Bible study group growing in Madison

Bible study group growing in Madison

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Every week more than a dozen women meet in a room at Madison United Methodist Church to study the Bible.

Amanda Sullivan is the local representative for Community Bible Study, an organization that started in Maryland in 1975 and now has groups represented throughout the nation and globally. Sullivan said the organization has groups throughout Mississippi including in Vicksburg, Greenville, Southaven, Olive Branch and now Madison County.

“It is designed for friends to study the Scriptures and encourage one another to walk closer to Christ each day,” Sullivan said.

They meet from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at Madison United Methodist Church at 100 Post Oak Road in Madison.

Sullivan was a 25-year member of the Greenville Community Bible Study group before moving to Madison County. Sullivan said she had been in church for most of her life but soon realized how important in-depth study of the Bible is to her growing faith. 

“I can tell you the first time I sat in that circle of 12 women I realized how little I knew about the Bible,” Sullivan said. “Soon I felt more comfortable participating and to this day I am still learning.”

She said as she attended more groups and read on her own, she began to feel more comfortable sharing with the group and saw improvements in her everyday life and relationships.

Susan Dykes, a friend of Sullivan’s from the Greenville group, is leading the plant and comes to the area once a week to lead the group at Madison United Methodist Church. Dyjes said the group is about 24 women strong and is currently undergoing an eight-week unit studying the book of Nehemiah that started in September.

The group started meeting in mid-May in Sullivan's home over coffee before moving to Madison United Methodist, where Sullivan is a member that let them use classroom space. 

The goal is further growth. Dykes said she would like to see a men’s group, a couples’ group and a children’s group in addition the established women’s group. She said the group in Vicksburg has as many as 150 members and her Greenville group currently has about 100 members but has been as strong as 200 members in the past. 

The group is designed to meet as a group, then break out into smaller groups of 12 or 15 individuals. Dykes said in one week members of the group will cover the material at least four times through workbooks, reading and large and small group reviews of the material.

Sullivan said the group has grown through word of mouth, and she has recruited four women through her water aerobics class. 

One such recruit is Lana Anderson, who said she had been looking for and praying about finding a good Bible study group.

“I was looking for something just for me and I got a quick answer,” Anderson said.

Anderson was also excited about the prospect of being part of something new.

For more information contact Sullivan at asulllivan4@comcast.net.






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