If:Gathering + Bible Studies Update - 2026
Earlier this month I was feeling really overwhelmed and reached out to my therapist for a virtual session. Journaling has always been a big part of my mental health, so in preparation for the session I wanted to start a fresh journal. I have a small stack of journals that are empty or barely used, so I grabbed one off the top. Before I could start writing I realized this journal was full of my notes from If:Gathering 2024.
If you’re not familiar with If:Gathering, it’s an annual women’s conference led by Jennie Allen. I have attended almost every year. It is my spiritual new year, of sorts. I used to not make any plans for the year until after this conference because I knew God would lay a mission on my heart during it. The conference has changed format over the years, but it’s typically a big gathering somewhere in Texas and then they encourage If:Locals, which are small groups all over the world that tune in. I’ve hosted in the past and have actually signed up to host this year. If you are interested in joining me for If: One Night 2025, you can register here.
Back to my journal, it was amazing how certain notes that were written two years ago jumped off the page at me as advice for what’s happening in my mind right now.
First, it’s no secret that I’ve struggled with these modern churches and their whole concept of Life Groups. I’ve been to three different churches now that push these groups and I’m so convinced they’re just broken. It’s the difference between authentic community and forced community. Forced communities only go so far and I wish churches would get out of the way and let authentic communities form. That being said, buried in my notes was a quote from Jennie Allen herself: “choose an imperfect church and make it better!”
Lately I’ve felt like I was settling. I’ve felt like I was staying at the church I am at because there isn’t going to be any place better, less problematic, etc. While that might be true, isn’t it on each of us to make our churches even just 1% better? I certainly think so.
This year, I won’t be joining or starting any official life group. But I will be prioritizing the women who have been on an authentic spiritual journey with me. The women who intentionally pursued me even when we weren’t in the same building every Sunday morning. My therapist reiterated this same message to me in our session. It’s okay to have a small circle. You get to a certain age where quality is so much more important than quantity. <3
Another set of notes that jumped off the page at me are from a session by Jada Edwards. I don’t recall what the session topic was but my notes start like this:
“Before you can be happy or find enjoyment, you have to be satisfied. But before you can be quenched, you have to admit you’re thirsty. Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can satisfy a critical need with a casual solution.”
There is so much goodness and truth and grace in those lines. I’m not sure I can apply it to your life for you, but I know what it means for my life. I know what makes me want to close off, what makes me feel overwhelmed, and what I don’t want. It’s on me to find a way to line all of that up with God’s will for my life and I pray the same for you!
Before closing, below are a couple bible studies I’ve recently completed, as well as one I wrote for you to check out:
The Marvel and Miracle of Advent, by Christine Caine and Lisa Harper ($20 on Amazon)
Straighten Your Paths, by Olivia Hayse (free digital download)
Please let me know if you end up doing any of these studies, I’d love to talk about them with you!
Until next time,
-O
