By Martha Bush

Hello everyone:

I have been off a couple of months for a time of rest and relaxation. Of course, the high point in the summer is always spending extra time with the grandkids. But, my time away was also busy putting a structural plan in place to be an extension of Lynn's Thrive in Faith Ministry here in Southeast Texas where I live.

Let me start from the beginning. Lynn had started Spiritually Unequal Marriage in 2006. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that I met Lynn on the pages of Winning Him Without Words. I knew immediately that I wanted to start a group in our area for women in a SUM. The first night of the class, ten women showed up and we met monthly for the next eight years, learning how to be the kind of wife God called us to be, as Lynn and Dineen had stressed in their first book. In the process, we developed lasting friendships.

In 2020. Lynn expanded her SUM ministry to include Thrive in Faith, with different goals and purposes. After eight years, we felt it was time to shift our main focus from SUM to become an extension of Lynn’s Thrive in Faith Ministry. However, we maintained SUM as an area where we provided mentoring. As our subject matter expanded, so did our membership, so we added a ministry team which changed the way we had previously ministered.

Today, I want to share with you the structure of our local group and how we have come to minister to a wide range of women in our area right on Facebook three days a week.  Should the Holy Spirit nudge you to start a chapter in your own area, perhaps this format will give you ideas how to get started.  

Take a look at who we are, our goals and purposes, and how it is carried out. We email this pamphlet out to prospective new members as an invitation to join.

Who We Are 

We are a Christian lay group that ministers in a private setting on Facebook, offering Biblical teaching, encouragement, and prayer throughout the week. In-person meetings are held quarterly at a designated place. 

Purpose 

To give practical help and encouragement for women who are co-workers in God’s Kingdom.

Goal 

Our goal is two-fold: (1) to use the gifts God has placed within each of us to help women THRIVE AND GROW in their relationship with Jesus (2) to help equip women to fulfill their divine destiny as Kingdom Workers in advancing His Kingdom.

How We Carry Out Our Purpose and Goal 

• Sunday: The first Sunday of each month at 3 P.M., using the Bible as her guide, the leader of TIF teaches on a wide range of Biblical principles.
• Monday: Writers write blogs with the intent to clearly explain and apply the Word of God in the lives of the reader.
• Wednesday: Videos are delivered by our encouraging team members to help women thrive and grow and to comfort those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith.
• Friday: Praise and Prayer time is led by our leader.

Behind the scenes, using their gift of Helps, ladies provide meals for the sick. Our Intercessory Prayer Team Warriors are always interceding on behalf and for others in the group.

We are currently working on additional programs to help you Thrive and Grow in Faith. As they become available, they will be announced.

Meet The Ministry Team

Our ministry team is composed of women from different denominational churches all over the Triangle area who use their God-given gifts to serve members of the group. (Names have been omitted for this writing, but we have nine women on the ministry team serving according to their gifts.)

Founder/Pastor: Lynn                                             Writers/Bloggers

Leader                                                                               Encouragers

Administrator                                                               Helps

Local Ministry Covering                                         Intercessors 

Also included in this pamphlet is the Group Agreement as set forth on SUM Sisters Facebook site. 

We are so blessed and thankful we can minister to local women three times a week from our own homes right to their home.  Obviously, we are not a substitute for their local church, but an extension of, not only Lynn's Thrive in Faith Ministry, but the Body of Christ as a whole. '  

If you have any questions as to how to start a chapter in your area, please let me know, and I will be glad to try to help you.