The Need For Community

Last year, I had the privilege of attending The RenderATL conference through a scholarship. This conference also coincided with Atlanta Tech Week. It was at an Atlanta Tech Week speaker series I attended at The Lola, by The Single Mom Founders, titled “Lead Like A Mother”, that I know created a major shift in my mind for the trajectory of my life. During that event they showcased and highlighted just how much women needed each other, and not just women, specifically single moms. By pairing us all into groups, we were able to intimately share and hear the stories of each woman; what they overcame, how they got to where they are now, and how they could further be supported or support someone else. Near the end of the segment, they asked participants to share with everyone what positive impact the session had on them. I was encouraged by my group to share, although hesitant, I said yes. Unbeknownst to me, they asked me to share on stage! In my mind I was like, “ok, here we go…” because I did not think I was prepared to be in the spotlight…, but God. So, I went up and shared a little bit of my story, about being a divorced mom of 3 girls, from Detroit, MI, a path through Texas, now back in Atlanta, putting my life back together. I don’t even remember half of the words I said, just that I felt I really needed to say them. Afterwards I got so many compliments and positive reactions on sharing and being open. I was thinking, wow I just literally shared what was on my heart and the things I had been through. Looking back on it, I know it was The Holy Spirit guiding me as I spoke. Now what you may not know is the backstory, see around that time an idea to start something that could help women based on my past experience had already been swirling around in my head for so long. I had just been too afraid to actually take the step forward to put it into action. However, after being welcomed so openly by the women in that community and hearing so many strong stories, I finally felt the security and push I needed to further step into the faith and walk out my vision.

The big takeaway? We need community! People need to hear our stories, now more than ever, to let them know they are not alone, to be welcomed, and join in on that community. Had I not felt that or been welcomed by that community of women founders within the first 10 minutes of me stepping foot into those doors, who knows where I would be with my sense of self-esteem to share, to put my idea (and my life), out there to help others. Spoiler alert, before that event at the time, my last blog post had been written 4 months prior, and I hadn’t done anything with it yet! I told myself time and time again, I wanted to get my story out there and make a difference in other women’s lives, but I had not taken the action to do so. I know that God was (and still is) placing me in communities and situations to share and make an impact. I just need to continue to obey and say yes and move forward – with or without the fear. God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20), so if I know God brought me to it, He will surely bring me through it! It is written, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

Now you may be sitting there asking yourself, where can I find a positive, uplifting community? I’m glad you asked! The community I mentioned above, that was a catalyst to furthering the steps to walk out the visions in my life and create this blog, is one community that was beneficial to me. Different communities serve different needs and are right for different seasons. Personally, I am involved in a handful of different communities. Some of those are my church community, a Christian women’s professional group, as well as being involved in faith-based offerings at my workplace. Now everyone may not have that luxury or the time, so I recommend you start with your church community. The church has so many resources to offer, for adults and children, not to mention connection through Bible Study/Community Nights, as well as a prayer ministry that can support you when you need it most. Now you’re probably silently thinking, there are so many churches, how do I know which one is right for me if I don’t already belong to one? Great question! I would suggest you first think about what you need most out of a church community, then pray to God and ask Him to show you and lead you to whatever church is best fit for you. You can also ask family and friends for recommendations or even search online. It is written, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV) God doesn’t want us to go through life alone, we were created to need people, that is why He created a helper for man in the very beginning in Genesis 2. Now more than ever we need to lean on other people for support, especially during the upcoming holiday seasons which can be some of the loneliest times of the year. Regardless of where you are in your search for a church community, or any positive community for that matter, please know that with Him you are never alone. God sees you and He is waiting for you to come to Him. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalms 34:18 NLT)

*If anyone located in the metro Atlanta area would like for me to assist them in finding a church community, please don’t hesitate to ask! (contact form on website or direct message feature on socials)