You have waited so patiently for us to share an update about the 2015 version of (in)couragers and (in)RL, and we couldn’t be more grateful for your prayers and grace as we work through the details. We’re just in awe of your love and commitment to real community. If you haven’t noticed, we love all of you in big, big ways!
The (in)courage team has spent several months praying about what comes next for (in)courage – from the blog to the community groups to (in)RL and everything in between. We’ve listened to the survey feedback, the stories you’ve shared, and the suggestions you’ve given us. We feel strongly that God is calling us to a place in 2015 where the needs of our community are leading us to make changes to some very, very good things in order to embrace the great things God has next.
So what does that mean for (in)couragers? Our goal from the beginning has been to create a safe place on (in)courage for women to gather – and we’re still doing that {along with some other really great plans for the site!}. It will look more like a forum where women can gather and connect based on some of the same topics we’ve offered through (in)couragers, but we’re going to focus on conversations, not groups. Which means we won’t be offering the private small groups in the same format {but will offer a list of resources and other groups that women can connect with if they’re interested in that!}. Stay tuned for those updates in the fall!
And for (in)RL, our heart has always been to encourage and equip women to gather in real life, to connect over cups of coffee or crafts to talk about how God is working in your life. While we aren’t going to offer a meet-up opportunity in April this year, our hope is to be able to walk forward in 2015 together as women who choose friendship on purpose, 365 days. So we’ll be doing some new things with our book club, offering more weekly series topics and community challenges, special email campaigns, content to share with your friends and small groups, and even creating beautiful new products we can use together as we invest in the women God has put right in front of us.
We can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done to support (in)couragers and (in)RL. You are the heartbeat of (in)courage, and we love you. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this year!
[linebreak]
We’ve put together a few links to get you started, if you’re looking for encouraging content to share with your friends!
- Videos to share with your friends or small group
- (in)RL DVDs and encouraging resources
- Our “Courage to Face Your Insecurities” Series
- Sign up to receive updates about our next Bloom Book Club (we’d love to have you join us!)
Thank you so much for following God’s leading. Loving forward to all the wonderful things to come.
*Loving and looking forward
I am disappointed because to me it is simply duplicating what already exists and taking away what made you unique and met specific needs. But at least you have made clear where you stand and I know I need to go and look somewhere else.
Hey Jennifer – we know (in)RL and our community groups both hold a special place in the hearts of our community, and ours! But we’re excited to see what God has in store for (in)courage this year and how we can keep meeting those same needs in some fresh, new ways! We appreciate your grace and understanding as we follow where God is leading.
Thank you, incourage team, for following God’s lead on this. I’m glad you are sensitive to His voice and open to making changes! That takes bravery! In the past I’ve definitely been stubborn and kept going with something that was “perfectly good enough” and worked, even though I knew God was trying to gently call me onward.
I’ve loved the incourage facebook groups and I’ve really loved (in)RL. I do feel that it’s time to change that, somehow.. I hope you will be able to incorporate in real life, local meet ups or gatherings, whatever that looks like in the future! In the Omaha area we have a group of women who meet monthly-ish for coffee or dinner, just to chat and connect and be an encouragement to one another. This started because of inRL- so thank you. 🙂 Change is always tough, even good change, so I hope you are blessed by reminders of how God has used incourage in wonderful ways so far.
Thanks for the links to resources I can share with friends. The videos, printables, and series on insecurities look great. I know they will be encouraging for me, and other women I share them with. Praise to God for the growth of this group, and for leading you into a new direction. Onward and upward! (http://faithcounts.wordpress.com)
I did complete a survey last year and I am wondering if the changes will include women in the 50-60 age group?
As a Mary & Martha consultant who has been a part of inCourage even longer, I am looking forward to the changes and tools to help me as I connect in real life with young women. I too would love some conversations/tools for my own age group as well-late 40-mid 60, where we are still raising kids, caring for parents and juggling it all.
Let me say thank you for all you’ve done over the years! Your posts have encouraged me greatly! I have come to know some of the women and have prayed for many of them!
Can’t wait to see what you all have in store for us this year. I, too, pray the changes will include stuff for women 50+ who are dealing with aging parents and work stress!
Blessings to everyone and keep up the good work!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your ideas and plans, sounds very exciting, will there be any thing for the 50-60 year old ladies, or will just incorporate into the other ideas and tools. Just wondering!! Love to all!! Sheila Bard