Apples of Gold gives older women at East White Oak an opportunity to build up and teach younger women. It’s based on Titus 2:3–5: “Train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husband, that the word of God may not be discredited.”

This eight-week session includes demos (cooking and other skills), meals (mixed with plenty of laughter), and study of various topics (such as kindness, loving your husband, loving your children, submission, purity, and hospitality). Our eight-week session will end with a special Celebration Evening (husbands invited!).

The next 8 week session begins April 2! Our sign-up dates are scheduled for three Sundays: March 4, 11, and 18. We have space available for 10 women to participate. Women will be selected by random drawing for the 10 slots (remaining names will be automatically placed in the next session). Please join us for eight weeks of blessings and fun! See the Women's Ministry table for more information.

A Special Invitation and Request to Husbands (and Families):

If your wife is able to attend the Spring session, be sure to mark YOUR calendar for a Celebration Dinner on May 18. You are invited for the special wrap-up event!

We cannot stress enough how important your support is during this eight-week session. Please show special love on these Mondays by providing home-base care for kids, preparing meals, and overseeing responsibilities so these younger women can grow up to maturity in Christ.

Joleen's Story

About six years ago, I was introduced to Apples of Gold at Harmony Bible Church in Danville, Iowa. For six weeks, we learned from God’s Word about our roles as women and how we can grow to be the women He desires us to be. We laughed and cried together. Notice I said we—the mentors learned right along with the younger women. And the bonds of love and friendship grew very strong.

It was such a wonderful experience that I was very sad to leave it when we moved to Illinois—but I was so excited to hear that this ministry was to begin here at East White Oak! The ministry is based on two Scripture verses: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Prov. 25:11 NAS), and “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Tit. 2:3–5 NAS).
 
The blessings I received as a mentor cannot be measured. As older women in the church, we can draw from our past experiences; there is a special nurturing that God has put in the hearts of women, and with that, we can support one another in a unique way. It is my prayer that God will mightily use this ministry. I am certain that anyone who participates will be very blessed.

Cathy's Story

Nearly 10 years ago, I went through a mentoring program called Apples of Gold at the Naperville Evangelical Free Church. This ministry had a great influence on me, and the relationships built remain strong even today. I was in the trial-run program at E-Free, and I dubbed our group The Mentals (anyone who knows me personally will understand that metaphor). We grew so much in love for one another during the six-week program that we all longed for it to continue. And continue, it did—with bonds formed that have withstood the test of time. I regularly call these dear women and request prayer, ask how to tweak a recipe, and share a laugh with the mentors and “mentals” alike, who are still there in Naperville.

The ministry centers around sharing fellowship, life, and Bible study. The practical Bible studies are of timeless value and cover a wide array of topics, such as kindness, marriage, children, purity, submission, and hospitality. Whether married or single, with or without children, these timeless principles challenge us to greater surrender to God and each other.