Widow Strong Magazine: September 2022 issue

Mishael Porembski, Founder/Editor, Widow Strong

Stronger Together: Editor’s Note

As an avid gardener, the Lord often teaches me life lessons while I’m tending my plants.

On our last day moving out from our first Widows’ Center location, we saved the irises from my original garden that was created with my late-husband, Jason, over 23 years ago. (We did leave a few behind as a gift).

“ …and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

John 15:2

As we dug up these special flowers (which are represented on our 180 Your Life grief empowerment books), God reminded me that all gardeners prune, propagate, and plant so that their gardens remain healthy and prepared for the growing season.

What if growth in our lives initially looks like upheaval?

What if God is gardening in your life right now, in the messy parts, preparing you for a blooming season so beautiful that you cannot imagine it?

We hope you enjoy our first online Widow Strong magazine issue, a new planting for our community that I hope will help us grow #StrongerTogether!

Her Strong Story: Meet Karen Miley

Please click on the image above to watch this twominute video testimonial with Karen Miley, member of Widow Strong at The Well in Cumming, GA.

3 Strong Steps to Help Widows Thrive in Tough Times

Pace

As much as you are able, honor a healthy pace for yourself, even when life gets crazy. With daily tasks, the finish line is always moving. There’s always more to get done, right? Take the time you need to establish healthy rhythms for you and your family. YOU set the pace!

Practice

Practicing peace is an act of faith and our daily choice. No matter how crazy your day seems to be, take time to get still with the Lord and trust in His plan and protection for you!

“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” Isaiah 30:15

Praise

Did you know that the act of worship can be healthy for our mind/body/and spirit? Singing while listening to music is a positive stimulus for the brain, vibrates our vagus nerve, and helps us focus on a positive mindset! Singing just five praise songs can help boost your mood. Give it a try!

Packing Up, Moving Forward, and Choosing Faith

Over Fear

My daughters and I were blessed to go on our first extended family vacation in six years this July. Less than two weeks before we left, I got the call. The kind church partner in Atlanta that allowed us to use the Widows’ Center, now needed it for a food distribution facility to serve 200 families.

By Mishael Porembski, September 24, 2022

Has that ever happened to you? Life turned upside down?

I knew that when we returned, we would have 35 days to pack up the Widows’ Center, fundraise for the expenses, find a new location, and move out.

We were in Costa Rica, vacationing in a rough-hewn village on the ocean’s shore. I loved getting up early and having a luxurious quiet time of Bible study and prayer. During one of these 5:30 AM mornings, I looked up and there seemed to be a pillar of cloud in the sky. “Huh,” I mused, “I wonder if

when they were wandering in the desert. In response, this thought ran through my head.

“You know, Daughter, when I led the Israelites in the wilderness by day with the pillar of cloud, I didn’t ask them for a committee meeting to discuss where I was leading them next. It was Mine to lead them and theirs to trust, pack up, and follow.”

That revelation was my game-changer.

God is still in control. It is His to lead me, and mine to follow. That’s the ticket to my God adventure

Whether we are navigating the devastating loss of a loved one, or managing moving, job loss, financial difficulties, relational challenges, or health concerns, it can feel like God forgot us. But that’s a lie.

Every day that I purpose to go to God with my pain and fear, He meets me.

Choosing to rest in God’s plan, even when I’m scared or grieving change, allows me to trust the Holy Spirit in fresh ways.

Do the Next, Best Thing.

17 When the cloud moved from its place over the Tent, the Israelites moved, and wherever the cloud stopped, the Israelites camped.

18 So the Israelites moved at the Lord's command, and they camped at his command. Numbers 19:17-23

We packed up the Widows’ Center, put items in storage, and waited. As we prayed through next steps, we allowed God’s presence, peace, and provision to guide us…in His timing.

And He did provide a wonderful solution! Read

this was like the pillar-cloud the Israelite’s saw

The Widow Strong Admin Offices

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Relocated to Thrive Co-working Space

We are thrilled with our new coworking option! Our space is located in the heart to downtown Alpharetta, which offers shopping, restaurants, and community spaces! We are able to keep our overhead low by renting a desk space, which also offers us use of meeting rooms and conference rooms to strategically serve together.

We have the benefit of a large office space with all the amenities, no cost to maintain, and overhead is less than $400 per month!

Due to our growing requests for leadership training, widow events, and widow grief support groups, our focus is to grow strategically and sustainably by expanding our team as we continue serving our widowed community.

It’s Grow Time!

Our mission to serve widows and their children, your partnership, and donor support is very important to us. Our quarterly reports are share with you so that together, we may be good stewards, grow sustainably, and love widows well!

3 Areas of Service:

1. We provide online and in-person workshops and Biblically-based small group grief support studies that are FREE for widows to attend.

2. FREE We offer leadership and mentorship to Widow Strong small group and chapter leaders.

3. We partner with area churches by connecting widows that find us online with local, in-person Widow Strong chapters where available.

July

Widow Walk, Widow Workshop, Widow Strong @The Well 2nd group launch.

Widow Strong 3rd Quarter Report

August

Widow Walk, Widow Workshop. & Shooting Online Small Group Leadership Training for Widows

September

Widow Walk, Yellow Daisy Festival, Moving the Widows’ Center, Expanding Volunteer Admin Team, & More!

Essential Oils with Linda Woodley. Click Here to watch this online workshop and shop.

Healthy Gut, Healthy You with Lisa Adams. Our apologies that this workshop video is unavailable. Click Here to shop.

Creating the online Leadership Training Video series. To be launched by January of 2023!

Widow Strong: Our Move, the Mission, and Join the Movement!

Our Move

We moved to a Thrive Co-working space in Downtown Alpharetta. We are saving on overhead and love this new space!

The Mission

So that we may enhance our widows’ journey, we are implementing digital resources and in-person teams to serve and love widows well!

The Movement

Please JOIN US on Oct 29th for the Miles for Bethany 5K which this year is our ONLY major fundraising event! Click here to register!

Volunteer Admin Team

As we replicate Widow Strong chapters in partnership with churches, we are growing our volunteer administrative team.

Coming Up

Pumpkin patch outing, Friendsgiving, and Merry Widows’ Gift Gathering in partnership with Kate’s Club!

Learn More

Would you like to host a Widow Strong Chapter at your church? Please contact us at hello@widowstrong.com for more information.

Join Us In-Person or Virtually on Oct 29, 2022!

On August 3, 2019 the world lost a beautiful soul. Bethany was a devoted mother & wife, a beloved daughter & sister, a trustworthy friend, a motivating coach, gifted competitor and an inspiring role model.

On October 29, 2022 we'll gather once again (in person and virtually) to celebrate her life, to support the causes she loved (including Widow Strong), to challenge ourselves to be our best and to cheer each other on. PR chasers, first-timers, walkers, strollers, pushers, and paws are all invited to join us!

Register by Clicking Here!

Love Story After Loss

If you’ve visited our online grief support groups, attended a leadership or widowed family retreat, sat in on our Board of Directors meeting, or joined one of our Widow Talk nights, you’ve probably met widowed leader powerhouse, Carrie Stringer Crain. Carrie joined Widow Strong in 2018 as a member.

Her passion to serve, her authenticity, her love for Jesus, and her joy in empowering widows is an inspiration for all of us who know her.

In 2018, Carrie was a twice widowed mom of her four-yearold daughter by the age of 35. By leaning into her grief journey, trusting God, and serving others, Carrie has transformed her life into a living legacy of hope, health, and healing!

Join us in celebrating Carrie’s marriage to John Crain, himself a believing, widowed dad. They wed on Sept 1, 2022 and we pray God’s best blessings for them!