Yesterday I blogged about the new community for Pastors’ Wives and Women in Ministry over at Leading and Loving It.  The JustOne Conference is one of the things that they have been doing, but they have also started Virtual Community Groups for pastors’ wives.

I started with my Virtual Community Group on Thursday night, not really sure what to expect, but excited to connect with other women in the same kind of life stage and life work that I’m a part of.  I’m in the 35 and under group (I just BARELY qualify for this group).

The Community Group time happens online (hence the ‘virtual’ part of it) and we all sign in to a video conference at the appointed time.  We had a bit of technical difficulty to start – actually, ironically, only our fearless leader Melissa Elswick had any difficulties – but we got it figured out in the midst of giggles and a mad flurry of text messages.

We started the time with introducing ourselves, a bit about who we are, where we’re at, what our role in the church is (and our husbands’ roles), and sharing a little about what we’d like to ‘get out of’ this group.

All I can say is WOW!  It’s amazing how God brought this group of women together.  While we’re in all kinds of different situations – no kids, tiny kids, my big kids, associate pastor, senior pastor, church planter, USA, Canada, etc…) the commonalities were quickly apparent.  Many of us are fairly new in our churches and in a role that’s new to us, and many of us are feeling the same things regarding unity and relationships within our church staffs.

As we shared our stories, there was a lot of head nodding and feelings of “oh yah, I understand that”.  And we all seem to want the same thing out of the group – to be able to connect with other ministry wives, to be able to be real in a safe place, and to find and give support and encouragement.

Our Community Group meets once a month, but we’re all connected on Facebook, Twitter and e-mail now, so I’m sure there will be lots of ‘conversation’ going on between times.  And of course praying for one another too.  What a privilege that is!

There are 11 of us altogether, including our leader, Melissa.  2 of them weren’t able to join us this first time.  Already, I love these ladies.  We laughed together and I really did feel that common bond that seems to be present between people of like-minds and like-hearts and like-spirits.

We’ve gotta come up with a name for ourselves, though. The Under 35s doesn’t work for me and Virtual Community Group is a mouthful!  Ideas? “Young Guns” probably isn’t quite the feel we’re looking for either!  LOL!

I’m very much looking forward to this Virtual Community Group.  SO glad for the opportunity, and I’ve already been blessed by these ladies!