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a healthy church...transformingLIFE

Tasmanian Anglican

December 2003

 

 

 

Every family can benefit from MOPS...



 

 

What every child needs,
what every mum needs

by Helen Phillips

 

 

A warm, loving and caring relationship with his or her mother and father is the most valuable feature of a young child's life.

Love, security, value, respect and significance are key ingredients for the development of a spiritually healthy young person. With these foundations a child is best able to understand and experience the deep love God has for them.

Mothers Of Preschoolers contributes to establishing a healthy home for children by affirming and encouraging mums. During the two hour sessions their children are cared for in a positive, safe and secure enviroment in an adjacent space.

Powerful ministry

Coordinators of the Kingston group, Andrea Reece and Sarah Patterson and their team, support women from the local community and the local Anglican Church of St Clement's. In a community centre at Maranoa Heights the needs of the children are met, both indoors and out, with slides, swings, tricycles, sandpits, glue, paper, toy trucks and tents. A warm, friendly, creative, colourful and dynamic play area for children is provided at MOPS with carers coming from the local congregation.

MOPS can become a powerful ministry of a local church creating opportunities for contact with mums and their children throughout the community. MOPS can become a tool for ministry across neighbouring churches and denominations where resources need to be pooled.

Value

The benefit for mothers is the contact with others at a similar life stage: people who understand and care about their situation. Warm hospitality coupled with a helpful presentation and discussion questions increases the value of the MOPS session each fortnight. In addition something creative to make to take home is always a highlight for mothers who are often too busy at home to finish a project.

MOPS focuses on meeting the needs of a mother during this significant time in a child's life, encouraging and affirming her and providing the support and friendship that's needed. MOPS could be a way for your church to support children and families in your community.

Arrange to visit a MOPS group in your region.
Contact Helen Phillips.