Fighting for your faith, Sharing it with others (Girls' Small Group) - An Allison Post

So, its pretty amazing to have the kind of experiences where you can sit in a circle with people in different places of life, and yet realize that we are all so connected and similar, sharing something in common. The revelations that occur in those places are gifts that we didn't even know we wanted, and also what we'd been needing.

Translation: Cozy times with the girls
tonight. AND IT WAS!

This happened last week in our girls' small group. Our sisterhood, though small, is growing into a safe place to deeply encounter God especially through the lens of each other. We've been talking about prayer this fall, looking for definition, the reasons why, and healthy inspiration for our personal walks. Miriam hosted last week, decorating as if she was born of Martha Stewart. There were candles EVERYWHERE, and it was SO "kosélig". After cooking a one-pot pasta meal that disappeared as quickly as it was made, we watched a movie together called War Room. I've kinda been running from this movie for a number of reasons but it was more than appropriate considering the topic and content of the film.

Meet Meeka! Nestled with some
Cadbury Hot Cocoa, she's
articulating how the testimony
of our spiritual life can look like
series of valleys and mountains.
Proud of her for searching.

I loved this concept from the movie that summed up to: 1) Losing battles to the Lord and 2) fighting for your life with prayer. When my perspective is off, its possible that I'm not the evil one, but I'm fighting the Righteous One for the sake of ruling my life. It was crazy to hear what the two girls who could come that night had to say about the movie. One had remarked that she saw a necessary need for transforming from being spiritual police over people to being a construction worker in prayer, helping to clear the path for people to see Jesus. Another had expressed that sometimes it can be really difficult to pray relating to the lonely and ambiguous role she carries as a young spiritual leader in her family. HUGE realizations and tensions for encouragement and accountability. So thankful for the opportunity to have shared testimonies of what it looks like to grow up in my prayer life, and how I've seen the fruit grow over periods of time. 

I've been researching on the early churches from just after the coming of Christ up to the protestant reformation and I've been blown away at the ministry and presence of many women so early in the movement of Christianity. From recognized deacons like Perpetua, to Presbyters like Phoebe, to even Junia who was called among the apostles. I think of what they went through, how they expressed  their faith and belief in a tumultuous and fierce era. I wonder what these ladies would be saying if they leaned into our conversations. I wonder what trajectory and pathways we create for future women as we share and attest to the Living God through our own lives.

New Discoveries in Guitar Class - Jeremiah

- Jeremiah

Here in Skien I have started up a guitar class for youth to come and learn guitar. We are learning all kinds of things: popular songs, worship songs, how to sing while playing guitar, and music theory. However, It seems more and more that this guitar class is more than just place to come and learn about music. In the midst of learning all of this music stuff we have become great friends. We have made up many strange, but funny inside jokes and they have helped me learn many useful and useless Norwegian phrases. This is also a great place where they get to hang out with young people they might not usually hang out with, and make new friends.


I think that providing a place for these young people to creatively express themselves, and to make new friends is amazing. These things are a great combination because they also promote self confidence and a place to be vulnerable. The culture here in Norway considers humility to be very important, but sometimes it is considered more important than having self confidence.


My testimony has revolved so much around learning who God created me to be, and being proud of that, and then letting that push me forward. As these young guys learn to play songs they thought were impossible they learn that they are smart and capable. They learn to have confidence. When I see this it makes me think, "What is God pushing me to do that seems impossible?"

SO, this is a great place to push these young people to do things they didn't know they could do. THEN, it also pushes me to stretch myself to grow as well.

It is so cool to see how just a small guitar class has begun to transform these young people and myself.