Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Wreath-making event helps women ‘initiate and connect’ with community

  • December 16, 2022
  • California Southern Baptist Convention
  • California, Church Life, Featured, Latest News
Fifty-nine women attend the Dec. 3 event to make wreaths at Valley Lights Church in Santa Clarita, California.
(Photo courtesy of California Southern Baptist Convention)

Wreath-making event helps women ‘initiate and connect’ with community

She had attended Valley Lights Church previously, but a challenging work schedule made it difficult to connect with others in the congregation on a deep level. A women’s holiday wreath event changed that for one occasional church attendee.

The woman said this was one of “the very first events where she felt like she could step out a little bit relationally because the ladies at her table were working on something together,” noted Marie Spezzaferri, ministry assistant for events at the Los Angeles-area church.

“She felt like she could initiate and connect with some ladies in a different way than on a Sunday morning.”

That was one of many successes that ensued when women of the congregation turned their holiday tradition of wreath-making into a community outreach event — with some assistance from an evangelism grant by the California Southern Baptist Convention. Fifty-nine women attended the Dec. 3 event, including 22 who said they didn’t go to church anywhere and two who requested more information on walking with God.

‘Hit a felt need’

“It really wasn’t something big and expensive and flashy,” Spezzaferri said. But it “seemed to hit a felt need for a lot of these women,” with a “focus on the relating” to each other.

Though the church is less than two years old, it’s already establishing a pattern of impactful outreach.

Pastor Bruce Wood moved to Santa Clarita in the summer of 2020 to launch Valley Lights, with preview services that fall. The congregation’s grand opening in January 2021 drew 100 people to a park amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

After experimenting with a series of short-term meeting places, they landed in their current storefront location in January 2022. Worship attendance averages 30–40, with attendees ranging from young families to retirees.

As Christmas approached this year, Valley Lights leaders wondered how they could capitalize on the holiday season to do evangelism without breaking the bank.

Utilizing their grant

The wreath-making event was their answer.

Some Valley Lights women who make wreaths each Christmas decided to “scale up” their efforts as a community outreach, Spezzaferri said. With money from their CSBC grant, they purchased wreath supplies, bought pastries from a local bakery  and rented round tables.

Their event began that morning with eating, followed by a brief devotional and discussion about finding peace. Then they made wreaths, finishing shortly after noon. An olive branch woven into each wreath helped them remember the peace theme.

The results “humbled and encouraged,” Spezzaferri said. Of attendees who filled out response cards, three said they were looking actively for a church. Many left prayer requests. Now Spezzaferri and other women’s ministry leaders are praying for them and following up with those who said they want to learn about a relationship with Jesus.

“Many of them said to let them know about future events,” Spezzaferri said.

One woman impacted by the wreath-making had a deep need for peace. She had attended Valley Lights several times and was wrestling with grief and loss. A church member named Anna shared her testimony of God’s help through grief and loss.

“This woman isn’t yet walking with God,” Spezzaferri said. But “the initiative by our ladies to have those deeper conversations really encouraged me that it wasn’t just about the task and wreath, but about the people God is bringing.”

Other churches considering CSBC grants for their outreaches should apply, she said. CSBC partnership “has always allowed us to do a little more than we could do on our own to extend our reach.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by David Roach and originally published by the California Southern Baptist Convention.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • 5 steps to making a church logo that people will recognize
    5 steps to making a church logo that people will recognize
    September 21, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Lifeway campers give over $580,000 for Southern Baptist missions
    Lifeway campers give over $580,000 for Southern Baptist missions
    September 21, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • BGCT elects next executive director, Julio Guarneri
    BGCT elects next executive director, Julio Guarneri
    September 21, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

5 steps to making a church logo that people will recognize

Creating a church logo is not for the novice. But it’s a necessity because we live in a visual world.

Lifeway campers give over $580,000 for Southern Baptist missions

Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, presented checks totaling $587,484.97 to International Mission Board  president Paul Chitwood and North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell on Monday (Sept. 18).

BGCT elects next executive director, Julio Guarneri

Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, was elected to serve as the next executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas on Tuesday (Sept. 19).

Recap of this week’s SBC Exec Comm meeting

While the anticipated next step regarding who will lead the SBC Executive Committee in the interim period changed mid-way through the trustees’ meeting this week, trustee chair Philip Robertson plans to begin a new search right away.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel