Tea and Testimony

Does your MOPS group have a tea and testimony. These are great MOPS events to really give your moms an opportunity to know Christ. . . which is why we do MOPS. If you've never done one or are looking for some Fresh ideas read on. This article was on the MOPS forums and written by a Council Coordinator.

Tea & Testimony
Compiled by
Ann Goade, North Texas CC

Why should we do this?

† MOPS International suggests sharing the gospel twice a year, usually around Christmas and Easter (MOPS Handbook, page 69).
† In today’s society, stories are an effective way to share a personal message. Testimony is a person’s story with the added elements of how they accepted Jesus and informs the listener of how they can do the same (MOPS Handbook, pages 66-68).
† One of the goals of a local MOPS group is to bring each mom one step closer to Jesus. For some moms, that one step may be making the decision to ask Jesus into her life. If she isn’t given the opportunity or shown how this can be done, she may not move a step closer.
† As MOPS leaders, it’s always nice to be reminded that what we do and the sacrifices we make really do make a difference in the lives of moms. Sharing stories of how lives have been changed through Jesus and seeing moms come to Jesus because of those stories is a reminder of the importance of our work.

Do we have to serve tea?

† The reference to “Tea and Testimony” simply means a time to share personal stories of individuals’ relationships with Jesus and presenting the way a mom can have that same relationship. Although many groups do serve tea, it can take on many alternative themes. In fact, using the word “testimony” is discouraged, as it is one of those “Christianese” words that may not be understood by a non-believer.
† Below are several ways to incorporate the sharing of stories in meetings.

Tea & Treasures

Make the moms feel special and have them hear how Jesus values each of them. Two moms share from their lives.

Traditional tea party décor (i.e. china, teapot, fancy dress, etc.).

Treasures of the Heart

Focus on the relationship we treasure most, Jesus. Two moms share how they came into a relationship with Jesus and what that relationship has meant to them in their life.

Normal meeting décor. Treasure candies for favors with Matthew 6:21 attached.

The Amazing Race

Testimony based on “Who’s Your Partner?” and “What’s in Your Backpack?”

Travel décor including maps, backpacks, globes, Amazing Race signs (i.e. Fast Forward, Detour, Roadblock). Around the World Buffet for food.


Bloom Where You’re Planted

Focus on the growing relationship with Jesus

Mary Engelbreit décor.

Coffee Talk

Share testimony.

Less formal than traditional tea. Several flavors of coffee offered.


Sisters & Smoothies

Focus on friendship.
Fruit Smoothies
You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Testimony of two members who spoke of the unlikely friendship they developed through MOPS. They talked about how the friendship helped them through crisis and led them to a better friendship with Jesus.

Toy Story décor

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Focus on ways to share Jesus with your children and how to know when they are ready to make a commitment. Ended with that last way to share Jesus being by example and plan of salvation is presented.

We used normal meeting décor, but added lots of candlelight.

Extreme Makeover:MOPS Edition

To proclaim the life-changing power of Jesus through stories told by peers in an effort to help moms see their need for Jesus’ forgiveness, restoration, hope, & peace. God is the ultimate designer of Extreme Makeovers. Three testimonies expressing the need for a strong foundation, building up during stormy times, & the continual need to repair & renovate.

Favors were tape measures with a sticker attached reading, “Your worth is beyond measure.” Table decorations of toy dump trucks filled with candy. Centerpieces were metal paint cans with an arrangement of flowers & tools in them. Caution tape tied in bow around the chairs. Plastic spackle tools were serving utensils. Sawhorses, pink hard hats, orange cones, etc.


Breathe Deeply: Live Fully

Focus on “Live, Laugh, Love.”
Red Hat Society décor.

This sounds great, but where do I begin?

† Pray. Pray. Pray. Enlist others to begin praying about this day and during the event.

† Establish when the special event will take place. While the meeting can be anytime, an optimal time is usually in April. Easter offers a great opportunity to easily transition into spiritual matters. It is also far enough into the year for moms to have built relationships and trust with the Steering Team and Discussion Group Leaders. April meetings allow time for follow-up with the moms before the MOPS year is over.

† Choose a theme and focus for your day. Make decisions regarding food, decorations, etc.

† Create special invitations to send to each mom and have them RSVP to their Discussion Group Leader. This extra touch helps them know what a special day this will be.

† Choose two MOPS moms to share their testimony. It’s good to have two diverse stories to show how God wants a relationship with everyone, no matter where they are in life. Having more than two may take up more time than you have for a meeting. Give the moms information about “Preparing Their Testimony” (see attachment) and have them write it out. Plan a meeting for the moms to practice in front of the Steering Team.

† You may also want to have Discussion Group Leaders (DGLS) share their mini-testimony (5 minutes or so) to their group once the two main speakers are done. If so, have the DGLs attend the meeting mentioned above to practice their testimony as well.

† If you have regular meeting items to do such as icebreakers, doorprizes, creative activities, & announcements, do those at the beginning of the meeting so the reverent atmosphere will not be disturbed later.

† When introducing the topic, mention how MOPS focuses on all relationships. We seek to help moms improve relationships with their spouse, children, friends, and family. Today we would like to focus on a relationship that is important to many of us. We have two moms who will be sharing about their relationship with Jesus.

† After the testimonies are given, have the DGLs give their mini-testimonies to their group.
† Once the DGLs are finished, have someone share the plan of salvation. Those who may be a good choice for this might be a mentor mom, a steering team member, or the church pastor.

† Have everyone complete a response card and then seal it in an envelope. This way, everyone is writing something and a person making a decision wouldn’t be singled out or made to feel uncomfortable. While everyone is completing their card a nice touch is to have someone sing a song or play an instrument. One group had someone sing, “I Can Only Imagine” while a dance trio performed ballet. Have the DGLs collect all the cards and turn them in to the Coordinator, Discussion Group Team Leader, or Prayer & Care Leader.

† If you choose to have discussion time, the following questions may be helpful: 1) With which speaker did you most identify? Why? 2) What does the phrase, “a relationship with Jesus” suggest to you? 3) Compare your life to driving a car. As you drive down the road of life, where is Jesus?

What do we do after the meeting?

† The person who collected all the cards after the meeting should go through them as soon as possible. She should contact all those indicating they made a decision to ask Jesus into their life that day as well as those who indicated they still have questions or reservations. Offer encouragement. If your church or MOPS group has new believer resources available, put together a packet and deliver it to them. Go over all the things you included in the packet. Ask permission to pass this information to their DGL and mentor mom, so they can also follow-up and encourage them in the coming weeks.

† Disseminate all prayer requests to the Steering Team and Prayer Team.

† DGLs should follow-up with every mom no matter her response on the card. A personal call by the DGL gives each mom a chance to express her thoughts. Use open-ended questions, but do not pressure. Suggested questions include: 1) What did you think about what Jane shared yesterday? Do you have any questions about what you heard?

† Continue to pray for the moms. Just because a mom has not responded visibly or verbally, doesn’t mean God isn’t working in her heart.

† Let the Steering Team and church leaders no of the outcome of that meeting. For a steering team to know a mom came to know Jesus for the first time because of their efforts is encouraging. Sharing the information with church leaders helps establish MOPS as a worthwhile ministry of the church.


So what are you waiting for? Getting busy planning the next special day in your MOPS group!

What Every Mom Needs...HELP!

What every mom needs.... HELP!
I turned the radio on while I was cleaning up this morning and the Beatles song Help was on. It made me think about how much I need help being a wife and mom. In my mind I rewrote the words to apply to me....


When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now that I’m a mom, I'm not so self assured,
The dinner’s burning, the baby’s crying, will someone answer the door.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate having some chocolate around.
Help me, get those lost socks found,
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My waist line seemed to vanish in the haze.
And every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I need some quiet time like I never have before.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And due to exhaustion my mind is not sound.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.

Let’s face it to be a good wife and mom I need help. The laundry’s piling up, the dishes have been in the sink far too long, there are meetings, beds to be changed, lesson plans to write up, groceries to shop for, children needing me to explain that math lesson one more time and I won’t even get into meeting our husband’s needs. HELP! The good news is that God knows I need help but He did not make me helpless. He has provided all the help I need to get the job. I just need to ask Him to order my day and give me the help I need.

Why do I get in this state?

- Over-committed - As a "stay at home mom" I feel like I should be helping out everywhere. Obvious so do a lot of other people or they wouldn't keep asking me to volunteer. The reality is I can’t so I have to learn to say no. Maybe I need to have practice sessions where I sit in front of the mirror say no, NO, nope, nay.

Overwhelmed – This goes hand in hand with my being overcommitted. I need to look at pieces of a job rather than the whole all the time. If you get the laundry washed and dried one day and put away the next, that’s an accomplishment. Planning ahead will help this as well. When I plan my menu ahead of time I don't get so overwhelmed with meals. Memo to self - start visiting flylady.com again.

Pride - This was a huge one for me. I want to be the best and do it all. I know everyone is watching this great experiment called homeschooling and I've got prove how great a mom I am and just how brilliant my dear children are…time to lay down making myself look good and get real. I also need to stop looking at every other mom and every other family to see how I measure up. Comparisons just don’t help. I need to be who I am in this season of mothering.

Unrealistic Expectations -- What does a clean house mean to me anyway? How about to my husband and family? note to self - Find out what matters most and do that first. The rest will wait. A wise friend once told me to have people over often...stay at home moms need fellowship. I told her I couldn't do that I can never get the house ready. Her secret, only clean the rooms the company will see. She also told me to simplify by inviting people over for dessert instead of dinner.

A smart woman asks for help and I am a smart women.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

Here I am Lord looking for the help you provide. Help me to be a smart woman who can enjoy the life and family you've blessed her with.


In Ministry to Mothers with You,
Barb Vogelgesang
Area Coordinator