There's nothing more powerful than someone's personal experience to encourage us in our faith and lives!  Enjoy the following from one of our faithful Soul Group attendees,  Pam Chambers.

My husband and I left our families in the Eastern US and moved to Newberg 14 years ago.   I made friends easily but none of them knew me very well.  I felt like a part of me was unknown to anyone nearby except for my husband.  This left a void within me that the soul group has helped fill. The soul group has been a great way to connect to ladies in a deeper way.  We have shared our souls through stories from the past, our struggles and joys in the present, and our dreams for the future.  It is great to have friends that know me and love me for who I am. 

We basically do life with each other.  We share our spiritual journey,  prayers, hobbies, fruit picking, birthdays, family news, food, coffee, dreams, etc...

We are committed to be there for each other during the up and down times of life.  The group kept in touch with me last year as I took on a full time job and was unable to meet with them on a regular basis.  Then, in January they were there when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  They have supported me through surgery, chemo, and now radiation.   What a blessing to have friends praying, bringing meals, giving rides, etc... In the beginning we weren't sure that we would continue to meet.  But now I know that God has brought us together and our ties grow deeper with time as we support each other through life's journey.

I have also grown spiritually through our meetings.  We have studied and discussed several books that challenge me to put my Christian faith in action.  It is great to be accountable to a group of loving women who have my best interest at heart and can speak the truth in love.  We end our meetings with prayer requests and a time of prayer.  The group held a prayer session for me before I went for my first chemotherapy treatment.  It was such a blessing to be totally covered in prayer. 

I have also gained wisdom in parenting from the experiences of the other women in our group.  It is great to talk to someone who has walked the road I am walking with my children.   It helps put problems and seasons of life in perspective. 

My soul group is awesome and yours can be too.  I think the main reasons our group is successful is because we are committed to meeting together and are willing to open up and be vulnerable. 

Soul groups give us the opportunity to put the greatest commandment into action: Love God and love each other.  May God  bless your relationships with a deep and rich love that stands the test of time!