Moms Together group gives women needed fellowship

On a recent January morning, young mothers with bundled infants and toddlers in tow filed into the spacious, light-brick building on Keslinger Road that is the west campus of First Baptist Church of Geneva.

A carillon bell broadcast familiar hymns from the spire, but it wasn't Sunday morning.

The women were headed to a gathering of Moms Together, a ministry for young mothers. The two January programs feature Lorene Coffey, who founded the group in 1995, and her husband Brian, the church's senior pastor. (Lorene is the director of women's ministries.) Their presentation is "How to Raise PG Kids in an R-Rated World."

"As a parent, you walk away with words of wisdom," said Kerry Daanen of Geneva, who is serving as the speaker host that day. "As a mother, it's nice to sit down and have breakfast by yourself."

Some of the mothers keep their infants with them, but children ages 5 and younger can join other kids for supervised crafts, storytime and snacks in another room.

On this particular day, about 150 women come to enjoy a hot breakfast buffet, (members take turns bringing dishes to share) eat at round tables decorated with blue and silver silk flower arrangements, gab, hear a presentation on raising children and discuss the issues after the program.

Identical morning sessions are held twice a month, so about 300 women attend the meetings each month.

According to Lorene Coffey, the group draws women from all across the Fox Valley.

"I was involved in women's Bible study when I invited a neighbor to come," she said. "But she wasn't comfortable with going to Bible study. I decided to try a more creative approach."

Lorene researched other women's groups for a year before she started Moms Together.

"I wanted to meet their needs; offer brunch, which is a treat; provide a speaker; and give them a chance to be with other moms," she said. "The group offers biblical truths in a way other than traditional Bible study."

"It's a wonderful outlet," said Jennifer Nawa of St. Charles.

She had her 7-week-old son with her at her table in his infant seat, and her 20-month-old son was with the other children.

"It helps keep you connected, and it helps you gain a perspective on the adventures of motherhood," she said. "For me, it's a reminder to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others."

Nawa, a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, began attending the group through the invitation of a friend.

With breakfast over, Brian and Lorene Coffey take the stage in the front of the gymnasium-style room where services are held Sundays.

Lorene Coffey expresses the opinion that parenting is "a daunting task" in an age when 3-year-olds are singing Britney Spears songs and children are talking about TV commercials for Viagra. (The Coffeys are the parents of four sons ages 17, 15, 12 and 10.)

"Commit to your faith and to a church and a process of spiritual formation," Brian tells the group. "Spiritual DNA is a blank slate. Parents must create spiritual grounding."

Moms Together offers fellowship, food and advice from the experts at a cost of $6 per mom, $8 for a mom with one child, and $10 for a mom with two or more children.

For details, call the church at (630) 232-7068 or visit www.fbcg.com.