MOPS, which stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, is a Wilshire ministry designed to offer stress relief, encouragement and spiritual nourishment to mothers of preschoolers. This is an international movement, and Wilshire is a charter member of MOPS International.

The morning MOPS group meets from 9:15 a.m. to noon every other Friday, from September to May. The cost for 2010-2011 is $90 per semester (optional payment plan) and includes structured childcare for preschoolers while the moms enjoy time together. A reduced payment program is available for anyone who needs financial assistance.

MOPS meetings begin with socializing and eating. Then participants hear a guest speaker and later divide into small groups to discuss application of what was said. The meeting concludes with a craft time.

While the moms fellowship, the preschoolers participate in MOPPETS, a unique curriculum designed especially for them.

Each MOPS group is led by a Titus woman, a name taken from the biblical book of Titus, chapter 2, verses 4 and 5. The Titus woman provides encouragement from the perspective of a mom who has "been there."

Guest speakers often are moms themselves but sometimes are other professionals with helpful perspectives for mothers of young children. Past topics include discipline, marriage, financial planning, poison control, teaching kids values, home organization, home decorating, party planning, teaching through cooking.

For more info or to register: contact Kerry Satterfield at 214-553-1698.

If you’d like to be involved in a Wilshire MOPS group but cannot participate in the daytime gatherings, there’s now a new option for you.

Beginning this fall, Wilshire will offer an evening Mothers of Preschoolers group specifically for working moms, teen moms and single moms. This group will meet once a month, on Friday nights, at the same time as Marriage 1-on-1 and Single Moms Night Out. Meeting dates will be Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 3 and March 2.

Enrollment is now open. Annual dues will be $45. Dues may be paid once a year or $22.50 per semester. Scholarships also are available. To register, contact Joan Hammons at (214) 452-3141.

Starting this new group—which will have a missional purpose in serving teen moms as well as offering support for working moms—will require support from others outside the group.

“We are looking for Sunday School classes that would be willing to provide a meal for these mothers and their children at one meeting, since the moms will get out of school or off work, pick their children up, and have a meeting that evening,” Joan explained.