It may sound like a lot. It is. But following Jesus requires a commitment of our time, energy, and resources. We hope that you’ll find, as we have, that when we shift our perspective and priorities to be in alignment with Jesus’ will for us, blessings more than overflow!

Please prayerfully consider participating in this group and inviting 2 or 3 of your friends to join you in this journey. The Lord has big things planned for us and we sincerely hope you’ll join in the fun! Let us know if you’re in, so we can make space for you. Group Leader contact information below (or sign up here):

Maura Leinonen: maura.leinonen@gmail.com
Karyn Fay: karynfay@charter.net

To hear more from the leadership of JFJ: Check out this Conversation!

Are you interested in growing closer to Jesus right now, or do you know someone who would benefit from having a closer relationship with Jesus? We think you’d greatly benefit from this new women’s group that meets on Monday evenings from 6-7:30pm for 12 weeks. It’s called Joyfully Following Jesus, and we think it will be a blast! For information on the next session and to join: click the link below! (If there's enough interest, we will offer a Zoom option for those who aren't local or can't attend in person to participate virtually.)

Okay...if I wasn't convinced before...you got me now! Sign me up!

"As someone who joined not knowing a lot about the bible and Jesus, I felt comfortable joining with a friend, I felt comfortable asking questions, and I feel like I’ve made friends and I felt welcomed by all the ladies...I appreciate that anyone can follow Jesus, no matter what happened in your life before, you can choose to follow Jesus and anyone can feel the love, joy, and strength that Jesus gives...I have a new appreciation for joy. Now when I feel joy, I feel it with more gratitude and thankfulness that I was blessed with joy. I’ve also found that I experience joy when I read the bible, talk to people about God and Jesus, and when I think about them too. I didn’t have that before joining JFJ." -- Lauren Auge

"I would say for anyone who is considering joining JFJ that it's a great way to meet like-minded women who want to grow in their faith...I appreciate that as I follow Jesus, I have constant peace and a sense of security in my life." -- Allie Szlachta

"[For those considering joining JFJ,] I would say that it opened up my eyes to a whole new perspective and way of thinking in my faith. It's also a great place to build a community, and really a family, of women to explore and ask questions in your faith....[My biggest take-away is knowing] that I am loved and valued! AND that I can share this with others so they also feel loved and valued." -- Lauren Stigers

"I liked having the weekly curriculum. It helped me to stay accountable to God’s word. I also liked the laid back atmosphere within my group of ladies. There was freedom to ask questions, be vulnerable, and honest." -- Kristine Johnson

"A wonderful way to be in the Word multiple times a week and share life with an amazing group of women. The discussions are so encouraging as we learn what the Lord has done and continues to do, and help you see Scripture in a whole new way. JFJ is a beneficial mix of being in God's Word on your own and with others— and gathering together in Him brings so much joy!"  -- Krista Kleiman

"Fellowship with other Christians is important, and we can gain additional knowledge from hearing how others receive the Scriptures. Being "in the Word" brings us growth and closer to God. That, in turn, brings us joy and peace." -- Connie Schmidt 

"I would tell [someone considering JFJ] it is a great experience. It helped me to learn so much more about what our purpose in Christ is, and how the more you read the Scriptures, the more you understand God's will....How reading the Scripture and praying daily helps in our understanding of our purpose, by letting the Holy Spirit guide us." -- Carol Garnell

"Joyfully Following Jesus has reminded me of the joy of doing and living the life that Jesus wants me to live. I so appreciated meeting with our sisters who journeyed with me in JFJ." -- Joan Hembroff

"It has deepened even more this second time around doing JFJ .  I’ve been able to process very tough/ evil/ worldly ideas and mindsets that some of my family follow.  I can’t fix it, yet I can ‘pray around and through it’.  By ‘turning my eyes directly to Jesus’ in these difficult situations, I’m able to have peace and comfort within while leading by His example." -- Anonymous

"While I worked at Michigan Tech, I was the faculty advisory for the His House Christian organization on campus. I was able to disciple both the women and men His House interns for several years. (How that all happened is a story in itself!) Once I retired from MTU, that opportunity wasn’t available to me anymore. I had been praying for another opportunity to open up for me when I was approached about a discipleship program and asked if I was interested. I didn’t even have to think about it as it was an answer to my prayer! And here we are now, ready to share the joy of following Jesus with other women!" --Karyn Fay

"Being in a discipleship class with two other God-fearing ladies has been amazing! Not only do I have a deeper relationship with them, but also a much deeper relationship with the Lord. I look forward to meeting with them each week, and truly I crave learning more about His Word!" --Nicole Spence

"It has been amazing to have been brought out of a place where I didn't have God or the Bible. When Dave and I got married, we made a promise to attend church weekly and that's when I was introduced to God's light. Years later, when I started in a discipling relationship, a whole new world was opened up to me as I began to read the Bible on a regular basis. I am learning so much and am hungry for more and more of God's word. He has helped me shift my priorities and helped me stay calm in difficulties when before I wouldn't have handled them so well." --Paula Monroe

"Discipleship has opened my eyes to see the meaning and importance of relationships. For me, it means doing life with someone else, intentionally walking alongside someone in order to seek and grow closer to Jesus in every aspect of my life. This has helped me to see that God is a relational God. That God is not just a big God, but He is a God of the smallness, too. He's not just a Master Weaver of the bigger picture, but He is a God of detail. And He is present in every aspect, in every situation of my life, whether I've noticed it in the moment or not. Discipleship has helped me become more attuned to what He is doing in my life, and has grown me closer to other women who are there to support me in my spiritual journey as well. It's a matter of doing the daily with Jesus and letting Him be the root of every aspect of my life, and working through the thick and the thin of it with other believers." --Danelle Leinonen