WOW! What A Journey!

By Judith Davis

I have attended Central for most of my life. I attended Central's kindergarten in 1963. And through all those years, the Women's Ministries at Central have influenced me.

The importance of church was instilled in me as a young child as I watched my mother, a single parent with four young children, attend the Monday Morning Bible study and Women's Circle at Central. I also remember attending Mother-Daughter Banquets, Vacation Bible School, and youth group retreats and activities here at church as a child and teenager, and seeing the results of the labor of the women at Central. Later in life as a young adult, my wedding plans were organized by the wedding planner at Central; and as a new mother in 1987 and 1990, I received meals from women at church and made meals for new moms when I could. During this same time period I attended Mother's Fellowship, which later became WOW (Women on Wednesday). We learned about child rearing with a Biblical perspective, as well as other church-related topics. I had a great time teaching a cake-decorating and candy-making session for Mother's Fellowship right before the holidays one year. I was seeing servants' hearts in action and was tentatively testing the waters for developing my own servant's heart in the safe environment provided by a group of caring, concerned, and non-judgmental women.

A little more than a decade later in life, my children were a little older and not as needy, at least not physically. My husband became a believer during communion at the All-Church Retreat one year, (it was called a miracle by the 300+ people at Lake Summit that year), and my spiritual growth took off like a rocket ship. God became my center, my all in all. I wanted to DO something...I didn't know what. A few conversations occurred, identifying the need for an evening group for those women who worked or could not get out during the day. A weekly women's evening Bible study began in June of 2003 and I attended from the start. At one of our celebrations the name GABS was suggested, an acronym for Gals Attending Bible Study. When the leaders felt led to serve in other ministries, I was asked to coordinate the group and agreed.

The Women's Ministries at Central have shaped my life to be the God-centered woman that I have grown into. I was met at the level of my need at every stage of my life. I was supported and encouraged initially and finally equipped and enabled to step into what God had intended for me. Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." And the story doesn't end there. I had the privilege to serve with two outside ministries last year-DC Healing Rooms and World Wind Ministries. Women's Ministries at Central not only prepared me to serve God within these walls, but prepared me to be sent out to serve God outside these walls. God is so good!

And recently? Since my illness this past winter, God definitely has me in a new season. My eternal thanks goes to the Body of Christ here at Central for stepping in and taking care of my family for such a lengthy period of time during my illness. I know that Jesus is looking down saying "Job well done, good and faithful servants!" I pray blessings beyond belief to ALL at Central.