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Celebrating 18 Years of MOPS Ministry
2025-9-9 | Pastor Kristin Devine Mueller
In 2018, our family moved to Lafayette in June, I began working at the church in July, and I was introduced to the MOPS Ministry in August. I remember having conversations with Kate Cogswell at the time, and she and I thought it made sense to shift the MOPS and MomsNext ministry under the umbrella of my role, as Director of Children’s Ministries. I am fully confident that God was guiding this decision, and as I look back, I am thankful for how these new responsibilities in my professional role made a huge impact on my personal life and the life of my family. My story of support through the hard seasons of motherhood (including the COVID season!) echoes the stories of so many women who have called our MOPS group their home.
MOPS stands for “Mothers of Preschoolers,” and the MOPS group at our church has ministered to an incredible number of mothers and children over the past 18 years. Our first MOPS group began in 2007, with 40 moms, 9 mentor moms, 60 children (which included 20 babies), and 20 – 25 Kids workers. In our congregational annual report, following that first year, Jill Smith said, “Many moms in the group who were only occasional church attendees or had no church affiliation became actively involved in a church by the end of their first year of MOPS. Bringing each mom a step closer to Jesus is our goal.”
Throughout the entire season of MOPS ministry, this has continued to be at the heart of what we do. We have seen God at work in the lives of mothers and in the lives of their families, as some have come to know and follow Christ as their Savior, and as many have grown deeper in faith on their journey with Christ.
In 2016, the group added a MomsNext table, and this added to the depth of our ministry to moms. MomsNext was a joint ministry through MOPS International, aimed at mothers of school-age children. It created a space where moms whose children had moved out of preschool could still attend and be a part of a mom community.
In 2023, MOPS rebranded to reflect their growing identity as exactly that, a mom community. Our group adopted the name “MomCo,” reflecting the reality of all those who participate in MOPS, mothers of all ages and stages. We have served and connected with many moms over the years, but in recent years, we’ve seen the number of moms in our larger group declining. Last spring, the steering team made the difficult decision to close our chapter of MomCo, ending a beautiful 18-year season of ministry, and opening up opportunity for the moms in our area to pursue something new outside of the group here.
We will celebrate the ministry and legacy of MOPS in our worship service on Sunday, September 14. So many people have been connected to MOPS, MOMSNext, or MomCo at our church, so we want to take time and recognize the impact of this ministry for moms. Everyone is welcome to join us for a reception from 2-4pm in the Life Center, as we remember stories and honor the end of 18 years of friendship and following Jesus together, side by side on the journey of motherhood.
While our chapter of MOPS is ending, we have connected with another local MomCo ministry, and some of our moms will continue to build connection, friendship, and faith in this new place. If you or a mom you know is in need of support, please reach out to me, Pastor Kristin. I know firsthand the importance and impact that a community of moms can have, and I’d love to help other moms continue to find that strength and support.
