “connect moms all over the world to a community of women, in their own neighborhoods, who meet together to laugh, cry and embrace the journey of motherhood.” 

Annie and I sat around her kitchen table a while ago. I wanted to know more about MOPS and only wished I had heard about it when I was a young mom. Here’s Annie’s story. I think it’s one many young moms can relate to… [Continue Reading...]

Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.

Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below.

Have you found a friend in an unlikely person or an unsuspecting place? Surprised by a friendship? Tell us about it.

I am thankful for the time that it took me to get the place where I accepted and really loved myself. I don’t think I realized how hard I have been on myself over the years. I wasted a lot of time wanting to be like someone else - thinner, cooler, bolder, more confident, neater, more creative, and less hysterical.

Twenty years ago in April, my husband and I went to Moscow to adopt a beautiful little Russian girl, Natasha. The trip and the adoption changed the trajectory of our lives. I had a baby boy more than 10 years prior, who was happy and healthy and the joy of our lives.

The moment that I realized I was doing something that I was meant to do and loved to do was when I was in the mountains of Guatemala, working for non-profit organization. I was surrounded by poverty, but felt more alive than I have ever been.

It was winter when I experienced the loss of my marriage. At the time, it felt like the end of the world.  What surprised me about this was that God didn’t rescue me in the way that I’d expected. He didn’t bring my husband back like I thought He should.

After 33 years of marriage, my husband left me and moved in with another woman. I was left single and very alone. At the time, it felt like my life was over, I was rejected. What surprised me about this time was how real the presence of God became to me as I experienced Him as my husband. I

I was disappointed when I discovered a growth on my thyroid. At the time it felt like I was alone. What surprised me about that time was that God was with me. I realize that all the fearful feelings that I allowed myself to dwell on were stupid.

I have learned that I am happy to share. Encouraging others is really important to me because I love people. God has created me to be a writer and I'm learning to express that through my experiences.

The truth about God that was revealed to me is that He is my Heavenly Father.

The first representation of God is your earthly father. My father was a wounded man who womanized, drank, was angry, and gave his love conditionally. So growing up I had learned to live a performance-oriented life.

To be honest, there have only been two or three moments in my life when I felt CERTAIN that what I was doing, I was created to do. The first was when I discovered that God had made me a teacher. The second, is when I learned that God had made me a Mommy. A Mother. Those were the two times that I felt so confident in every move and situation, confident that if I didn’t know the answer I could find it.

I had no idea of what a family was until both of my parents died. It sounds harsh, but it is true. At that time in my life, I was a parentified child of my four younger siblings. Dad was an introverted workaholic and Mom was a drug addict. 

I am capable because I believe in myself. I am thankful for the confidence I now have to face a room full of people, head up a project or engage in various personal relationships. It wasn't always this way.

God is my Provider. I always knew that He was a Provider, but I never fully acknowledged that for myself. I first discovered this nearly four years ago when I was going through a painful season in my marriage. The transition from being married to a divorced single parent caused financial hardship in my life.

by Wodline Hippolyte

I am blessed to today to have both men and women in my life who aren’t afraid to share their life experiences with me.  Hearing their stories allows me to make wiser life decisions, strengthens my faith, and form lasting friendships.

Over the past 3 years, I have slowly come to realize that I was made to create. You would think this one would have been easy for me to realize because I have always been artistically talented. However, it wasn’t. I spent many years wanting to be someone else. Smarter. More athletic. More buttoned up.

by Kimberly Amici

You don’t have to be a writer to share your story nor do you need a large platform. There are everyday opportunities to influence others with what you have experienced. Whether it’s a brief encounter with a stranger while waiting in line, or a friend who finally opens up over coffee, your story can encourage, heal, restore, refresh and demonstrate the fullness of God.

When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I felt special…chosen…like I was doubly blessed. Then at five months pregnant I lost those two baby girls. I was devastated. I felt like God had set me up only to torture me.

by Susan Panzica

What is human trafficking? Simply stated, it is a form of slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, and/or coercion for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. Also, if a person is a minor (under 18 years old) and they are exploited sexually for money, they are considered victims of human trafficking whether or not coercion was involved.

Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.

Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below.

This month we are asking: What helps you simplify the holidays?

By Brianne Hendrick

As the children saw our vehicle approaching they ran out to greet us. Those precious faces I had been admiring in still frames now stood before me. So moved, I fought back my tears. The highlight of my morning was being able to hug the very child my family sponsors. Her name is Providence.  

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

That's the question we will be asking COF contributors and you, our readers, each month. Is there a book that you just can't seem to put down, that's teaching you a profound spiritual lesson, or making you laugh amid your struggles? We want to hear about it!

Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.

Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below.

What’s your favorite social media platform and why?

Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month. What will you miss most about the summer?

What are you reading? That's the question we will be asking COF contributors and you, our readers, each month. Is there a book that you just can't seem to put down, that's teaching you a profound spiritual lesson, or making you laugh amid your struggles? We want to hear about it!

by Elise Daly Parker

We gathered in a circle, the team members of Circles of Faith, to pray over the evening. And we were off…Time to greet the attendees of Circles of Faith LIVE – Women of Influence. Each woman who joined us seemed eager to meet others, hear an inspiring message, break bread together, and cross over bridges of separation - denomination, race, age - to connection.

Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.

by Kim Hyland

It wasn’t long ago when this evil hit my radar. And I went through all the emotions. I wanted to forget or to somehow make it not true. I desperately wanted to turn my face away, but I couldn’t. So I prayed. And as I prayed, my shock was turned to awe.