Calvary Church Annual Report AnnualReport-201617-web | Page 14

women
When Grace Beyond began two years ago God clear-
ly led the women of Calvary to step out in faith. We
simply could not have women’s Bible study here at
Calvary because of lack of space. But God used that
to send us out into the community like streams of
living water going into the desert. In Isaiah 43:19 God
says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the
wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Debbie McGoldrick, founder of NBS2go.com, helped
us cast the vision of reaching into our neighborhoods
with the Gospel through neighborhood bible studies.
She had produced simple tools and bible studies that
were easily accessible so that anyone could begin to
pray for their neighbors, care for them with the love
of Jesus, and then invite them to taste and see God’s
Word.
We sent women out to prayer walk neighborhoods
and many started Bible studies. Throughout our con-
gregation, as women stepped out in faith, the fruit
has spilled over with men and youth. People have
come to faith in Jesus. We have grown!
For two years we have met on a regular basis to
equip ourselves and pray for one another. During
these Blessed2Bless prayer times we have consis-
tently prayed over six pages of prayer requests! We
have prayed for many neighborhood studies, family
groups, studies in senior living facilities, and groups
meeting in workplaces. Two women committed to
driving to Detroit on a monthly basis to do Bible study
in a government funded housing complex for senior
adults. Studies have begun in Traverse City and
throughout Florida as women have brought these
simple Bible studies to their summer or winter condo
communities.
The most exciting reality is that God is not done
sending us out! New opportunities are springing up
all the time. Weekly, new prayer requests are added
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as more and more women (and men!) are stepping
out in faith.
In the midst of this ongoing outreach, Women’s Bi-
ble Study returns to Calvary this fall! We are looking
forward to studying the Gospel of Mark. For many,
these studies will be a time of fellowship and growth
in God’s Word and in relationship with the Lord. For
those who have spent the past two years investing in
the lives of others outside our church walls, Calvary’s
Women’s Bible Studies will be a place where they
can fill up and then take what they have learned from
the Gospel of Mark to their neighborhood using the
simple NBS2go materials. It is clear the Lord has led
us to simplify in order to keep this outreach a priority.
In addition, as the Adult Ministry Team has worked
and served together during Grace Beyond, we have
been led to all study the Gospel of Mark using a cur-
riculum which is more discovery (inductive) orient-
ed. Four Bible Studies this fall will be going through
this: Monday Night Bible Study for men and wom-
en, Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study, Young
Adults on Tuesday nights and Women’s Study on
Wednesday nights during Kids-N-Action and Middle
School Ministry. The curriculum will also be avail-
able for community groups and other small groups
throughout Calvary.
We’ve also been led to work together on leadership
training. This year, for the first time, all our small
group leaders from across the church had the op-
portunity to go through joint Leadership Training as
we prepared for the fall.
It has been an exciting year of stepping out in faith,
working together to equip the Body and growing to-
gether in Christ! And we are just beginning!
Susan Sorensen, Pastoral Staff, Women