Hello!
We hope you've enjoyed the snow day and have kept warm and cozy!
As you already know, we are starting weekly small groups next month and truly hope you're considering joining one! To help you understand a little more about The Lantern small groups, please take a minute (actually 3 1/2 minutes) to watch this video about how small groups have already changed the lives of a couple of military wives:
We will be sending a few more short videos out over the next several weeks and we hope they help explain the awesomeness of small groups!
Additionally, here are the Top 10 Questions (and answers) About The Lantern Small Groups:
1) What exactly will small groups look like for The Lantern?
A group of 8-12 women will meet weekly in the leader’s home at first. We’ll have evening groups and a day group. The groups will start out by just getting to know one another and then they’ll complete Bible studies together.
2) Will child care be available for women who have kids?
Absolutely. We’re going to try to get all the moms who need child care in one group if possible – more than likely the day group – and we’ll consolidate all the kids and provide child care free of cost to the moms.
3) Are small groups really necessary if our husbands are redeploying in the near future?
Oh yes! The first small group for military wives started in September 2009 when the majority of Ft. Campbell was still home. When we met that first night, we had no idea what challenges we would be faced with - even when our husbands were at home - and we are so thankful that we started when we did. To give you some examples, women in our small group have dealt with miscarriages, infidelity, death, divorce, and family brokenness – just to name a few. The biggest challenges we’ve been able to support each other through have had little to do with the challenges that come with deployments. We simply have no idea what life will throw at us and when, so having a tight-knit community of women to rely on is always important. Also, many of our husbands will deploy again. These small groups will meet for one to two years, so the relationships that are built and the growth in women’s relationship with God will be huge in preparation for future deployments...and for life, in general.
4) If groups are going to last for one to two years, what about women who are PCSing or ETSing within that window?
We would recommend that even those women know they’re going to move or get out of the military should still join a small group. Because we never know what will happen in our lives and when, we think it’s so important to have that type of support and community – even if it’s for just a few months and especially during times of transition like PCSing or ETSing. Also, any growth in our relationships with God is awesome and can be life changing, so we would recommend that everyone join a small group, even if it's for just a few months.
5) What about women who are just exploring God and faith for the first time? What if someone has never done a Bible study or even read the Bible? Should they join a group?
We can’t think of any better way to check God out than by joining a small group. There was one girl in the first military wives small group who didn't know the first thing about community groups, God, or the Bible. She actually showed up the first night and told the group “I have no idea what this is and I don’t know anything about God, but I feel like I need to be here. I never went to church growing up so I’m just here to learn.” By meeting week after week with women at all different stages in their walk with the Lord, she has been able to learn far more about God and Jesus and the Bible than she could have reading a book or even going to church. She’s been able to see, first hand, how a relationship with God can really change lives. We totally encourage anyone and everyone – no matter where they are spiritually – to join a small group. More than likely, there will be someone else in the group who is in the same place spiritually.
6) Small groups sound pretty serious. Is it all serious?
Absolutely not! The first military wives small groups has had so much fun together! Yes, there have been many tears shed, but there have been even more laughs. In fact, that group has gotten so close that they do a lot of social things together outside of group – they've gone to concerts in Nashville, had girl’s night outs, thrown baby showers, watched movies…really everything that girlfriends do. They've really become best friends over the last 15 months and many of them get together one-on-one throughout the week to just hang out. These small groups are much more “life groups” than they are Bible studies.
7) What if someone who comes to The Lantern has a friend that hasn’t come but still wants to join a small group?
Anyone is absolutely welcome to join a small group – whether they’ve come to The Lantern or not and whether they go to a church or not. The only qualifiers are being someone who’s committed to a Soldier – long-term girlfriend, fiancé, or wife – and someone who’s committed to making the small group a priority. Things come up, of course, but we really want women to commit to coming as much as possible so close relationships can be built. We're confident that once the groups start, women won’t ever want to miss because they’re so great!
8) Will the groups be set in stone next month or will women be able to join them after they start?
The groups won’t be set in stone next month, but we would like to get them pretty set by the end of February. We think this will give the group members a chance to check them out and invite a friend to join if they think they would enjoy joining one. We’ve found that as the groups get closer and women start sharing details about their lives, it can be uncomfortable for new women to constantly be checking the group out. It can also be uncomfortable for new women to come to a group several months after they start, just because everyone is so close at that point. So, we really like the idea of getting the groups set early on so that deep, honest relationships can be built and real growth can happen. However, it’s really up to that group to decide whether or not to invite a friend to join down the road…it’s totally dependent on the situation and how comfortable that person and the group will be with the addition.
9) Should only "good Christians" sign up for a small group?
We don't even know what that means because we're all sinners and undeserving of God's forgiveness - which is why it's called grace! These groups are for imperfect women who want to learn about God and build solid, positive friendships. No one should feel like they have to "clean up" their lives to join a small group. We're all just a bunch of messes who realize how amazing God is!
10) How can you sign up for a small group?
Just reply to this e-mail before January 7th with the time you would prefer to meet - Tuesday (day), Tuesday (evening), Thursday (evening), or Other (please indicate time and day). Also, just let us know if you'll need child care and if you want to be in the same group as a friend. That's it! (If you signed up for a group at The Lantern on the 9th, you don't have to sign up again by replying to this e-mail.)
Please don't hesitate to ask any other questions you may have. We are SO excited about these small groups because all of us have been changed for the good since joining one almost a year and a half ago. We're praying for you as you consider this opportunity and we look forward to hearing from you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
~ The Lantern Team
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
Psalm 18:28
Sounds interesting~
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