A Mentor's Perspective

Last year's Breakaway Conference was truly one of the highlights of the year for me in ministry. The concept is so unique and really meets the need we have to connect with other women who are at different stages in the journey. The entire day was presented with excellence and enthusiasm.

God's Word clearly exhorts women to pour their lives into other women. I hear from ladies all over the country that they are searching for someone who will take the time to invest in them. This is a God-given desire. What I've come to realize is that at every stage of life, we are both an older and a younger woman. We all have something to offer others and we all can benefit by being invested in by others. Those relationships initiated and/or developed through a conference like this one is an incredible resource for young women, in particular, to take advantage of what God has made available to them through the mentoring that takes place. I wish there had been something like this for me 15 years ago! It's such an honor to be a part of it, and I can't wait for April 25th to get here!

Shelley Hendrix (Breakaway Mentor)

A Look Back to Breakaway 2008

Hey ladies! My name is Valerie and I want you to hear what Breakaway meant to and for me last year. I was a member of a young married couple’s class at the time although I was not, and have never been, married. I had only been attending FBCW for a few months, so Breakaway was my first experience in the college and singles department. I showed up that day with not much of an idea of what was going to be going on. We started with a lovely lunch with a couple of the mentors sitting at our table which gave us a chance to really get to know them more on a one-on-one level! That was followed by a time of them each sharing a little bit about themselves to the whole group. Their stories were funny, sad, and interesting all at the same time. Hearing from them helped me to realize that some of these very Godly women had gone through the same struggles that I was in the middle of. I was able to see what seeking God through those times could bring into my life. After we heard from each of them they formed a panel where we were able to ask questions to them on the spot. The mentors took turns answering the questions through the next couple of hours which gave us many perspectives on topics that were coming up in our day to day lives. This day was so amazing to me that I could not wait for the next one!

All that said, Breakaway gave me a chance to meet and spend time with many single girls my age. It allowed me to be open and have a chance to spend time with women of the church with many experiences the same as mine, and to learn from them. This one day last year helped me begin to grow and was the beginning point of my entry into the singles department where I have now been growing fully in God’s word! My hope as I begin the journey into this year’s Breakaway is to get to know these women on an even deeper level as well as to meet some new women of my church that I can learn from. This April 25th is going to be another amazing God filled day with my friends, both young and wise. I hope to see you there!