Wondering what Hope Women are all about? Interested in getting involved but not sure where to start? Then you are in the right place! This month at Hope Women's blog, we are doing an interview tour of the various gathering places for women at Hope. We hope you can get a feel for each ministry and find a place for you! If you have questions on any group, contact the women's leader mentioned, or Nicole Unice, Direction of Women's Ministries, at nicoleunice@gmail.com. Now, pretend you've just sat down with your favorite beverage and the following leaders as they answer your questions.
First Up: Marmi Houff with Apprentice.
Thanks for joining the tour Marmi! First up, can you give us a short description of Apprentice?
Apprentice is about learning to live life like Jesus lived life - with connection and intimacy with God, with passion and purpose, with security and strength. The idea is that we examine what Jesus tells us about his Father and how he interacted with him...and then engage ourselves in the same life habits that foster that same interaction.
Most likely it will stretch you but I know you will find it worth any risk you may feel. I am confident of this, not because the course (or the teacher) are so wonderful, but because God himself initiates the invitation for intimate interaction (that we are all longing for) - so HE WILL respond fully to each "yes" we offer him.
Sounds intriguing! When/where will Apprentice meet?
We will meet at the church on 10 consecutive Tuesdays from 6:30-8pm from January 12- March 16. The cost is $20 for the book and supplies. And there will be childcare provided. (We hope that providing childcare will not only free up women themselves but also couples to take this course together.)
What are you hoping a woman will take from engaging in Apprentice?
My heart is that we will experience God and his love...not merely learn about him. My heart is that we will learn the ways that we can more fully invite God and his work in our lives. My heart is that we can learn to enjoy God as we see how much he enjoys us.
What have you personally enjoyed about Apprentice?
Well, the way the class is arranged, it helps us step outside the box (God really isn't all that into boxes, by the way). The class re-introduces us to some spiritual practices that are rooted in scripture and the early church that have gotten lost along the way. Apprentice helps me notice what I really believe about God and then invites me to enjoy and respond to the truth.
I also like that the class and the work required for it asks for something from you. On some level I want comfort, but deeper down I really want to be engaged. I want to be challenged - because I long for more of life with God. But what is radically different is the way that challenge is invited in Apprentice - the invitation is given instead of driven. You are simply given a glimpse of what God is offering...then the challenge is whether you will take God up on his offer. I love that this class teaches us HOW to respond, invite, and engage God and what he wants to give us.
Wow, sounds like a great experience. How do I sign up?
You have to fill out a registration form and return it by Jan 10.
You can get a registration form from the welcome desk or by emailing me at marmihouff@gmail.com
What if that time doesn't work for me? Any more offerings?
If you cannot do it this winter, the response to this class has been so strong that we will mostly likely be offering Apprentice I again in the Fall 2010. Also, as a heads up, there are actually 3 parts to this series, so we will be offering Apprentice II in the early Spring following this Apprentice I class. It will look something like
this:
winter 2010 - Apprentice I
spring 2010 - Apprentice II
fall 2010 - Apprentice I (and Apprentice III ?)
You only commit to one class at a time, but each is a pre-requisite for the next.
Marmi, what great information! Thanks for spending some time on our blog interview!
Next up: Nicole talks about women's ministry at Hope! See you next time!
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