Ever wanted to know more about the author behind the Bible study your women’s group was doing? New Hope Publishers recently launched a new online community — New Hope Women in Bible Study — at NewHopeDigital.com/women to help women do just that.
The site is geared toward individuals, ministry leaders and others interested in resources and practical ways to engage women in Bible study and grow small groups while also getting to know the authors behind the studies.
It was launched during an event Oct. 24–26 in Birmingham that drew more than 40 women from New Hampshire to Arkansas — mostly women’s ministry and small group leaders. Women heard from and visited with renowned Bible study authors to gain skills and information about Bible study resources.
The new website “is a space where women using New Hope Bible studies as individuals or in small groups can meet authors, interact with one another, have access to unique content and learn more about New Hope Bible study resources and authors,” explained Andrea Mullins, publisher of New Hope, a publishing arm of national Woman’s Missionary Union.
Also launched at the event was NewHopeInteractive.com. Through a partnership with HelloMogo Digital Book Lab, New Hope is one of the first publishers to offer Bible studies in an interactive workbook format that allows readers to develop their own online or desktop library of interactive Bible study workbooks.
There are four Bible studies currently available at NewHopeInteractive.com with this interactive workbook feature.
“Tranformative” is how Bonnie Gorman, a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville, described the launch weekend.
“This experience is much like when I went through the ‘Live a Praying Life’ Bible study,” Gorman said. “It brought me a renewed sense of peace, strength and freedom to live a Christ-centered life with purpose.”
Jennifer Kennedy Dean, author of “Live a Praying Life,” spoke at the opening session.
Along with Dean, authors such as Debra Berry, Edna Ellison, Kathy Howard, Brenda Ladun and Kimberly Sowell led conferences on their Bible studies and topics such as trusting God, spiritual growth, suffering, restoration and the importance of being an encourager.
A panel discussion offered insight and practical considerations related to women’s Bible studies. On the panel were Berry, Ellison and Howard, along with Dawn Stephens, who serves as minister to women and women’s small groups at The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham.
When choosing Bible studies, each on the panel agreed it is essential to know the theology of the writer and whether or not the content is from a reputable source known for being consistent with what the Bible teaches.
They also underscored the value of knowing your audience.
(WMU)
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