teen mops

July 31, 2023 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Gaining Wisdom by Working with Teen Moms

Gaining Wisdom By Working with Teen Moms

Every Thursday night our family would load up in the car and head to inner-city Little Rock. This included me, my husband, our homeschooled 17-year-old son, our toddler, and sometimes, my college-age daughter. We set out on a special mission, to serve teen moms in the area through a program called Teen MOPS. We have continued this mission for many years now.

Teen MOPS is part of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International. I first heard about Teen MOPS when I was part of a regular MOPS group at our church. As a former teen mom, I loved the idea of helping those who are where I used to be. I know how hard it is to find advice on everything from dealing with a boyfriend to finishing school, to parenting while also living with parents.

When I first started mentoring teen moms many, many years go I was worried that I wouldn’t have all the answers. Now I know I never will, but the contribution I make is pointing them in the right direction. I am gaining wisdom by working with teen moms. And I can help them learn how to make wise choices…which helps all areas of their lives!

According to dictionary.com, wisdom is: “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.”

Mentors in our program remind young moms that they don’t have to stay where they are. They teach young women that they don’t have to live on the edge, balancing between right and wrong. Instead, they can move into a spacious place in a solid relationship with Jesus.

Not only are we helping the teens, but there is much we can learn. We can be gaining wisdom by working with teen moms.

Do not think you have to have all the answers or know every little detail before you begin reaching out and helping. You too can be gaining wisdom by helping a teen mom!

Do you know a teen mom? Download and send this postcard to her!

You may also like Teen Mom, You are Not Alone. There is hope, there is help, there is joy. I am here for you.

About Teen Mom

Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think

Everything changes the day you discover you’re going to be a mom. It’s not just yourself that you think about—you have a child to care for, too. While you wouldn’t trade your child for the world, some days are just hard. Baby-daddy drama, dealing with your parents, and worries about school, work, and your future slam you. Your friends can’t relate to your little family, and you wonder if God has turned His back on you, too.

Tricia Goyer understands. A mom at age 17, Tricia remembers what it felt like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. She’s also been the coordinator of a teen mom support group for over twelve years, and she’s cheered on many young moms—from all walks of life—through their journey.

In Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think, Tricia pours out her heart and shares advice for the hard things you face. She also longs to provide encouragement, reminding you that you can be the mom your child deserves—not in your own strength, but in the strength God provides.

You Are Not Alone | An Interview about ‘Teen Mom’

Teen Moms, I want you to know you are not alone! Read my interview with Christian Book Previews about Teen Mom: You’re Strong Than You Think to learn more.

CBP: Teen Mom is a book for teen moms, written by a former teen mom. You also interviewed young moms all over the country. Why was capturing the heart of young mothers important for you? Why did you want to write a book just for them?

As a former teen mom, I remember what it was like not to “fit in.” At seventeen I still felt like a kid, but I had a child to raise. It seems that no matter where I went, I always felt like the odd man out. At Lamaze class, everyone was with a spouse, and I was with my mom. Parenting books had ideas like, “Have your husband watch the baby while you take a long bath.”

That wasn’t an option for me, and it’s also not for the young moms I work with now. I wanted to write a book just for them — to give them a voice concerning their unique struggles, such as dealing with creepy boyfriends and juggling work and school. I also wanted to show them that they’re important and they matter—even if they don’t fit the mold of what society expects a “new mom” to be.

CBP: In this book, you share your experience as a teen mother, what were some of the hardest things you faced as a young mother?

I’d say the hardest thing to deal with were my feelings of shame. There are many sins out there, but pregnancy out of wedlock is one that sticks out in front of you, literally. You can’t hide it. I remember the looks of other students in school. The looks of people in the grocery store. It made me want to escape into my bedroom and remain there for nine months!

Another difficult thing was the lack of confidence in society. I’d get rude comments from old ladies in the grocery store saying that I wasn’t doing something right. One lady made a rude comment about my son having a pacifier! Also, I felt I wasn’t “heard” by professionals such as my son’s doctor. I took Cory in because he wasn’t feeling well, and the doctor dismissed it as colic. They didn’t trust my word that something wasn’t right. It turned out that my son had spinal meningitis, and it was only because of my insistence for them to take a closer look that he didn’t die.

It’s hard enough being a good mom, but I always felt on display—like I had to prove myself.

CBP: When did you get involved in working with young moms in your community?

In 1999, I helped launch a Crisis Pregnancy Center in my hometown of Kalispell, Montana. Right away we realized that we needed to do more than just provide free pregnancy tests and counseling—choosing to carry one’s child is just the beginning. I wanted to help moms be the best they could be. So I helped launch a Teen MOPS program. Teen MOPS is part of the bigger organization MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International. In our first meeting, we started with two pregnant moms. The next week we had four.

After that, there were eight. Then the program really exploded. It was great because most of those from the first meetings were still attending . . . and by then they had toddlers. It was great to see the growing and learning taking place, not only with the kids but also with the moms.

CBP: What changes have you seen in the young moms you work with?

The first thing we often see is a softening of their attitudes. Some girls are scared when they first come in. They’ve been hurt and have a wall around their heart a mile high. They hardly talk and don’t want to participate . . . yet they come, and this tells me that we have something they’re looking for.

Once the attitudes change, it seems the heart isn’t far behind. Each meeting one of the leaders shares part of her personal testimony, but the main “evangelism” we do is just loving them as Jesus would, and showing how our lifestyle is different because of Him. We’ve seen girls start attending church and Bible Studies with the leaders. Some have given their hearts to Christ. It’s amazing what short personal stories and a little love can do.

Of course, there is also the personal growth of the moms. We’ve seen them finish high school, get jobs, find their own apartments, and interact with their kids on a better level. It’s like being an eyewitness to the world opening up before them.

CBP: Your book is endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International. How else are you working with MOPS to reach young mothers?

In addition to coordinating a Teen MOPS group in our town, I also help encourage the growth of other groups in my area and around the nation. I’m always available to talk to those who are interested in starting a new group. Also, I often speak at MOPS’ International Convention. Then there is Teen Mom, of course. I want to do everything I can to get this book into the hands of girls who need it—whether they’re part of a support group or not. It’s not that it’s “my book.” What I really want is for young moms to find hope for their future.

CBP: Teen Mom is all about the unique needs of a young mother, can you share some of their greatest needs?

Some of these needs include importance, growth, perspective, intimacy, and hope. Importance to know that no matter what society says, they can be great moms and a wonderful influence on their children.

Growth is needed so that a mom doesn’t feel like she’s “stuck” because of this child. She needs to know that she can grow into the woman she’s always longed to be.

Also perspective is important because too often a teen mom only sees obstacles ahead. She needs to see that the future can be bright.

True intimacy is a big need because most girls get pregnant because they’re seeking this closeness with another person. They need to know that true intimacy is sharing your heart with another, including friends and family members.

And finally, what young moms need most is hope – hope that is found in Jesus Christ. I could come up with 1,001 ways for these young women to become good moms, but the best thing I can do is point them to faith in Jesus.

CBP: There is a lot of talk about the problem of teenage motherhood in our country; just how many young mothers are there?

According to teenpregnancy.org, there are 800,000 new teen mothers every year. That’s a lot of young women who need to know that they matter and that they can be good moms!

CBP: If you could choose one truth that young moms come away with after reading this book, what would it be?

It would be the truth that Jesus is the answer. He is the Prince Charming they’ve been longing for, and the peace that they’ve been struggling to find. He is the support and the strength for all the days they don’t feel like they can do this “mommy” thing – what they’ve been wanting, what their heart is longing for most. That’s what I want them to know more than anything.

Previously published at CBP.com

Do you know a teen mom? Download and send this postcard to her!

About Teen Mom

In Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think, Tricia pours out her heart and shares advice for the hard things you face. She also longs to provide encouragement, reminding you that you can be the mom your child deserves—not in your own strength, but in the strength God provides.

Additional Resources

Gaining Wisdom by Working with Teen Moms

A Letter to Teen Moms | You Are Important

Broken Things Made Beautiful

Word Identity | Your Words Change Everything!

Share “Teen Mom” with Someone Today!

5 Practical Ways to Run a Teen MOPS Group

Somebody Needs to Hear

17 Ways to Reach out to Single Moms

Why Does Mentoring Matter? A Lesson From Mary

Just Be Available to God

God Is Not Punishing You For Your Past Sins

An Unexpected Life

How to Start a Teen MOPS Group

How to Help Teen Moms

April 27, 2017 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Ask Tricia: Teen MOPS Group

I get asked questions all the time. As a wife of twenty-six years, a mom of ten—seven having been adopted, a homeschooler and a writer of over 60 books people want to know how my life works. Here is one of those questions and my short answer.

I saw you at the homeschool convention in Nashville in March. I have a question. I saw the teen mom support group that you have in AR. This is something that has always been near and dear to my heart aside from the passion to write my own book! I was wondering for any tips you may have about starting one here locally. My first born is from my teen pregnancy, graduated with him in tow! I think you said you graduated like that as well! Any advice would be great!! —Brandi T.

Brandi, so glad you’re feeling called to start a Teen MOPS group. It’s an amazing ministry. I’d love to see a Teen MOPS group in every town!

Here are some ideas of what to do to get started:

*Contact MOPS International for information about a charter.

*Talk to your church or a local crisis pregnancy about starting the group. Pick a meeting space.

*Set a schedule and write out your mission and goals.

*Talk to folks about volunteering. To get the word out I posted announcements in bulletins, talked on local Christian radio, and spoke at local groups. Local MOPS groups also give awesome help and support! I’ve gotten some great volunteers from these groups.

*Get funding. Local churches can help. Small groups or other community groups can help too. (I run our group on less than $100 a month. We get people to donate food, donate childcare, donate doorprizes, etc. I also get folks to buy and donate copies of Life Interrupted to our group.)

*Make a brochure and send it out. I send it to hospitals, doctors, social service agencies, schools, churches, etc.

*Plan the meetings. Teen MOPS groups usually run on a school year schedule from September–May. (You can see a little more below how we run our Teen MOPS group.)

*Advertise. Put up posters. Send press releases about your group to newspapers and community calendars.

*Pray. (Actually pray with each step!)

*Be patient. When Teen MOPS starts it may take a while to grow a group. We often start with two-to-five girls each meeting.

*Love on the girls. You can plan and plan but your love is what will keep them coming back!

Teen MOPS groups are run similarly to MOPS groups. There is food, a game, a short devotion, a speaker or activity, and discussion groups. Groups can meeting weekly or bi-weekly. Our group here in Little Rock runs weekly. We do this because it was hard for young moms to remember which week as “on” and which was “off.” Our meetings start at 6:30 with dinner. The meeting itself starts at 7:00 and ends at 8:30. We have leaders’ meetings every other month—Teen MOPS is run by volunteer leaders. They can be women with young kids or older kids. We’ve had volunteers that don’t have kids yet. Volunteers can be retired women or women in college. We even have high schoolers who help with child care and other needs we have. At our meetings we provide a dinner for our moms. We provide childcare and we have a “baby store.” Young moms earn MOPS dollars for coming, bringing a friend, going to doctor visits, etc. Every meeting they can take home diapers or clothes.

Want more resources? You can check out my book Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think—there is also a leader handbook as well as a free companion workbook and group guide! You can also get more information on the MOPS website.

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

February 21, 2017 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

How to Start a Teen MOPS Group

I get emails all the time from people asking how they can start a Teen MOPS group. Well, here’s some info.

How to start a Teen MOPS group:

If you’ve followed me for any time on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve heard me talk about Teen MOPS. Teen MOPS is a support group for teenage mothers. It’s part of MOPS International.
Basically Teen MOPS is a support group for our youngest moms. I started a Teen MOPS group in Kalispell, Montana, in 2000. After moving to Little Rock last year, I started a group here, too.
If you’d like to find out how to start a Teen MOPS group, go here.
Teen MOPS groups are run similarly to MOPS groups. There is food, a game, a short devotion, a speaker or activity, and discussion groups. Groups can meeting weekly or bi-weekly. Our group here in Little Rock runs weekly. We do this because it was hard for young moms to remember which week as “on” and which was “off.” Our meetings start at 6:30 with dinner. The meeting itself starts at 7:00 and ends at 8:30. (You can get a better idea about our meetings from the free curriculum that is mentioned below.) We have leaders’ meetings every other month.
Teen MOPS is run by volunteer leaders. They can be women with young kids or older kids. We’ve had volunteers that don’t have kids yet. Volunteers can be retired women or women in college. We even have high schoolers who help with child care and other needs we have. I got involved in Teen MOPS because I was a teen mom . . . but you don’t have to be a former teen mom to volunteer. Women who volunteer do so for various reasons. You just need to come to the meetings with an open heart and outstretched arms.
At our meetings we provide a dinner for our moms. We provide childcare and we have a “baby store.” Young moms earn MOPS dollars for coming, bringing a friend, going to doctor visits, etc. Every meeting they can take home diapers or clothes.
After I started a Teen MOPS group I realized there was a need for a book just for them. That’s why I wrote Teen Mom:You’re Stronger Than You Think.
I also wrote a leader handbook as well as a free companion workbook and group guide!
Contact MOPS International for information about a charter.
Talk to your church or a local crisis pregnancy about starting the group. Pick a meeting space.
Set a schedule and write out your mission and goals.
Talk to folks about volunteering. To get the word out I posted announcements in bulletins, talked on local Christian radio, and spoke at local groups. Local MOPS groups also give awesome help and support! I’ve gotten some great volunteers from these groups.
Get funding. Local churches can help. Small groups or other community groups can help too. (I run our group on less than $100 a month. We get people to donate food, donate childcare, donate doorprizes, etc. I also get folks to buy and donate copies of Life Interrupted to our group.)
Make a brochure and send it out. I send it to hospitals, doctors, social service agencies, schools, churches, etc.
Plan the meetings. Teen MOPS groups usually run on a school year schedule from September–May.
Advertise. Put up posters. Send press releases about your group to newspapers and community calendars.
Pray. (Actually pray with each step!)
Be patient. When Teen MOPS starts it may take a while to grow a group. We often start with two-to-five girls each meeting.
Love on the girls. You can plan and plan but your love is what will keep them coming back!

Interested in starting your own #TeenMOPS group? #teenpregnancy Get tips from @TriciaGoyer:

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Well, that’s a quick overview. Feel free to write me if you have other questions! It’s an amazing ministry. I’d love to see a Teen MOPS group in every town!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

July 9, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 6 Comments

Guided Prayer Cards for MOPS Leaders

Are you part of a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group this year? Here are some guided prayer cards for your group to use!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s hard to pray. It’s even harder when I’m asked to pray out loud with others. Sometimes I don’t know what to say. Or sometimes someone else says what I was going to.

Much of the time when it comes to praying out loud I’m so concerned about my words, that I forget to pray in agreement with others. Have you ever felt that way?

I’ve very excited because today I’m heading out to a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) planning retreat for our Teen MOPS group. This is our 6th year of having a Teen MOPS group in Little Rock. I’ve loved getting to know the young moms, and I’ve loved working with some amazing co-leaders.

I created these Guided Prayer Cards for our MOPS leadership team to use. Here are ways you can use them:

Use the Guided Prayer Cards during prayer time at your steering meetings. Pass them out and ask each person to pray over their request. Mix them up and use them again at the next meeting.
Use the Guided Prayer Cards as prompts, posting them around your house.
Give these prayer cards to friends or church members, asking them to pray for your group.

Download your Guided Prayer Cards and use them with your leadership team! (I’m going to laminate mine so we can use them over and over again.)

The very best thing we can do for our MOPS groups is to take them to God in prayer!

Download FREE MOPS prayer cards from @TriciaGoyer here:

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Now how about you? What do you pray for your MOPS group?

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March 30, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 5 Comments

Help a Teen Mom- 5 Ways to Come Alongside Them

Do you know a teen mom? What would happen if instead of shaming them we actually came alongside and supported them? Tricia Goyer shares 5 Ways to Help a Teen Mom.

I had my first baby when I was seventeen. It was hard, but I can’t imagine how a young mom who’s living in New York City feels these days. Have you seen the posters plastered all over the subways in the media? One shows a crying baby and reads, “I’m twice as likely not to graduate from high school because you had me as a teen.”

While it’s true that having a baby as a teen is hard, choosing to have the baby IS a good decision. It’s a selfless, caring decision that will give the child a future, planned or not.

Instead of trying to shame a teen mom, what if we supported her? #teenmom @TriciaGoyer

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Instead of trying to shame a teen mom, what if you, me, we . . . supported her? Would her child still be a sad statistic if there was a group of men and women who educated her, inspired her, and offered her hope?

That’s what happened to me. A group of older women came alongside me. They taught me about being a mom. They made me feel as if I had value. They saw my child as a gift. They painted a bright future. Because of them, my confidence as a mom grew. My confidence as a woman grew. I married, and I birthed two more children. Where are those kids now? My oldest son is a college graduate with a great job, a wife, and a child. My daughter spent time in Europe teaching English and is getting married this year! My younger son is in college and getting straight A’s. Not only that, but my husband and I have also adopted three little ones and are in the process of adopting four sisters! I also mentor teen mothers, just as those women mentored me.

I could have been a statistic if someone hadn’t had the heart to help a teen mom. But instead, a group of women offered to impart hope into my heart. Now I impart hope into others, not only through mentoring but through books. I’m forty-nine, and I have 80+ published books from publishers such as Harper Collins and Random House. I impart hope through parenting books and even through my novels. Teen Mom: You’re Strong Than You Think, challenges young moms to discover herself, the reason for her life, and be more than just a statistic.

Maybe today . . . or tomorrow . . . you might have a young woman come to you for advice after she discovers she’s pregnant. Don’t point her to a NYC subway sign. Instead, here’s a few ways you can help:

5 Ways to Help a Teen Mom

Remain calm and loving. Your young friend most likely feels alone, frightened, and extremely sensitive about her pregnancy. The most important thing you can offer is your continued friendship.

Show God’s love and forgiveness. Your young friend was looking for love by giving herself intimately to a guy. Now she might feel ashamed and unworthy of love at all. Point her to God, who loves her unconditionally.

Celebrate life. She may consider this baby a “mistake”—a barrier between her and “normal” life. Lovingly remind her that no matter how the baby was conceived, he or she is a gift from God.

Be available to share . . . and to listen. Your young friend has many big decisions to make, and although you can’t make those decisions for her, you can be available to help her consider her options. Share the information you’ve discovered on fetal development and on the physical and emotional trauma of abortion. Most of all, be willing to listen to her deepest concerns.

Find help. Your young friend is most likely in need of more answers than you can give. Visit a local crisis pregnancy center with your friend, or call CareNet for help at 1-800-395-HELP. Encourage her to tell her parents and to seek the counsel of a pastor or youth pastor.

Yes, the young woman and her baby in your life will face a hard road ahead. But with your help, encouragement, and gift of hope, you can help her to also blow the teen pregnancy statistics out of the water.

Download this free resource as a reminder of how you can make a difference to a teen mom!

I hope this encourages you to help a teen mom in your city, church, or family. They need us!

Warmly, Tricia

5 practical steps to Running a Teen MOPS Group

I’ve been running a Teen MOPS group for 18 years, and even though the teen moms now have smartphones, they take selfies, and they connect with each other (and us leaders) on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat nothing much has changed about our group format for the last decade. Why? From the beginning, I tried to figure out what the basic needs of the teen mom were, and how we could meet them. And it’s worked! We’ve had successful groups and we’ve seen teen moms grow and change through the years.

Here are 5 practical steps to running a Teen MOPS group.

1. Feed Them & Give Them a Break

The first practical step to leading a Teen MOPS group is to meet each young mom’s basic needs. It’s really hard to sit through a meeting when your stomach is growling. It’s also really hard to sit through a meeting if you’re trying to care for your baby at the same time.

We provide a meal for our moms on most nights. We have groups or individuals sign up to bring meals, and about half of our meals are provided for us by people other than our leaders. Pizza and snacks work for the other nights!

We also provide free childcare for our moms. We know young moms are often tired and need a break, knowing that loving volunteers are caring for their children allows them to relax and enjoy the meeting.

In addition, we have a baby store filled with donated items and we provide diapers every week. Basically, we want to help them provide for their baby’s needs and give these moms a little peace less to worry about in the process.

2. Wear a Smile & Make it Fun

A Teen MOPS group is made up of … teenagers. When they arrive, welcome them with a smile and make the atmosphere lighthearted. Have a schedule, but don’t watch the clock or get stressed about “everything getting done.” (Remember the people are more important than the activities.) Offer door prizes and do crafts once every few months. The more relaxed you are, the more welcomed the young moms will feel.

The people are more important than the activities! #teenMOPS @TriciaGoyer

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3. Making it An Atmosphere of Learning & Growing

A Teen MOPS group is a safe place for teen moms to learn and grow. It’s wonderful to bring in people to share inspiring stories or useful information, but let the speaker know ahead of time that it’s not an “us vs. them” meeting. Instead, open up communication between the speaker and the moms early on. Before you turn the meeting over to the speaker, ask questions about his or her family. Help the teen moms see that this person is just like them. During question and answer time, encourage the leaders to jump in with questions of their own. Let the teen moms know that we all have areas where we can grow and learn together!

4. Work through a Book Like Teen Mom: Your Stronger Than You Think Together

Sometimes it’s hard to broach certain topics with young moms such as: recommitting to purity, forgiving after being sexually abused, or bad boyfriends, but Teen Mom covers these topics. Reading the chapters and answering questions together helps you to broach subjects that might be too difficult to bring up. It also gives the teen moms a chance to open up and share their experiences and they talk through the answers to the questions.

5. Give Then Hope By Sharing Jesus

When I first started leading a Teen MOPS group, I was so nervous about saying the “J-word”: Jesus. I didn’t want to scare them away. I didn’t want them to think I was some crazy Bible lady. But I’ve found that they want to hear about God, prayer, and having Someone to hope in.

We start our meetings with a short devotional talk by one of our leaders. We have free Bibles and Christian books available. At the end of the meeting, we gather in one big circle, hold hands, and then one of the leaders prays. Years from now a teen mom might not remember all the details about carseat safety or how to create a perfect job resume, but I want her to never forget that Jesus loves them and has good plans for her life. I want her to know that God’s Word applies to our everyday circumstances, and Jesus will always be there when we cry out to Him.

And I guarantee if you cover 1-4, they’ll believe #5 … because they have seen God’s love lived out before them.

@TriciaGoyer shares 5 practical steps to run a #teenMOPS group here:

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About Teen Mom

In Teen Mom, Tricia pours out her heart and shares advice for the hard things you face. She also longs to provide encouragement, reminding you that you can be the mom your child deserves—not in your own strength, but in the strength God provides.

September 16, 2013 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Finding Friendship at Teen MOPS (Plus a Giveaway!)

I attended my first MOPS group at my home church in Kalispell, Montana, in 1998. I was a mom of three young kids, and I loved hanging out with other women, getting to know them, and hearing wonderful speakers. OK, the crafts were good too.

My second year of MOPS I was asked to speak. I remember one meeting when I shared about Once a Month Cooking. Yet as I shared about how my friend and I spent one day cooking 144 meals together, I noticed a young woman in the back of the room. She was a teen mom, and from they way she fidgeted I could tell that she felt completely out of place. My topic was irrelevant, and my heart ached. You see, I was a teen mom, and I remembered the feeling of not fitting in. I had a plan to make a beeline to the young mom as soon as the group was done, but she slipped out early and I never had the chance. I mentioned it to our coordinator, and that’s when she told me about Teen MOPS. A support group for teen moms? I knew it was something I wanted to do.

From teen mom to teen MOPS mentor, @TriciaGoyer shares her Teen MOPS experience:

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Our first MOPS meeting started in 2001. There were thirteen leaders and two moms that first meeting. They next week we had four. The week after that eight young women. The group grew, and I saw God doing amazing things. Many young women grew close to God. They learned how to be better mothers, and friendships were made—friendships between the young moms, friendships between the leaders, and friendships mixed within both.

I have to admit things weren’t easy. The young moms had issues. There was conflict between them. We never seemed to have enough childcare workers, and there were times it seemed that the young women weren’t paying attention to a thing we told them. They made one bad decision after another.

Yet as I poured out, God filled me up. I knew what I was doing was a way to glorify Him. Even if the young women didn’t always respond like I’d hoped, I was loving those who so many others turned their backs on.

The years passed, friendships grew, and in 2010 my family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. I lived in a new place, but my heart was still drawn to the young mom. In fact—I discovered—Arkansas has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation.

To be joined in a friendship is to have harmony, accord, understanding and rapport. @TriciaGoyer

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Our inner city Teen MOPS group is starting its fourth year. We are serving young women who don’t have dads in the picture, often don’t have the help of their baby daddies, and who live in poor areas that are high in crime. They are as different from me as can be, but they are my friends, too. We chat, we text, and I’m thankful to be a part of their lives.

Years ago I wanted to reach out to one young women, and now every week I meet young moms who aren’t sure that they fit in.

To be joined in a friendship is to have harmony, accord, understanding and rapport. It’s knowing something, and enjoying their presence despite the differences. Or maybe it’s not only putting up with the differences, but appreciating them.

This photo is of most of our Teen MOPS leadership. I consider them friends.

Giveaway

Teen MOPS is giving away an annual membership to one of my blog readers! You have one week to enter using the widget below, and next Monday the winner will be announced here on the widget. My assistant will be in touch with the winner. *Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.

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January 27, 2010 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

Lord, what do you want me to write?

When I was in the process of becoming a published author, I asked this question: Lord, what do you want me to write? I was twenty-eight years old and had already published over one hundred articles for national publications. I’d also been contracted to work on two book projects for well-known publishers. Still, I felt far from successful. Let me share how He answered my question and the desires of my heart.

Lord, what do you want me to write?

For five years I’d labored full-time on my own book projects with no luck. I was flourishing as a writer, publishing articles constantly. But the offers to publish a book just weren’t coming. My agent didn’t understand, “These are excellent proposals,” she said. “I don’t understand why they’re not being snatched up.”

Maybe I just have to try harder, write more, I thought. But it didn’t help.

Around that time, I started going through the workbook “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. I learned one phrase that kept going over in my mind. “Look to see what God is doing and join him.” The premise is this: if you’re doing something that doesn’t work, put what you’re doing aside and see what God is doing. So, I did that. And . . . I discovered God had different plans!

First, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. I invited him into our home. Between doctor’s appointments, hospice visits, taking care of my husband and three children, there was little time to pen prose. My grandfather passed away after only four months, but inside I was changed. It was as if my heart had been rubbed raw with sandpaper. My eyes were opened to pain, and I had a new appreciation for helping those in need.

Lord, what do you want me to write? I prayed.

Lord, what do you want me to write?

A few months after my grandfather’s death, my pastor and two women in the church approached me about starting a Crisis Pregnancy Center. (There wasn’t one for hundreds of miles.) I didn’t want to do it, but I told my pastor I’d pray about it.

The next morning, I did. I told God. “Lord, I can’t help with this center,” I pleaded. “I’m a writer and my articles are helping people around the country.”

His voice was clear, “What about the people in your own community? What are you going to do to help them?”

Ouch.

God showed me this was something He was doing, so I joined Him.

Soon, I was using my writing and organizational skills to create community newsletters and to write radio commercials and grants. In one year, we had a huge center (given to us for free rent), forty volunteers, and we were reaching hundreds of women. We even received a $13,000 grant to teach abstinence education in the schools! At night I often felt drained by the number of young women who needed assistance—who needed hope—yet, I also felt a renewed sense of satisfaction. God was at work and I so was glad I’d joined Him.

After that, I started getting new writing assignments. I started writing about pregnancy centers, forgiveness after abortion, and other related issues.

When our center was two years old, we hired a director who oversaw everything. I focused my time on working with the young moms. We had helped these young moms make a decision for life, now we needed to help them with their parenting. I started a support group for young moms called Teen MOPS. It’s part of the bigger MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) organization. While working with these young moms, I tried to find Christian resources just for them and couldn’t find any. So I worked on a proposal, registered for the MOPS convention, and my agent set it up for me to meet with a few MOPS editors while I was there.

Lord, what do you want me to write?

That first convention in 2002, I attended alone. I remember sitting among 3,500 women and saying, “One of these days I want to be on that stage talking about Teen MOPS.” In 2003, I had a contract for Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Teen Mom. I’d also brought six other women, three mentors, and three teen moms with me. On top of that, I was invited to speak in front of those 3,500, telling them about support for teen moms!

Obviously, God was at work. I’m just so glad I joined Him!

Write That Book

Making your writing dreams become a reality is tough. You have ideas but you wonder if any of them are good. You have no idea how to connect with agents and editors, and what in the world is book proposal anyway?

I’m here to help. And I’ve invited some of my friends to help you too. They are professional agents, editors, authors, and marketing and publicity team members. They’re the best of the best in the Christian publishing industry. Together we want to help you reach your dreams.

To help you do this, I’ve created Write That Book. This premier group provides education, inspiration, and connection with other writers and experts. It’s a place to learn all the tricks of the trade while getting your personal questions answered.

Over thirty experts will be available throughout the month to answer your questions. Their decades of experience will be at your fingertips. They not only want to help you, but they also want to get to know you better. After all, your words might just be the ones they’re looking for!

Gaining Wisdom by Working with Teen Moms

Gaining Wisdom By Working with Teen Moms

About Teen Mom

Other Blog Posts I’ve Written About Teen Moms

You Are Not Alone | An Interview about ‘Teen Mom’

Teen Moms, I want you to know you are not alone! Read my interview with Christian Book Previews about Teen Mom: You’re Strong Than You Think to learn more.

CBP: Teen Mom is a book for teen moms, written by a former teen mom. You also interviewed young moms all over the country. Why was capturing the heart of young mothers important for you? Why did you want to write a book just for them?

About Teen Mom

Additional Resources

Ask Tricia: Teen MOPS Group

How to Start a Teen MOPS Group

How to start a Teen MOPS group:

Guided Prayer Cards for MOPS Leaders

Help a Teen Mom- 5 Ways to Come Alongside Them

5 Ways to Help a Teen Mom

Download this free resource as a reminder of how you can make a difference to a teen mom!

Other Blog Posts I’ve Written About Teen Moms

5 practical steps to Running a Teen MOPS Group

Here are 5 practical steps to running a Teen MOPS group.

1. Feed Them & Give Them a Break

2. Wear a Smile & Make it Fun

3. Making it An Atmosphere of Learning & Growing

4. Work through a Book Like Teen Mom: Your Stronger Than You Think Together

5. Give Then Hope By Sharing Jesus

About Teen Mom

Finding Friendship at Teen MOPS (Plus a Giveaway!)

Giveaway

Lord, what do you want me to write?

Lord, what do you want me to write?

Maybe I just have to try harder, write more, I thought. But it didn’t help.

Lord, what do you want me to write?

Ouch.

Lord, what do you want me to write?

Obviously, God was at work. I’m just so glad I joined Him!

Write That Book

Are you ready to take your writing to the next level? Join Write That book here: Write That Book