An Exciting Season for the Women of Living Hope
As I write this, we are halfway through a fantastic eight week study on the book of 1 John and we are in awe of what God is doing. This Fall, we have a record number of women--more than one hundred!--digging into God’s Word together from about ten different locations--homes in Collierville, Olive Branch, Germantown, East Memphis, Arlington, and at LH Piperton--at different days and times throughout the week.
This new study that we call “Deeper”, written by Jen Wilkin, launched a few weeks ago with a special night of celebration at Living Hope which included worship and teaching that was led by women and for women. Rhe Janse helped prepare our hearts to dive in to our study by sharing some of her own personal testimony as well as important background information on the book of 1 John and its author, the “beloved disciple” John.
Rhe encouraged us by explaining that studying John’s letter would sharpen our theological understanding and challenge us to increase our love for and devotion to Jesus Christ while reminding us of the importance of being able to defend what we believe, discern false doctrine, and know truth.
Rhe also discussed—especially through her testimony—that knowledge alone does not necessarily bring about change. It must be applied.
As the evening came to a close, Anita Sisk explained how “Deeper” is an important and very intentional step in a new direction for our women’s ministry that she had prayed about. She asked God specifically what He wanted for the women at LH and she believed that His answer was “to know Him more”.
Anita formed a vision team and they decided on not only a name change (from “She” ministry to LH Women) but also a change in HOW we do Bible study. With Biblical literacy as their goal for our women, the vision team prayerfully decided that doing inductive study through books of the Bible would better equip us than topical studies done in previous years.
To conclude the evening, the Bible study leaders were introduced so we could pray for them and for their groups. It was truly a night of celebration!
I’m so grateful for a church that recognizes, encourages, and communicates to its women the priority of knowing God more through the study and
application of His Word. I’m already looking forward to our next celebration at the end of our study when we all come together again to share what God has done!
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3
- Amy Hale