Bible Babies

MOSES LAKE — It has been two and a half years since Jill Ahman called the young women of her church, Our Lady of Fatima, to a Bible study at her home.

It was in December of 2004 that a dozen women met at Jill's home, filling up her small living room, and beginning the Birth and Renewal Bible Study. Jill was inspired to call the meeting, because she saw a need for spiritual and community growth for the young women in the church.

The group began meeting twice a month and assigned books to read and discuss. Some of their first books were "Prayer Devotion" and "Power of a Praying Wife."

Jill and Nicole Prentice are the undesignated leaders of the group, choosing the next book to study and setting the meeting dates.

The book content for which the group studies has expanded from Biblical and spiritual to

straight Catholic textual.

"The other books we read opened up discussion for scripture, but the books we are reading now give meaning to the Catholic religion," Nicole stated.

They are currently studying "Theology of the Body for Beginners," which focusses on the teachings of the late Pope John Paul II

"He evangelized the Catholic faith and inspires us to be personal examples in our families, church, and community," said Deanna Ledeboer.

All the women agree that the spiritual growth they have experienced as a result of their meetings is contagious in their homes.

"We come back to our families shining with joy," Connie Roth said.

Five of the women in the group are currently pregnant and two have recently delivered. Nicole Prentice, Jennifer Ribellia, Amy Nelson, Nicole Eccles, and Connie Roth are currently pregnant and Jill LeGault and Angie Thompson have recently had their babies.

This group was once a married women's Bible study and developed into a mother's book club. They now have food at every meeting, because the majority of the members are pregnant.

"Although we desired children and prayed for them, we have had to be patient and let God answer our prayers in His time," Nicole Prentice commented

The women agree the friendships they built within the group are based on spiritual growth and have made them happier mothers, wives, and members of the community.

"We take and give a lot of knowledge to and from each other as sisters in our religion and as friends," said Amy Nelson.

When they discuss their lives, they try to remain positive and continually have an attitude of thankfulness. One major focus is to not talk negatively about their husbands. Each meeting opens and ends with a prayer. At the end of the meetings, the group prays together for the requests of each member for themselves, their families, and their friends.

The group continues meeting once a month from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at different members' houses and assigns a few chapters of their books to have read for each meeting.

Their husbands take care of the children, so the women can have a few hours of uninterrupted fellowship. In the summertime, they have playgroups for their children, because most of the women have children and will be delivering.