First Baptist Church of La Plata

by Cathy Thompson

     WOW!... is just what I thought when asked to write about my experiences with First Baptist Church and the Women of the Word study I have been attending. Just a brief intro about me … my family and I are new members to First Baptist and the WOW program was one of the first interests that brought me to my wonderful new church home. I was looking for a Bible study group and ultimately a church to call home. I did not know anyone in the WOW study and had only spoken to Heather (one of the two teachers of the class) in an email just prior to the beginning of the study on September 3, 2009.

     Well I am here to tell you that September 3, 2009 will be a day I will not soon forget. From the time I entered the room that morning until the time I left that afternoon I felt as though I knew everyone there for years. Heather and Janet Doyle are wonderful women whose love and dedication to the word shine through so beautifully in each session it touches your heart and just makes you desire to learn more and more which is what happens each time you step into their study sessions.

     Each time I take away something from that lesson that helps me to stay strong in my own faith and dedication to the word. I am able to take some piece of our lesson that day and quickly apply it to some area of my family life that strengthens us as the Christian family we are striving to be according to God’s word. One session I would like to quickly share with you and how it touched and continues to help my family is the story of Rebekah in Genesis 24:12-26. Rebekah was asked to give water at a well to a man needing water. Without hesitation she did these willingly and though was not asked to she also then gave water to his ten camels as he sat and watched her do so without stopping until she had completed. There is so much more to this story of course but the piece that remains with me and helps me throughout my daily chores that at times become overwhelming is Rebekah’s dedication to her work. Her going above and beyond and doing so without hesitation and most of all doing so willingly is such a motivational piece for me. I will tell you there are times I stop and start to complain about the laundry and how can it be so much again and I will stop think of Rebekah and be thankful that it is two loads of laundry to complete with my automated wash machine and dryer and not ten camels to water with a pitcher running back and forth to the waterway repeatedly. Once I think of it this way the complaints do not stand a chance and the work is done willingly (okay most days willingly..I am still human). I do think of her story frequently and can hear myself say well if Rebekah can water ten camels with a pitcher I surely can load my washing machine!

     Though I could talk for pages and pages of the various sessions and ways they have touched my family and myself I will try to keep it brief but feel I must share a quick note on the power of prayer in our sessions. Each week a prayer list is written for us all to share and pray over until the next time we meet. I must say the power of prayer in groups is amazing!! I have been asking the same prayer for my children each week for them to seek out God for their life on their own and their faith to grow. After a few months of this prayer my oldest son, Justice, attended the youth retreat and at that retreat he stepped forward to ask the Lord into his heart. I cannot describe how wonderful it felt to hear this upon his return home. But wait there is more.  Just a few weeks after my next oldest son, Austin, asked to sit alone at Church that day and I didn’t think too much of it but then that sermon seemed as though it was speaking to the youth and Austin stood up to ask the Lord into his heart that day and within a few weeks was baptized in front of our new Church family. I cannot put into words how wonderful these moments were and how much our family continues to grow spiritually every day. I encourage any woman to consider joining WOW and I can promise you it will touch your family in ways you could never believe true. I thank Heather and Janet for their dedication and time to teach us the word and how we can relate it to our daily lives. I also thank the wonderful nursery and childcare workers that take such great care of our children so that we may have this time to study together with other women and share our support and love with one another. I also thank Brenda Stokes and all the wonderful workers that prepare our always delicious lunches so that we always leave there feeling not just spiritually full but our belly is also full! Thanks to First Baptist Church for this wonderful WOW program and all it has meant and continues to mean to me and my family.