As a Pastor’s wife, connecting with women in the church can be challenging at times. After all, some expect you to be your husband’s secretary, others hold exorbitant expectations for your life, and some watch you with a magnifying glass waiting to condemn you for any hint of sin or humanity you might exhibit.
That had been my experience until God called me to start a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) ministry at my church two years ago. I was reluctant to take on starting a new ministry since I already had two preschoolers and a baby on the way, but I talked several other moms into helping and we agreed that together we might be able to do it.
The heartbeat of MOPS is community and connection with moms who are experiencing the same stages of parenthood. This year MOPS is focusing on reaching as many moms as possible to insure that no mom is alone.
According to MOPS, International President, Naomi Cramer Overton, research is showing that moms who are not connected have higher rates of depression, suicide, child abuse, and children who are failing to thrive. Those findings challenge me as a MOPS leader to do all that I can to reach as many moms as I can through any means that I can.
Personally, I know that MOPS is the place where I will be accepted with spit-up on my shoulder, bags under my eyes, and no diapers left in the diaper bag just when one is needed. I know that the mistakes that I have made in my mothering journey just might alleviate another mom’s guilty conscience caused by her inability to be “perfect.” But most importantly, I believe God’s promise that “where two or three come together, there I am with them” (Matthew 18:20).
God is a God of connection and community and in our MOPS group He is working in the midst of us to bring salvation, healing, and hope that will have eternal benefits for each mom and family represented. We are developing moms into ministry leaders, community servants, and mentors.
My prayer is that pastors and ministry leaders will encourage, support, and come alongside the growing population of young mothers to equip them to reach their God-given potential during the mothering season.
