It's going to be a Starry-Eyed year!
I know we're going into our third month of the school year, but since this post was on delay: WELCOME back to MOPS, ladies!! I trust you had an amazing summer break, enjoyed slow days with your families, and made beautiful memories together that will keep you going through to your next break :-).
Speaking of, can you believe Thanksgiving (and therefore Christmas) are just around the corner already?! Keep an eye out in MOPS Leaders' Facebook groups for posts on ideas and opportunities to connect & brainstorm the holidays at MOPS/MOMSnext.
For now, however, we have a TON of new information and upcoming events to help you do what you do! Please take some time to read through the details below, choose a leadership help or training event that you are able to participate in, and keep lovin' the mamas in your group like Jesus...because MOPS sisterhood is contagious <3.
Better moms make a better world,
Nydia
COMMUNITY 24F News & Updates:
- WELCOME to our new groups: For the last couple of years Area 24F has gotten the opportunity to welcome MOPS and/or MOMSnext groups to our community that are starting their 2nd year as a group. (Just in case you didn't know, brand new groups are coached by a Group Care Specialist (GCS) for the first year; then, if everything is well, they step into a permanent community alongside other groups and under the care of a Coach. This year, we are excited to officially welcome the following groups and their Leadership Teams!!:
Bayside MOPS, Barnegat, NJ
MOMSnext of Manahawkin, Manahawkin,NJ
Mission Point MOPS, Somer's Point, NJ
MOPS of St. Mary's, Middletown,NJ
Park MOPS, Tinton Falls, NJ
Victory MOPS, Hammonton, NJ
Remember, the groups listed above are now out of Group Care. Currently, we have three groups that started meeting within the last year - they are under the care of a GCS this year. They are:
MOPS of Matawan, Matawan, NJ
Beacon Church MOMSnext, Galloway, NJ
Beacon Church MOMSnext, Galloway, NJ
MOMSnext of Middletown, Middletown, NJ
- MOPS Kindness Challenge: As we explore becoming Starry-Eyed this year, we're focusing on three main themes -- Wonder, Hope & Kindness. As an organization, we are committed to reaching way more of the 22 billion moms in the world over the next several years!! Why? Because at MOPS we believe that moms are world-changers and that every mom needs to know that she is not alone. There are other moms a lot like her, and this amazing man named Jesus who loves her with His life. Here's the challenge for you, the Leader, and for your MOPS/MOMSnext moms: to storm your communities with KINDNESS. Imagine it: that we would shout a different, louder call to affect change in our communities (despite the growing ugliness we see in our world) via noticing and authoring random acts of kindness?! Might the people around us ask, "Who are those women? Why did they do that?" I believe they would!! So, GO!! Challenge yourselves and your moms to take pictures of what they notice and do, then post those pictures to your social media accounts with these hashtags - #wearethestarryeyed & #mopskindness and this website - www.wearethestarryeyed.com. Take a peek at the website for yourself...it tells the world who we are, what we do, and steps for what they can do next. It's going to be exciting as others start noticing a different something about our MOPS sisterhood... because Our Vibe Attracts Our Tribe ;-)!!
- Coach-Coordinator Connect Call: Let's group chat! No matter how many of you show-up, these calls are honestly always worth it for me and the Coordinators who takes part. However, this time, I'm going to open up the Connect Call to ALL leadership team positions!! The date is this Friday, November 4th at 1:00 - 2:00 pm. We'll chat about our theme for the year, "We Are the Starry-Eyed", as well as give and get ideas for the MOPS Kindness Challenge mentioned above ;-). Join me!!!
MOPS International News & Updates:
- Appreciate Your Pastor: I know October is the month that we take time to celebrate our pastors, however, if you forgot to send your pastor a card or gift of appreciation for his support of your MOPS ministry, it's not too late!! It's never too late to acknowledge our appreciation our pastors! Coordinators, scroll through our Area 24F Coordinator FB group; I've posted a template of two letters to help your team express your appreciation to these church leaders. Please feel free to adjust them for your own use.
- Last Day for FREE Memberships!: Groups can earn FREE memberships thru November 4th ~ 1 FREE membership for every 20 registered moms! These memberships can be used thru March 31, 2017.
- November Discount for Starting NEW MOPS Groups: The MOPS Outreach Team is offering a BIG incentive for groups starting in November! Save $150! Get the word out...any church can sign-up a new group for $249 this month. Please call or email the Outreach Team with any questions at (888)910-MOPS or startagroup@mops.org. Thank you for all you do!
- Coach Coffee ~ "Lunch & Learn": A new 4-part series is coming November 7th from 12-12:45pm(central)...it continues the conversation from the Coaching Coffee at MOMcon and will provide training for leaders who have interest in the Coach role. The first event will be over navigating conflict. Though we all deal with it on some level or another; it may be something you are not comfortable tackling. We want to help give you some encouragement and confidence in this area. Join us for the discussion from a Coach's perspective! To register, go to: https://www.mops.org/evt/?eventId=1138.
- NEW MOPS Leaders' Website!!: Have you seen the new website for MOPS Leaders ONLY http://leaders.mops.org?? MOMSnext Leaders, have you seen the MOMSnext portion of the website http://leaders.mops.org/group-experience/momsnext/ including a link to your very own Idea Center?? How about the new Connections podcasts http://leaders.mops.org/leader-experience/leader-training/connections-podcast/ available just for us, MOPS/MOMSnext Leaders? Ladies, go check these out!! And may I recommend finding space in your day to listen to Carl Medearis's 33-minute recording on "Speaking of Jesus"...he is both funny and captivating! He simplifies evangelism enough to make it relatable and doable for anyone.
- One-Million Moms: We are so excited to challenge ourselves and you with extending the arms of our MOPS sisterhood to more moms...namely, we'd love to go from reaching 100,000 to 1,000,000 moms in the next 5 years!! So, is there an out-of-the-box way God may be leading you to take the MOPS sisterhood to more women? Is there a place (like a local maternity ward, a coffee shop, or a soup kitchen) where you already know you can find a group of moms? Pray...He'll lead you, show you what He is already doing, and how you can come along on His great adventure!
- Other MOPS/MOMSnext Leaders around the world!: 6 years ago I had the opportunity to visit MOPS in Holland, at the time, the only MOPS group in the Netherlands. Because that group, who met in the international city of the Hague, was home to moms of many different nations; for the first time I clearly understood that motherhood is an international language. It didn't matter whether you understood another mom's language, we all share the very similar milestones with our children irregardless of where we're from. Many of these groups work to meet simplistic felt needs for moms and their children. Let's remember our international MOPS groups, and their leaders, in prayer (http://leaders.mops.org/global-experience/)...
