Vision Point #6: 

Become women, both individually and corporately, who love deeply from the heart and seek to build authentic community among each other.

Description of Vision:

Do you ever feel alone?  Isolated? Wondering if no one really understands your unique situation in life?  Pondering if anyone cares?  So often, if we were really honest, we can feel lonely. 

As we grow into adulthood, our lives change.  No longer do we have the chance to hang out with our friends every day like we did in college.  We get married; begin a family.  Often, as time ticks by, it's easy to get so busy with life priorities that friends can get pushed off to the side.  In addition, the older we get, the more bruises and scabs we may have collected from other women who have hurt us.  Maybe they've gossiped about us, hurt us through strong words or even broke our confidentiality.  As a result, we can begin to place walls around us, hide, and never really allow others a chance to get to know us.

Of all places on the earth, the church should be the safest!  When we trust God with all things, we can get a taste of what it looks like to love others deeply from the heart and seek to build authentic community with each other, even if we've been hurt in the past.  Women have been created by God to be relational, to encourage, to love and care for one another.  That is the vision we strive for as Women of Grace! 

Can you imagine people saying about the women of this church….”You know, those women of Grace really love each other and others deeply.”  That kind of love is demonstrated on planning teams, in small groups, in communication, in relationships, in everything.  It is a guiding principle of all we do.  This body of Christ is FAMILY.  Yet, often, we’re a lot more real in our families than we are at church.  Do we face into conflict?  Do we provide ways where women of all ages can come together to have fun, encourage one another and pray for one another? 

I don’t know about you, but if you’re looking for true connections, authenticity, and caring women, I think it starts at church!  It is our desire that we daily recognize our part in loving people like Christ loved them. 

Opportunities:

• Small Groups within Place for You Bible Study :: Join other women to grow together, share among one another, and pray together.  This is a great start toward becoming more deeply connected with women.

• Spring Retreat ::  Each year, the Women of Grace venture off for a weekend getaway… this year at Camp Buckner.  Join over 200 other women in this fun-filled, relaxed weekend.  Enjoy great worship, challenges from God's Word and a time to hang out with other women and discuss issues of the faith.  (See Women's Retreat)

Resources

• Refrigerator Rights: Creating Connections and Restoring Relationships, by Dr. Glenn Sparks, (White River Press, 2007)
• Peacemaking Women, by Tara Klena Barthen & Judy Dabler, (Baker Books, 2005)
• Life Together: A Discussion of Christian Fellowship, by Dietrich Bonhoeeffer, (HarperSanFrancisco, 1954)
• Total Forgiveness: When everything in you wants to hold a grudge, point a finger and remember the pain, God wants to lay it all aside, by R. T. Kendall (Charisma House, 2002)
• Connecting, by Larry Crabb (Thomas Nelson, 2005)