Virtual ministry for new mothers now in Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY — A Christian ministry that serves new mothers by bringing them into community with other women has begun in Utah.

“Equipped is a ministry that serves to support and encourage new mothers, with babies 0-12 months old, by bringing them into community with other women and equipping them in motherhood with God’s wisdom, as it is revealed to us through Scripture and the Catholic Church,” said Katie Allan, a parishioner of Notre Dame Parish in Vernal and leader of the virtual group in Utah.

Allan said she decided to get involved with the ministry after she attended a presentation by Equipped founders Kristen Combo and Jenna Scott at St. Ann Parish in Coppell, Texas, where it started.

At the presentation, Scott shared that when she had her first baby she was a single mother and her life turned upside down, but she was fortunate enough to get the help of some other experienced moms, which helped her navigate this new stage of her life, Allan said.

As the time passed, Scott felt that the Holy Spirit had placed it in her heart to start a ministry for first-time mothers, so she joined with Combo to create Equipped.

“The Holy Spirit has interwoven himself into every aspect of Equipped,” Scott said. “Every little problem we have had has stayed little and resolved itself pretty easily. It has been so apparent that we are truly doing what the Lord wants us to do right now.”

The ministry, based out of St. Ann Catholic Church in Coppell, Texas, offers a virtual group with a seven-week virtual series.

“We have had over 1,500 moms go through Equipped over the past five years,” Scott said.

Each virtual meeting focuses on a particular area in life that has been significantly impacted by motherhood. Topics include community, identity, motherhood, marriage, prayer life, extended family and the future.

“Each session includes prayer, fellowship, a guest speaker and small-group discussion,” said Allan, adding that the series runs twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall.

The virtual session meets via Zoom on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:15 p.m. MST.

“The guest speakers include Jackie Angel, Claire Couche from Finding Philothea, and the two founders of Equipped – Kristen Combo and Jenna Scott,” Allan said.    

Each registrant will receive a handbook in the mail.

“There are discussion questions for each of the weekly topics. The discussions are led by seasoned moms, who have previously gone through the Equipped program, when they were a new mom,” Allan said.

The ministry is in English and is open to all new mothers. The most recent session began Oct. 5. To register, visit https://forms.gle/bb4k23ZJgA3uL5Yt8. For information, email equipped.virtual@gmail.com.