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Bible study group gathers weekly

Near a crackling fireplace, several women sit with Bibles.

They’ve done this weekly for six years. They laugh, they cry, they strengthen their relationships with God and one another.

Faith and friendship — that’s what the Bible study group that meets Wednesday evenings at Julie Elliott’s rural Smithville home is all about.

Something powerful happens when the women are together, Beverly Hovorka said.

“We are not as strong in our walk with the lord when we are not together,” Hovorka said.

The group is a fellowship, Kim Bedsaul said.

“We’re like a family,” Lori Haley said.

“If I don’t come, I feel like something’s missing,” Glenys Allen said.

Hovorka responded, “And we miss you.”

During the weekly gatherings, the women often spend a half an hour praying for those in need.

The women pray for people well beyond their group. Friends of friends of friends give prayer requests. Sometimes, one of the group members will stumble across a prayer request at the grocery store.

Commonalities between some of the women, such as ties to Outreach Christian Church and Northland Christian School, led to the formation of the group. However, women who belong to other churches have participated in the group, and the group leaders welcome all.

The women’s children used to play together in the Elliotts’ house during Bible study.

“When the kids see us studying and praying, they see those habits and go do what we do,” Hovorka said.

The kids didn’t always grasp the women’s Bible study group.

The women laughed as Hovorka talked about the time when one of her children didn’t understand why she said a particular Bible study night was so great when she had cried so much. The tears came while the women prayed for those in need. The strength of prayer can bring joy amid the tears.

Now, the children attend a youth group event at Outreach during the time, thanks to Elliott’s husband, who drives the children to the church and back.

The Bible study portion of the weekly meetings used to be more homework oriented, the women said.

Recently, it’s more reflective, as they read Bible verses out loud and then talk about how the words relate to their lives.

During the group’s Feb. 3 meeting, the passages led them to discuss topics including who they’re living their lives for, transparency and the true meaning of suffering.

“The focus was on the homework. Now, it’s, ‘God has something to say to me,’” Elliott said.

For more information about the Wednesday evening women’s Bible study or other Bible study groups associated with Outreach church, call 532-8601.

Smithville Herald Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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