Our guest blog writer for this edition is Shannon Bacon. Shannon is Didi’s wife. Along with her long-time friends Sandy Morganthal and Barb Anderson, Shannon co-leads the Women’s Ministry at Mount Carmel. We asked Shannon to give us some perspective on creating community with women at Mount Carmel, and why it is so important to live in Christian community.

Didi and I recently attended and at which Didi spoke, the Union Township Trustees’ October meeting in which there was a public hearing on a second medical marijuana dispensary going up in our community. Instead of asking the questions, is this good for our community, and is this the best approach in helping people deal with illness and suffering, the resolution narrowly passed because the business owners met the zoning requirements of the community. Those who will benefit financially from this dispensary do not live here and will not be around to see the breakdown of families and community wholeness this will bring. I left somewhat dumbfounded and burdened.

This led to a conversation between Didi and I on how this happened – in Didi’s wise words: “We were asleep”. In fact, we learned that this group targeted Union Township because we were asleep. We didn’t take steps to protect our community when we had the opportunity to do so.

Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)

How do we address this and other issues of our day facing our families and our communities? Where do we find the courage to face the enemy? We wake up. We join as believers and live in a God-honoring community. It’s this joining together, this connecting, where we strive to apply scripture to our daily lives and in doing so, we can impact those around us, where God has called us.

We cannot do it alone. We need each other. Families need each other, men need each other. Women need each other.

“…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

(Ephesians 5: 14, 15, ESV)

When I was a young wife and mom, I craved insight and support from older wives and mothers. I had no idea what I was doing, and many times was terrified I would ruin my children. That connection encouraged me to move forward in my daily life. I was so grateful when God provided those women in my life who are friends to this day from whom I still learn and grow.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4 12, NIV)

I want to encourage the ladies reading this to take one small step toward healthy connection by joining us for our final Women’s Breakfast Gathering of 2022 this Saturday, October 29th, from 9:00-11:00 am. Click here to register.  These events are dedicated to women gathering, connecting, and encouraging other women in all phases of life. We eat, chat, listen to stories of other women, read scripture, pray, and generally spend time connecting. We walk away filled because we took some time to invest in what we need to live lives worthy of our God calling.