MOPS Convention to Equip, Inspire Over 4,000 Christian Moms

By Eric Young, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 02, 2008

More than 4,000 Christian mothers from around the nation are gathering this week for training, inspiration and networking at an annual event that kicks off Thursday.

For three days, the women will gather at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, for the 17th MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Convention. Attendees hail from one of the over 4,000 local chapters of MOPS across the United States and more than 123 international groups in 32 countries worldwide.

More than just mothers, the majority of attendees are volunteer leaders who give 15-plus hours a month with MOPS International to facilitate MOPS groups where moms can find a support network and grow as women, mothers and leaders.

With the goal to create communities and resources to help "better moms make a better world," MOPS International serves 110,000 mothers of preschoolers from all walks of life.

"There is no more significant group of cultural changers in the world than mothers," says megachurch pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-sellling Purpose Driven Life and Better Moms Make A Better World, in his endorsement of MOPS.

"MOPS is a vital key to our tremendous growth," adds Leith Anderson, pastor Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., and president of the National Association of Evangelicals. In the United States alone there are 14.3 million mothers with children under the age of six.

"Many young mothers who would never darken the door of a church come here first because of MOPS," Anderson added. "It has made our church a center for the care and nurture of young families in our community."

Founded in 1973, Denver-based MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

"Our local MOPS group provides authentic community and ways for moms to make friends and grow in parenting skills," commented Grapevine resident and local MOPS volunteer coordinator Christy Cowan.

"In a MOPS group, we see moms get the support they need to be better moms and that makes a huge impact on their families, communities and the way they reach out to make a difference in the world."

The upcoming convention will include over 100 "mom resource" exhibitors, general sessions, and practical workshops ranging from grace-based parenting to pornography, and targeting many types of mothers – from busy moms to teen moms. One workshop, titled "'Leave it to Beaver' Meets 'Desperate Housewives,'" will look at how television moms have changed over the last 50 years, discussing what was, what is and what always has been.

Authors and speakers at the 2008 MOPS International Convention include Erwin Raphael McManus, Julie Barnhill, Patrick Lencioni, along with MOPS International CEO Elisa Morgan and MOPS International President Naomi Cramer Overton. Musical guests include Avalon, Jaci Velasquez and Salvador's Nic Gonzales, Plumb, Kim Hill and Go Fish.

MOPS International is sponsored by groups such as Operation Christmas Child, Compassion International, Back to The Bible and Covenant Eyes.