Beach Babes Bible Study

After spending the year of 2006 teaching two weekly Bible study groups for incarcerated women, you might think Linda Horton would have been happy to take a break and sit back and relax for the summer months. She and her leaders group were deeply committed to both prison classes, one in North Carolina’s maximum-security facility in Raleigh and the second in Troy, almost a two-hour drive from home. They had worked hard and given their best to the glory of God. But Linda says that as those ministries took a break that summer, “It was clear to me that I did not want to shut down or take a vacation from the Word, so the Lord opened a door for me to teach on the coast at Atlantic Beach, NC.” That was the beginning of Beach Babes Bible Study, and Linda has been teaching the class every summer since.

Looking back Linda says, “Little did I know it would totally revolutionize my summers and enrich my life with great spiritual growth but also bring new relationships that have been blessings beyond measure. The group of women God brought to Beach Babes decided that we would be saturated in the Son instead of being saturated with the sun.” God has honored that commitment in many ways beyond Linda’s wildest dreams.

·      It was through Beach Babes that she met Angela Stanley who willingly took over the Bible study ministry at Southern   Correctional Facility in Troy, NC, freeing Linda to concentrate on her teaching at North Carolina Correctional in Raleigh.
·      It was in Beach Babes that Linda met a woman who shared that she had never before understood the grace of God. But as she studied the Book of Galatians her eyes and heart had been opened. Linda says she had been questioning all summer why God had led her to choose Galatians as the first study. That woman was her answer.
·      Beach Babes attracts women who have never known the Lord and those who have never studied God’s word, as well as seasoned Bible students. It is a summer opportunity that turned out to be a gift from God -- gifts of salvation, friendship, discipleship, and fellowship.

Linda comments, “I wish I had kept a journal of all the powerful statements that have come out of our group.  I am so very grateful for this experience.  Most people think we are on vacation but we are on a "stay-cation" with Jesus and it is incredible!” We at Disciplers think the beautiful, vibrant faces of the Beach Babes in the picture above is a powerful statement of the joy this ministry has brought to their lives.

This year, Beach Babes began their summer in the Book of Psalms. At the end the study, each member of the group was  asked to write her own Psalm, based on Psalm 136. A few of the women were willing to share what they wrote, and we know you will be blessed as you read.
        
Thank You, Creator God, that You wonderfully formed me from the foundation of Your glorious world.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, Father, that You placed me with my parents who taught me of Your love.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, Lord, that with your love, You drew me to Yourself and into Your family while I was still a child.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, my Teacher, that as a teenager You provided youth ministers who taught me, not the ways of the world, but Your ways found in Your holy word.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, my Shepherd, that You have walked with me through the difficult times of my life which were brought about by my own willfulness, by painful or confusing circumstances and by deaths of those dear to me.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, my Provider, that You have given me great joy through the earthly love of my life, my husband, and all my wonderful family.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, Omnipotent God, that the friends You have given to me have evidenced Your power and grace working in and through them.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, Covenant Maker, that even when my faith falters Your faithfulness remains unbroken.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.
I thank You, my Redeemer, that You have given me life itself, now and forever.
Your steadfast love keeps me secure daily and eternally.                   ~ By Elaine
    
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.
His love is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, who reigns over all
His love is everlasting.
Give thanks to Almighty God who is in control.
His love is everlasting.
Give thanks to Our Creator, who made us in his image.
His love is everlasting.
To him who rescued me from a life striving to please everyone and earn love.
His love is everlasting.
To him who redeemed me from a life spiraling toward hell.
His love is everlasting.
To him who is the giver of all good things.
His love is everlasting.
To the One who bought me at a great price.
His love is everlasting. Amen
          ~ By Cris

He chose me to be His own
     He truly loves me
He saved me from sin
     He truly loves me
He showed me the way
     He truly loves me
He is always with me
       He truly loves me
           ~ By Joanne