MOPS International encourages and
equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and
leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church.
Hello
Leaders!
A
sweet friend from church sent something to me that I want to share with you
all. This is one of those things that is so important to remember this time of
year!
At some point you are going to host an event that far exceeds
your attendance expectations.
You’re also just as likely to host
an event that doesn’t come even close to meeting your
team’s expectations…
Our second year of MOPS brought
about many changes and a decrease in the number of moms attending. I struggled
with feelings of failure…My heart wanted to reach as many moms as we could!
I am forever thankful that our MOPS
mentor taught me not to get caught up in the numbers.
She encouraged me to remember
that God will do anything for just one.
Anything for just one.
Just this last week my reading
brought me to the parable of the lost sheep (see Luke
15:3-7).
It is such a sweet reminder that God will go after just one.
God had sent every single one of
those moms that fall.
Whether He sent 15 or 55 moms, it
was our task to serve and love on them as best we could.
I do believe that sometimes our
events are just for one.
One sweet soul that Jesus wants to
reach.
It’s why every month I would drag my scrapbooking supplies to
the church for our monthly crop and would pray even one would show up. And if
it was just one then we got the chance to know each other better. And if no one
showed I chose not to be disappointed.
Please
don’t ever cancel an event God has called you to host if the attendance appears
it will be less than desirable.
Embrace the intimacy of a smaller
group and love on those that have come. Trust that God has sent each one.
Be careful never to apologize for
the lack of attendance. Each one there is worth the effort and you don’t ever
want them to feel otherwise.
Our hearts want to reach as many as
we can, but sometimes God’s plan for that moment is to reach just a few.
Your
turn to share: Have you ever gotten caught up in the numbers?
I
know that this time of year we can get consumed with worry and stress about
numbers. Of course we want to reach as many moms as possible—and that's not
wrong—but I love that God will do ANYTHING for just one! God loves each and
every one of us that much. And if what we all as leaders pour into MOPS gets
even one more soul rejoicing in Heaven with us one day, it was worth it. Rest
in knowing that God is stirring something in our MOPS leaders all over the
world. God is ready to shine brightly through our ministries this year. All we
have to do is give it to Him and let Him do His thing. Praising Him for what He
has in store for all of us this year!
Oh,
and speaking of a life being changed and a mom finding Jesus at MOPS, have you
seen the thread with all the life change stories on the MOPS Coordinator
Facebook page?? If you have not, go find and read! It will bring you to tears
and stir you up for this year
Blessings,
Christina
Copeland
2016-2017
Theme: “We are the Starry Eyed”
Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord
who formed it to establish it… Call to me and I will answer you and tell you
great and unsearchable things you do not know. – Jeremiah
33:2-3
“When we reflect back over our lives, this next MOPS year
is going to stand out. It will be the year that we decided to live fully by
both sunlight and moonlight. Because audacity is rising in the deepest and
wildest parts of our souls. And the best part is, we will experience it all
together.
Starry
Eyed is…
Seeing
the light in the darkness and choosing to live courageously in both.
It is opening our eyes to wonder and choosing hope over fear.
Starry Eyed is significant acts of kindness that send ripples of light into the
world.
It is a choice to live fully and wholly and to breathe our way back to life.
If you feel anxious and don’t know why …
If you are busy and distracted from the things you truly care about …
If you are restless for an unexpected encounter with God …
If you long to feel alive, to regain a sense of wonder, to hope a little freer
and to be a powerful force of kindness in the world, then we’d love for you to
join us in becoming Starry Eyed.
This
year we will run wildly toward wonder, hope and kindness because We Are the
Starry Eyed and we choose to see the light.”
Area
20 News
·
Our Area 20 Volunteer Staff hosted “From the Get
Go”Community Leadership Training Webinar last month.
We enjoyed our time with leaders from our Area and beyond
as we talked about:
• What is it you as a MOPS leader need to thrive?
• What do you as a MOPS leader need from day one?
• What does a new MOPS leader need?
• What do you as a MOPS leader need from the get go?
If you missed this webinar you can listen to
the recording by calling 641-715-3609 access code 211830#.
You can also check our Area 20 Facebook page for some highlights
from the chat boxes!
And here is a picture of some of our attendees:
Area
20 Speakers
We would love your help in putting together a list of
speakers for our Area. Our groups are always looking for speakers to come in
and speak about discipline, postpartum depression, home organization, meal
planning, and so much more! If you know of some amazing speakers, please send
your coach information or post on our Area 20 Facebook page. We would love to
be able to share resources to all groups in our communities!
Speaking of, here is a message from a speaker from Opelika,
AL (she's very willing to travel!):
Hi moms! I would like to invite you to check
out my brand new website www.GingerHubbard.com and take
advantage of the FREEBIES! While you’re there, be sure to follow me on
Instagram, Twitter, and like/share my author Facebook page to be entered into a
drawing for free GIVEAWAYS. Once I reach my first goal of 1,000 followers and
1,000 likes, we will be doing several drawings and contacting the winners.
Prizes include my books, Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and
more!
I have a deep passion for the ministry of MOPS and I
love every opportunity to encourage moms in their relationship with Jesus and
offer biblical inspiration for all areas of life. I’ve come to accept that
social media is a powerful way to do that, so I’ve recently jumped in with both
feet. I would love to stay connected with you on a regular basis. Please pray
that God would lead and inspire me as I wade through unchartered waters!
I hope to hear from you soon!
Joyfully His,
Ginger Hubbard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ginger Hubbard
Christian Speaker and Writer
Author, “Don’t
Make Me Count to Three,” Wise Words
for Moms, and Guiltless Living
·
Area 20 continues to grow and we need new
coaches! Take the next step.
MOPS Coaches are the vibrant tribe of women making an authentic difference in the lives of MOPS moms and
leaders.
Our Coaches are a passionate bunch. They’re the
relationship builders and the team strengtheners. The mom enthusiasts and the
leader advocates. They’re the avid listeners and expert encouragers, the
community cultivators and world influencers.
MOPS Coaches are difference makers.
Every MOPS Coach has one simple task in common: Showing up.
Showing up takes many forms and everyone’s experience will
be unique. As a MOPS Coach you will:
·
Directly impact local groups by building
relationships with group Leaders and guiding the group experience
·
Nurture Leaders by sharing training, advice,
resources and prayer – playing a large role in helping Leaders grow to their
full potential
·
Connect group Leaders to each other and to MOPS
International – share with local groups all the exciting things happening with
MOPS and cultivate friendships among fellow Leaders
·
Help MOPS develop resources for Leader events
and training – after all, being on the frontline makes you most aware of
Leaders’ needs
· Grow
professionally as leaders and personally as women of influence. We want nothing
more than for our Coaches to thrive.
We believe you are meant to be here. We believe that
sometimes, the best opportunities require a leap of faith, a step into the
unknown, and a reliance on the women around you – the women who are welcoming
you with open arms into the sisterhood of MOPS Coaches.
If you'd like to know more, just let your coach know!
MOPS
International Announcements
·
Did
you miss our chat with Mandy Arioto, the CEO of MOPS?
If
so, you can watch it now! You'll hear her talk about October 1879, Isaiah 43,
and mile 22. She encourages us to stretch, show people the good news that is
Jesus and be heliotropic. If you love MOPS, spend 41 minutes with Mandy. Stay
till the end because she shares a special letter she wrote for you, as leaders,
and she asks us to pray for her. Go to www.mops.org/leader/on-demand and
watch it today. Mandy's letter will also be included in an upcoming Spark email
so keep your eyes out for that.
Come
Alive: Our Evangelism Perspective
You may have heard about or even attended one of our “Come
Alive” events. But coming alive is so much more than just an event...it's a
call to action.
It is the heartbeat of MOPS.
When a mom arrives at MOPS, she could be anywhere on her
faith journey. Your group may be her first exposure ever to the incredible
news that Jesus loves her. Or it could be a place for her to see what that love
looks and feels like lived out.
Would you and your team commit to
embracing the opportunity you have to introduce Jesus to the women you meet
this year?
Fine more information
here and work through the three “Come Alive Story” devos with your team!
http://www.mops.org/leader/come-alive
Does
your Community need more MOPS?
Does your group have a long waiting list? Is your MOPS group
so popular that you might need to start another one? Make your wait list
disappear, add an evening group or expand your ministry to include a MOMSnext
group!
Do you know churches in your area looking to reach more
moms? Encourage churches and moms who are considering the start of a MOPS group
to check-out the Say Yes page on the MOPS website: http://www.mops.org/say-yes/ The Say Yes page will have information about a
special offer this month! End of summer savings - $99 off the startup fee for
NEW groups that sign-up in August (not additional groups).
Specialty
group updates
MOPS International has some added benefits this
year for our friends in MOMSnext! An email has gone out to moms registered in
MOMSnext groups telling them about the MOMSnext Manifesto and their eBook,
designed just for moms with school-aged kids. The manifesto and eBooks are benefits of membership, so please do not share them with leaders of
other group types. The pages the downloads are on are protected and can only
be seen by women registered in these specific groups.
As kids get older, the needs of mom (and her
kiddos!) change. That’s why this year, we’ve created FUN/THINK/TALK/DO cards
just for our MOMSnext Leaders to use as a guide for meeting planning. Each card
has everything a Leader might need in order to plan a fun, productive and
meaningful meeting. All of these cards can be downloaded at www.mops.org/leader/meetings-for-momsnext.
MOMcon
Are you and your Leadership Team going to MOMcon?? We are
and we hope to see you there! Go to http://www.mops.org/momcon-2016/ for
more details and registration.
MOPS International Leadership Conference – runs September
29 – October 1, 2016 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
There will be a special Area time for us during MOMcon.
Like last year, we will have lots of prizes! We love this opportunity to
connect with you all so make sure you stay tuned for more info about our Area
20 Time.
Prayers
& Praises
Prayers as MOPS continues to go through many transitions and
for our one million moms movement.
Praise for our "From the Get Go"
webinar and all the leaders that participated. We hope that you all feel
encouraged and ready to START an amazing new year of MOPS ministry!
Pray for our Area 20 MOPS Leaders as they prepare for the
kickoff of the MOPS year, train and bond with their teams, and pour into the
moms in their communities.
Pray for our Area 20 MOPS Leaders and all those planning to
go to MOMcon.
Pray for our Area 20 MVS Team as we strive to encourage and
equip the leaders in our communities,
continue to welcome our new Coaches, and hope that more MOPS Leaders
will answer God’s call to be a part of our team.
