In this article by Mama and The Word, I will show you the 9 ways to embrace the benefits of the Christian Community in motherhood, so you no longer feel discouraged, tired or weary. So, if you want to develop new relationships, grow in faith, friendship, and feel more positive and joyful. Make sure to read to the end of this article, and don’t forget to grab my free 5 Day kickstart to Reading The Bible to feel calm & confident with God.
Christian Community & Motherhood| What I Used To Do And Why I Miss It So Much!
So as some of you may know I didn’t grow up in a Christian household and my journey to find the right Church community for my family and myself was hard work.
Personally, to begin with, I wasn’t very comfortable with religious services or religious people.
After moving to South Africa and wanting to find a connection with God we tried a few local churches, but many of the Christian churches we tried just didn’t give us the connection that we desired.
Thankfully, we found a church with an awesome group of people who were able to share God’s word and their religious identity in a fun, fresh, and vibrant way to what we had previously experienced.
They exuded joy and good theological perspectives and you could feel the holy spirit within their building.
They allowed us to become members of the community and partners within the church. This had a positive effect on us both personally and as a family.
We felt part of the community, that we had value and we could share our gifts with others to make an even stronger unit together.
Hi, My Name Is Gem
I am a busy Christian wife & mama. I have been married for the last 15 years to my best friend. We have four amazingly individual children together, 15, 13, and 3 (x2).
We have lived on two different continents, traveled halfway around the world with our children, and back again. Experiencing some unique cultures, languages, and people. I found God along the way too.
My Mission
It’s now my mission to share that journey with you and help you in your journey with God so that you can become a vibrant woman in Christ.
By giving you the tools and resources to help you grow closer to the Lord and navigate faith, family & fellowship in today’s world.
I know the struggles that I had when I was starting my journey with the Lord. How I battled with prayer, reading the bible as well as understanding it.
Learning how to practice praise and worship with God, pray for others, serve in the church, and so much more. What I found is no two journeys are the same.
Read More Here: About
They are as unique as the individual is, and that is why it is my privilege to help you learn about God and what & why he has called you to do.
Each of us has a God-given gift or talent that he created us with for His purpose.
And if this is your first-time visiting Mama & The Word, put a heart in the comment box below so I can officially welcome you to the community.
What Is The Definition Of The Word Christian Community?
The Collins dictionary defines the word as A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. The community is all the people who live in a particular area or place.
Click Here For More Info: Christian community definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (collinsdictionary.com)
Whereas an article by Bible.org states that the Christian community is – The biblical ideal of community challenges us instead to commit ourselves to life together as the people of God.
Click here to read more: Community: God’s Design For Growth | Bible.org
What Is The Impact To Our Overall Health If Christian Community In Motherhood Is Restricted?
We have many physical needs as well as emotional and spiritual needs as women, wives, mothers, and even daughters of Jesus Christ.
As human beings, we go through hard times as well as good times, and having a social support system with other believers can have a positive impact on ourselves not just on our physical health but on our social, emotional, mental health, and well-being too.
Fellowship with other women of the Christian faith on a regular basis can have many positive effects on our overall well-being.
Before 2020
Pre pandemic there was easier access to church services, church attendance, serving in Christian groups, and outreach groups/programs were easy to participate in.
However, in today’s world things have changed and we need to find new ways to increase our spiritual growth as people of faith and do good works for God still.
Looking for blogs, online services, worship services, podcasts, and groups where we can interact with other Christian women in today’s world helps encourage us to have a social life with other Christians.
We can have many positive outcomes from finding community with others and it can promote better overall health.
For many people, their mental health has been affected across all age groups and social classes due to the pandemic.
According to the British office of national statistics, it states that in the proportion of adults nearly half of them were showing moderate to severe signs of depression.
Current Research showed the increase in negative emotions that people were experiencing was as follows:
- Stressed
- Anxious
- Boredom
- Lonely
- Worried
- Depressed
- Strain in relationships
Click Here For Full Report: How has coronavirus affected mental health? – BBC News
Whilst in the United States it was shown in a report by Psychology Today that: According to the latest Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition, employees’ risk of depression (up 64%) and general anxiety (up 43%) remain significantly elevated
Read More Here: As the Pandemic Surges, Mental Health Problems on the Rise | Psychology Today
The 9 Ways To Embrace The Benefits Of Christian Community In Motherhood?
ONE:
We all desire connection on some level. God didn’t design us to be alone. He designed us to come together in marriage, with family and other Christians.
To grow as a community of believers and spread the good news and find new disciples. We should also be able to join together in praise, worship, and spirit as a Christian community.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Acts 2: 42-47
TWO:
God gives us emotions as a way to express ourselves and the world that we live in.
It also allows us to understand others and how they are feeling so that we can empathize with them.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NIV
THREE:
Love drives us to make a difference for God, our husbands, children, mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, and other important people in our lives.
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
FOUR:
When we become part of a Christian community it allows us to take part in church membership.
Our unique gifts and talents can be put to good use in all areas of the church and within the local communities that surround it.
Read More Here On: How To Find Your Purpose As A Christian Woman
So whether it be participating in praise and worship, through prayer & intercession groups, children’s church, volunteering on church projects, events, or courses to further the good works within God’s house.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
FIVE:
Community allows us to focus on the needs of others around us and what we can do for them.
How can we serve them and their needs? How can we show them, God, through our Christian lifestyle and actions towards others?
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Thessalonians 5:14-18 NIV
SIX:
Christian fellowship allows the opportunity to grow closer to God and develop a stronger and more intimate relationship with Him.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
SEVEN:
The Christian sisterhood challenges us daily to act more as Jesus would rather than how the world would wish us to act. It drives us to be better women, wives, mothers, and friends.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
EIGHT:
There are obvious health benefits to participating in a community environment and having regular contact with other like-minded people.
Not only does a positive relationship lead to more positive feelings it can also reduce the effects of mental illness, less depression, and other positive effects.
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
NINE:
As Christian women, we are able to learn from each other and develop new skills.
While for women that are new to faith or want to learn more, the benefits that the Christian community allows these women is an outlet to learn and develop their skills from other strong women of faith.
It gives them opportunities to serve within the church setting, interact with a variety of different women that they may not normally come into contact with, and create friendships and support networks with these amazing women.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God
Titus 2: 3-5 NIV
Conclusion: What I Learned From 9 Ways To Embrace The Benefits Of Christian Community In Motherhood?
I think now more than ever we need to find strong women of faith and a Christian community to engage in.
Not only for our spiritual practice but to keep us accountable to God and each other. It aids our development and growth as Christians but also helps and serves others who may need encouragement, help, and advice.
This will help keep us in good health, emotionally, physically, and mentally.
Without having these people to draw on in times of need we can lose track or become despondent about life, faith, and many other things we cherish as a woman of faith.
We need to recognize not only do we need God’s presence daily but we also need the presence of others.
During the recent events of the past year, I think this is even more important.
Our faith is tested on a daily basis and we need to remind ourselves that we need sisters in faith to stand with us, not just for our own selfish gains but to serve them and bless them with our knowledge, our testimonies, our love, and acceptance of one another.
As it says above God didn’t design us to be alone. He created a companion for us and placed us in the world to bear children and bring new life to it.
But as the world gets bigger we can feel smaller and smaller within it. So I think instead we should build one another up in faith, family, and fellowship.
Helping each other to grow in the word of God and His Spirit so that we can renew ourselves and each other daily.
Share With Me
I am so excited to see where this new journey takes me. It is another leap of faith, but it is a leap that I know that He wants me to take.
And while I don’t always feel qualified to talk about God. I know that He will equip me with whatever I need to Glorify His holy name.
If you want to read more about your purpose as a new Christian woman, then check out these post
How To Find Your Purpose As A Christian Woman
How You Can Be More Intentional With Your Time As A Busy Christian Mama
Why You Don’t Need To Be Perfect To Become A Christian
8 Characteristics Of A Christian Woman?
How To Create A Morning Prayer Routine That Works Without Feeling Overwhelmed & Unequipped?
Gem xoxo
