The desire to start an Ekklesia prayer after the monthly Communion for those not in the Shabbat Prayer to experience corporate prayer life as well was the burden which God put into the hearts of some ladies. Then He raised up two from the Shabbat Prayer group to facilitate the “Pray In Faith” book by T.W. Hunt and Claude King.

God then brought 5 single ladies to join this 45-minute study, on a fortnightly basis. From the very first session, our Lord graciously knitted our hearts together and as we went through the lessons, each of us had the “freedom” to pray and practice what we learned from the lesson under study – confession, worship, praise and thanksgiving. We even started praying for the needs of the group outside our fellowship time! God affirmed one whom He had told to join a fellowship, kept another from the verge of straying and encouraged the rest through Scriptures, Godly sayings and personal sharing. Although the time spent was short, the LORD worked in all our hearts and deepened our friendship and care for one another.  God is good!

While the “Pray In Faith” group continued their study, God laid upon the hearts of the Shabbat Prayer group to pray for these ladies.  Although it was not clear at that time whether the Lord would still want us to start the Ekklesia prayer group, or whether He was leading us to form a ladies fellowship instead, the common need was for a platform for the ladies to share their lives with one another, for prayer, support and friendship in the Lord outside the weekly Ekklesia service.  This matter was then brought up to the Shabbat Prayer leadership and all were in agreement to form the Ladies Fellowship instead of Ekklesia prayer group and two ladies graciously agreed to lead this Ladies Fellowship.

By the grace of God, we started our first Ladies Fellowship on the 10th July 2010, with the goal to exemplify the love of Christ for one another (“bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2). We continue to meet every second Saturday of the month, after the weekly Ekklesia service from 7:30 – 8:30pm. It is open to the ladies in the Ekklesia. There will be time for sharing the Word, for personal sharing and for prayer.  The group is still forming and we certainly need much prayer and grace.  Thanks be to God, because neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow (1Co3:7).  As we take this step of faith to start the Ladies Fellowship, we also trust the LORD to grow us in Him and in love for one another day by day!