The Moms Group

Check out our Calendar for up-to-date info on topics or guest speakers.

The heart of this ministry is developing Christian character in our hearts and in our children.  To sign up, send a blank post to freemanfamily-subscribe@associate.com.

Meeting Dates:  Second Thursday evening during the school year.   

Meeting Place: 5020 NW 23 Avenue, Gainesville

  Meeting Times:

5:00  Pine Grove Library &

Booth Memorial Library Open                      Pine Grove Baptist Church

6:00   Homeschooling through High School          Pine Grove Baptist Church

6:00   Newbie Homeschooler Meeting                    First Nazarene Church

7:00   Nursery of Last Resorts                                   First Nazarene Church

7:00   Mom’s Meeting                                              First Nazarene Church

8:00  Small-group & Prayer & Fellowship

Who’s Invited:  All ladies!  Ladies from many different churches attend the Moms’ Group.  In addition, we have teens and grandmas, single and married, homeschooling and not-homeschooling moms.

What We Talk About:  Topics relating to our own Christian character such as establishing a prayer time, handling adversity, and loving God and others.  We also talk about issues relating to marriage and children, such as winning their hearts, getting to the root of a problem, praising our children’s character over performance, and teaching them to live for a higher purpose than themselves. 

If you homeschool, I do encourage you to sign up for the Titus 2 Homeschool List.  You can also find a list of groups from the Florida Parent Educator Association (www.fpea.com).  

The heart of this ministry is developing character in our hearts and in our children.  One very important way to do that (though it's not the only way) is to train them to build the life-long habit of serving others in Jesus’ name, exposing them to those who are in need, based on Matthew 25.  “Ministry” means any time our children must think of giving to others instead of simply receiving something more for themselves, even if the something more is something “good” like more knowledge or experience, etc.  Our website carries a Ministry List of family-friendly area ministries.  I encourage moms in this group to make sure their children are active in worthwhile Christian service.  Bill and I encourage families to help their children develop wise friendships two-by-two (not in groups), and to build those friendships around Scriptural good works and charitable deeds.  We encourage you to prayerfully consider asking other families to serve with your family in an area of Christian service throughout the year. 

  I suggest moms get a copy of our books, Children of Character, which covers topics such as winning our children's hearts, getting to the root of a problem, praising character over performance, teaching children to live for a higher purpose than themselves, limiting the influences of our culture and understanding the dynamics of personality and spiritual gifts in our children.  Moms in this group can pick up a book from me for $10 or I can mail a copy for $12 (Mardy Freeman, 25467 SW First Ave, Newberry, FL 32669), or check one out of the Pine Grove Library or Alachua County Public Library.

This ministry has no dues or obligations for participation.  I know what it means to be a very busy mom, unable to attend meetings, no matter how encouraging they might be.  If you can make the moms’ meetings, great.  If you want your children to participate with you in any of the areas of service that many of our families do, great.  If you have an idea for Christian service or ministry, or become aware of an event that would strengthen families, and would like to share that idea with us, or invite families on this list to serve with you, again – great!  And if you find encouragement in the newsletter, but can’t attend a thing all year, that is great, too.  You are welcome to come or not come, and stay on this list.  This is a ministry; what I do, I do for the Lord and as unto the Lord, and when no one comes any more, Bill says he’ll take me catamaran-ing and SCUBA diving instead!

Many of you brought meals and hugs to Pat and Cathy Walsh, an out-of-town homeschooling family whose daughter was hospitalized in Shands with many surgeries.  Here is a Christmas 2006 photo of Candace Walsh with her older sister!  Her parents report she is on the mend, and that they are very grateful for the unprecedented love and support they experienced from the Lord through you!

Encouragement, fellowship, friendship  ~ Find it at the Moms' Group!