Raise Up: A Community Outreach To Moms

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from purchased products at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

A model program for small churches to support moms in their community.

Join us as we interview Ashley Brandt and learn about her ministry, Raise Up, an outreach to moms in her community.

Ashley Brandt is the founder of Raise Up, a ministry focused on creating a supportive community for families through classes, fellowship, and resourcing.

Ashley is a stay-at-home mom and substitute teacher. She’s a Bible believer, wanna-be homesteader, avid reader, and black thumb gardener. She and her husband, Dillon, live in Iowa where he pastors Rockwell City Church of Christ.

Why did you start this outreach program, Ashley?

Ashley: Having been a foster parent and working in schools, I’ve seen the harm that can come to kids when parents don’t have the proper tools for caring for their kids, don’t know how to use healthy discipline, and don’t have a good support network.

God placed it on my heart to start a group for moms where these tools could be taught, and where the group members could form a tribe that supported and uplifted each other. I know that I don’t have all the answers, nor am I the perfect parent, so it was important to me that my voice not be the sole one that the other moms hear.

Raise Up is a cool name. How did you come up with it?

Ashley: I attended the online retreat called Unchangeable God that Small Church Ministry offered. There was a lesson titled “Two Are Better Than One” that inspired me to keep working on this group that I had started dreaming about. I brainstormed keywords that I felt reflected the vision God was giving me for this group, and out of those words came Raise Up.

What’s been your favorite part of this Moms Group?

Ashley: The connections that are made with women outside of my church. We have a Methodist, a Catholic, a non-attender, and a few women from my church which is Church of Christ. This group feels like the kingdom of God at work. 

Has anything surprised you?

Ashley: It surprises me that ladies continue to come!

I have tried to start various women’s ministries throughout my life, and none have stuck like this one. I can truly see that God’s hand is on it.

How big is your Moms Group? Is it growing?

Ashley: Our normal size is 7 ladies with 12 kids split between the nursery and elementary childcare. I started with three consistent attendees and sporadic other in and outs, but am now consistent at 7, with others who come and go.

Tell us a little about your program. What do you do at the group?

Ashley: My group is targeted towards moms with kids age 0-18. We have fellowship beforehand for about half an hour with treats. Then, we start with a lesson or speaker and discussion and finish by diving into open-share time. From the lesson to the end is 1 hour, and I try really hard to be out on time so as to be respectful to our childcare workers and to get kids home since it is a school night.

How has Raise Up helped moms in your community?

Ashley: Raise Up has given these women a safe place and a trusted group to serve as an outlet to discuss things that might be considered taboo and would be difficult to bring up in general conversation with anyone but a reliable friend.

For example, one of our ladies has an ex who got charged with the endangerment of the kids. She shared with the group that she had been sober for years but was thinking of taking up drugs again to help her get through it all. We were able to talk her down and give her the advice, love, and support she so desperately needed so that she could stay sober and be there for her kids.

The lesson gives helpful tools, and the discussion helps us make sense of them for our own lives, but open-share is where everything really comes home.

How long has your outreach program been running?

Ashley: Raise Up began in the fall of 2020, so it’s been running just over a year now with a 2-month break in the summer.

Is there anything you’re hoping to change?

Ashley: If we get 3-4 more ladies, my plan is to split into two groups so that everyone gets a chance to share in the discussion and open-share times, as well as to form those tight bonds that are necessary for a group like this to succeed.

I do not have a woman who is ready to lead currently, so my prayer is that God will send me one to train up over the next couple of months.

What do you wish you had known before you started Raise Up?

Ashley: I wish I had more training in counseling as there are times when I feel over my head about the problems that are brought before the group. Luckily, the other ladies provide lots of wisdom when I fall short.

What advice would you give someone in a small church who is thinking about starting a program like this?

Ashley: Cover everything in prayer, and don’t go it alone. Let God breathe life into this ministry because at the end of the day, it is not about you! Reach out for help. It is not a weakness to ask for help when you need it.

Coming Next Week: 8 Steps To Start Your Own Outreach To Moms

Come back next week to read Ashley’s 8 Steps To Starting A Moms Group in your community!

Looking for a step-by-step guide to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?

Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!

Read More

How To Start A Community-Based Moms Support Group For Small Churches

Best Worship Songs For Mother’s Day In Your Small Church

5 Children’s Outreach Ideas For A Small Church