Mops International

This month, across the country and in many parts of the word, mothers of presechoolers are gathering at local churches for fellowship, support, encouragement, resources, and relationships. An exciting facet is that Jesus is always invited too.

When my husband and I relocated to a new city, over an hour away, we didn’t know a single person here. At that time we had an 8 year old and a 4 year old… however within just a few months I found out our third was on the way. We were still trying to find a church home, our neighborhood didn’t have any other families with young children, and I was so very alone. My first thoughts were: “I need to find a MOPS group”.

I was already familiar with MOPS from my previous city and I knew that finding a local group would be a great way for me to meet people in my community that were in the same stage of life. I also knew that MOPS groups were made up of women from various churches, which gave me an opportunity to be a part of a group while we were still searching for our home church. For me, MOPS was a way to plug into community.

Over the last 17 years, I have watched women come to MOPS for many reasons. What I also saw was how much MOPS became an avenue that led women and their families into the church. MOPS Moms would sign their kids up for VBS. The next year they were signing up as VBS volunteers. They would trickle into family or kids events at the church, and then you would begin to see them at church on Sunday mornings.

There were some moms who ended up staying in our MOPS group, but their families would attend a church closer to their home. Some would even start MOPS groups in their new church home. MOPS is a blessing to both the mothers who are served and the churches in which they become part of the community.

Many communities, like our own, have MOPS groups with waiting lists because they’ve reached maximum capacity. MOPS is one of those ministries, that in my opinion, you simply can’t have enough of. Staring a MOPS group is an easy process that begins with the desire to serve our mothers with preschool aged children.

If you are interested in starting up a MOPS group in your church and community, visit their website or speak with another local MOPS leader.