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Will I be rejected?
Will I be rejected? I’m convinced this question goes through the minds of most women on a regular basis. We fear rejection from parents, spouses, friends, bosses and even our church families. Unfortunately, this fear can stop potential spiritual leaders from ever trying and potential relationships from ever forming.
Anything but BORING!
If you’re BORED with your Christian life, then I can promise you – you aren’t living the version of Christianity found on the pages of the Bible. If you’re FRUITLESS in your Christian walk, then I can promise you – you aren’t following the historical Jesus who lived and died and resurrected from the dead.
Is There More to Christianity Than This?
The Well Training Ministry believes that there are women out there who are asking the question, “Is this really all there is to the Christian life? Did Jesus really die, so that I could go to church, take copious sermon notes, sing four songs to Jesus, volunteer once in a while in the kids’ department, then afterward go to Bob Evan’s for lunch?”
Jump in or Play it Safe?
The Well creates training environments where women can learn to be disciples who can contribute to making disciples, owning their part in advancing the Kingdom. This is perceivable almost immediately when you come through the doors at one of our events. Women all around choose to be intentional. They mill about choosing to be noticers, welcoming and greeting one another because individuals matter.
Is Your Life Different?
Does your life look different enough from the culture of this world that the Gospel is the only way to explain it? We live and operate in a world where two kingdoms are present – the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light and each has its own culture. The culture of this world is driven by the kingdom of darkness, is ruled by the devil, and is what our flesh is naturally drawn to.
Your Attendance ISN’T Impressive
Women sense that The Well is different. Not perfect, but different. Some think it’s because we’re serial huggers, as few manage to escape one of our meetings without getting one or two or ten of those. Some think our mojo lies with the content of our studies, trainings and conferences. Others believe it’s the diversity of denomination, age, race and ethnicity – which really is pretty stinking amazing.
Consumer Christian Culture
Consumerism has become so steeped in our Christian culture that we’ve now begun viewing our relationships through this unhealthy lens. We want what we want, and we want it now. Our unmet expectations cause us to become frustrated, bitter, and resentful with the people in our world. Our discipleship no longer has a framework for the difficulties which come as a result of our relationships taking place in a flawed world with flawed people, of which we are one.
Giving Way to Unbelief
The Bible teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith. On the surface this sounds pretty straight forward, until we need to make a decision which tests our faith. Many times we struggle with the question, “What if I make the wrong choice?” If we stay in that struggle too long, eventually our cautiousness will give way to unbelief.
No Ticket Required – Just Your Life
Unfortunately, it seems less of us within the Christian fold are actually repentant, meaning we left the Kingdom of darkness and have full on entered the Kingdom of Light. I’m not sure lots of folks making up our churches are engaged in the ongoing process of rejecting sin, walking away from sinful lifestyles and abandoning unbiblical thinking.
Key to Our Ministry is Follow Up…and Dating
At least two things make The Well different: we do follow up within our studies and groups, and we date each other. Yeah buddy, date – but more on that in a minute. By follow up, we mean we help women learn how to shepherd their groups. Shepherding is not the same as facilitating, whereby the facilitator often leaves the follow up to someone else and the work of ministry to others higher up on the food chain. No, no.
It’s Not About the Building
Since The Well decentralized, many of us, like the Israelites leaving Egypt, have longed for the way things “used to be.” We miss the convenience of being on the same campus seeing all the women on “our Well day.” We miss seeing fresh faces walking through the doors each week and hearing the devotions that blew our minds.
You’ve Got to Embrace the Whole Gospel
The Well trains women to embrace the whole Gospel – allowing it preeminence in their lives, allowing it to impact their relationships, their church, and their world through them. We do this because when a woman operates from only a part of the Gospel, then salvation becomes solely a doctrinal acknowledgement and an accepted gift, but the Gospel she believes doesn’t necessarily impact her world.