Author: Debbie Howington
Kathy and I barely knew one another when we found ourselves crying at a church women’s conference over the same issue; we were heartbroken over how we treated our children. We spent time together that day sharing, confessing, encouraging, and praying together which was so helpful. Kathy asked me if we could start meeting on a regular basis to encourage one another and pray together. After much hesitation because of my full schedule I agreed to weekly meetings by phone while our youngest children napped. Over the next few years, we challenged each other to find and use Scripture for specific areas of sin and growth, rejoiced with each other over victories and grew in prayer together. We also deepened our love for the Lord and for each other, as well as for our children. Many years later we both landed at Stonebridge together, still continuing to meet weekly and desiring to share this amazing thing we had with others. After much prayer and some hard work, Women’s Growth Groups were launched at Stonebridge.
A Growth Group is 2 to 4 women meeting regularly with openness and vulnerability, to encourage one another to grow in becoming more like Jesus. They are designed for women to talk with one another about how what they are learning is directly impacting, challenging, and encouraging them in their walk with Jesus. It is so encouraging to hear how women’s lives are being transformed by these intimate groups filled with sisters in Christ spurring each other on. Below I have shared just a few glimpses of how God is at work in these groups…
Mary and I sat near each other in our Life Group but didn’t know each other well. After she spoke about struggles with depression and a desire to try Biblical Counseling, I asked if she would like me to be her advocate. During counseling Mary used scripture to reveal lies she believed about God and herself and found a lot of freedom as she learned skills to help her to continue to root out lies and apply truth to help her to grow as a follower of Christ. After counseling concluded I asked her to meet with me weekly to help her to continue to grow. These meetings later became a Growth Group. As we met, Mary grew in her love for and trust in God. She found her love for others growing also and this developed into a desire to give of herself to others. In our Growth Group she then gained skills that she now uses to lead a Growth Group of her own.
Margee knew both Mallory and Olivia from different church ministries. Margee and Olivia didn’t know about Growth Groups, but were already meeting regularly. It seemed natural to join the Growth Group model after learning about them at a Women’s Brunch. Mallory joined the group, too. Over the past two years, their prayer lives have all grown. They look forward to their weekly time together as they support each other in life’s ups and downs and help ground each other in prayer for all things. They have all grown more comfortable with praying out loud with each other and continue to work on making their prayers more conversational. Mallory and Olivia’s toddlers recognize when their mothers pray and also will bow their heads.
Walking alongside these women and others as they come together to love God and one another is such a joy! As more women learn about and form Growth Groups we can look forward to many more encouraging stories in the future.
If you are interested in learning more about Women's Growth Groups, indicate your interest HERE.
