Connections Podcast

There are times when our plans don't work out quite as we've expected. Our guest, Julie Caton encourages us to consider how we can simplify, pray for God to change our plans if  he needs to and focus on the women around us. 

MOPS groups are meeting in over 60 countries around the world – from Albania to Zambia – and this movement continues to grow. We believe that something as simple as mom friendships can tear down walls and transform the world. Join Sherri Crandall, Vice President of MOPS Global Ministries and Leadership Experience, and see how you can partner with us. 

Let's talk about how to use the MOPS Meeting Plans to design the kind of meeting that draws women in, help s her learn something new, and makes her want to come back again. The Meeting Plans are available in the Fuel the Fire Leader Guide that came in your Group Experience Kit or available online at leaders.mops.org.

Join Elisa Morgan, our MOPS friend and President Emerita, in this honest conversation about prayer. When Jesus prayed in the Garden, he begged for relief from the trial he faced, while utterly complying with what he knew the Father’s will to be. Jesus pivoted between praying: This is what I want, God (Honest) and What do you want, God? (Abandon). Both in the same breath. If Jesus prayed this way, shouldn't we as well?

Join Paula, Jennifer and Kelli as we talk about the importance of learning new things and developing our skills. Hear all about the MOPS Leader Training and Certification (available to Leaders at training.mops.org). Take the challenge and learn something new with us!

FInd Your Fire is about cultivating the passion stirring in your soul while embracing all of the goodness that comes from being a mom. Join Mandy Arioto and Sherri Crandall and think about what you're going to do this year fan your spark into a flame.

Join Jennifer Iverson and MOPS Volunteer Stacey Morgan. Whether your group is brand new or you've been meeting for years, we have great tips for finding leaders and building a strong team that focuses on the vision rather than tasks.

The family is under attack. Young families are leaving the church and, in looking at what works in our church to bring young families back, we find that over and over again, it's MOPS. Get in the game. It's about Jesus, it's about the gospel, it's about families.

Listen in as MOPS friend, author and speaker Kathi Lipp talks about practical ways to recognize and work through the feeling of overwhelm. "Overwhelmed turns us into someone we never wanted to be. Someone God never created us to be." - Kathi Lipp

MOPS friend and author Alexandra Kuykendall encourages us to consider how to live a life characterized by contentment - and face comparison, fear and boredom head on.

Join three Leaders as they answer the question, "What did you learn about Wonder, Hope and Kindness this year?" Then answer the question for yourself!

Join Mandy Arioto and Kendall Parkhurst as they talk through how "Free Indeed" came to be, what it means to Mandy and what it can look like for you and your groups over this next MOPS year.

We know that this time of year leaders are thinking about what's next. Join Kelli and Jennifer as we talk about finishing well, determining what you want to be known for and simplifying leadership as you finish this year and look ahead to the next.

When Shanna woke up on her 38th birthday, she had a to-do list that didn't excite her much. So she threw it out and made another list full of kind things she wanted to do that day. With her new list and a new attitude, she spread kindness around like confetti. All year long, we should strive to walk in grace and do good works and love each other in the name of Jesus.

We are all broken and that brokenness motivates us to grab hold of things that we believe will help us through the pain. We are all addicted to something – we grab hold of things besides Jesus, searching for relief and healing. As broken leaders, how do we welcome broken people into our community and walk alongside them? How do we help others move from pain, through addiction, and on to a place where they let go of everything and are only attached to Jesus? How do we help them come to him with their pain so they can experience his healing and presence?

At MOPS, relationships begin because we have our “momness” in common but they grow because we are willing to talk about the challenges we all face. Are you willing to share your own stories of fun, pain or faith? It can shape the time around your table because when we are story sharers, we become hope bringers to those beside us. Carol Kuykendall is an author, speaker, mentor and long-time MOPS champion and she believes in the power of your story.

Is it possible to make life feel like a special occasion without sacrificing what matters most to us? Perhaps it’s time to let go of a few details and focus on being present. Shauna Niequist is best-selling author of Present Over Perfect. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons. Shauna is a bookworm, a beachbum, and passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.

Mike Foster shares how we can become and inspire others to be People of the Second Chance. Celebrate those messy places in life and start seeing them as opportunities for God to shine through us. Mike Foster is the Founder of People of the Second Chance. He is an author, speaker and pastor. He lives in San Diego with his wife, two children and one very high-maintenance dog. Read more from Mike at secondchance.org.

Mandy Arioto is the President and CEO of MOPS International, and is widely known for her unique takes on parenting, relationships, spiritual, and cultural issues. Mandy loves thunderstorms, is one of the best listeners you will ever meet, is a mediocre hula-hooper and finds the details of being human deeply fascinating. Recently Mandy spoke during our MOMcon Leader Lab. She shares stories of her own MOPS experience and challenges us to live generously.

Carl Medearis is an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations. He is the author of Adventures in Saying YES and Speaking of Jesus. Recently Carl spoke during our MOMcon Leader Lab. He challenges us to talk about Jesus in a way that is easy for us and inviting to others. Read and listen to more from him at carlmedearis.com.