Fellowship Memphis

Pictured above: the Stiles Community Group. This thank you letter was written to  Emily and Nick Stiles during small group leader appreciation.

One of my biggest prayers during our move to Memphis was that we would not only find a church that exemplified the gospel, but that we would get connected to a body of believers that encouraged us spiritually in our marriage and in our daily lives. Oh how my prayers were answered! God has continually shown me His love and guidance through y’all over the past few years. What a true gift you have been in my life (as well as Justin’s).

Spending time with you and Nick has been a great learning experience for me. Just getting to spend time with a couple who are a few phases ahead of us not only in marriage but also spiritually has been encouraging because I have learned from the ways in which you juggle your family, daily lives, church, walks with Christ and work. Thank you for being so vulnerable and real and allowing the Lord to use your strengths and weaknesses to build into others-especially me!

We were so grateful to have been welcomed into your home with open arms. It has been such a joy to be a part of watching Ella and now Owen grow up. You have shown me what motherhood is truly about and how you show the love of Christ to your kids has been a great example to me. Your patience and compassion towards them are amazing and I admire you for all of your endless hours that you stay up taking care of them. Being around you with those kiddos has helped show me the ups and downs of parenting and how to biblically teach and discipline my future children. Thank you for allowing me to just come and sit on your couch and share life with you and your family while learning what it means to be a wife and a helper to my husband. You are a great picture of a Proverbs 31 woman, and we can all learn from you!

The past year we have grown to a new depth within our growth group and I have loved it! How sweet it is to know that I have you (and the other ladies) in my life to stand alongside me when I succeed and to pick me up and encourage me when I fall, to challenge me in my walk with Christ and to push me to know Him more. What a true blessing you are to me as a sister in Christ, a wife, a mom and a spiritual mentor.

Thank you both for all of your hard work, energy, dedication and heart that you put into our group. I cherish your friendships and your guidance over the past few years as Justin and I have begun our lives together. What a gift you are to me!