Joyfully Following Jesus
JFJ is a 12-week discipleship study, providing a way for women to grow in their relationship with Jesus and learn how to practically share His love with others in everyday life. The curriculum aims to move biblical truths from our head into our heart through a framework that involves our Head, Heart, Hands, and Habits. In the JFJ community, women are reminded that Jesus loves and values them as they meet in micro-groups of 3-4 women, sharing life and discussing how God's truths increase joy. These aim to give women confidence in speaking their faith and sharing it with those around them.
Joyfully Following Jesus (JFJ) – curriculum and community
If you’re interested in learning more or joining a future session - click the signup link below or reach out to either of the JFJ Group Leaders:
Maura Leinonen: maura.leinonen@gmail.com
Karyn Fay: karynfay@charter.net
JFJ Testimonials
“I would say [to someone considering JFJ] that the experience was incredibly insightful, it's an intentional opportunity in your life to connect with others and with God. A chance to set specific time aside to work on that relationship in your life and dig deeper into God's Word and all its meanings.”
-- Kiernan Seagers
“I would say if you're interested in committing time to dig deep into Scripture and share your faith with fellow Christians, it is an excellent source of knowledge and fellowship. I enjoyed meeting other Christians, exchanging ideas, and hearing different ways the questions were interpreted. And everyone building each other up was amazing.”
-- Karen Hewett
“JFJ is a wonderful curriculum for understanding and applying the core truths of our faith in a wise and supportive community.”
-- Maria Chizek
"As someone who joined not knowing a lot about the bible and Jesus, I felt comfortable joining with a friend, I felt comfortable asking questions, and I feel like I’ve made friends and I felt welcomed by all the ladies...I appreciate that anyone can follow Jesus, no matter what happened in your life before, you can choose to follow Jesus and anyone can feel the love, joy, and strength that Jesus gives...I have a new appreciation for joy. Now when I feel joy, I feel it with more gratitude and thankfulness that I was blessed with joy. I’ve also found that I experience joy when I read the bible, talk to people about God and Jesus, and when I think about them too. I didn’t have that before joining JFJ."
-- Lauren Auge
"I would say for anyone who is considering joining JFJ that it's a great way to meet like-minded women who want to grow in their faith...I appreciate that as I follow Jesus, I have constant peace and a sense of security in my life."
-- Allie Szlachta
"[For those considering joining JFJ,] I would say that it opened up my eyes to a whole new perspective and way of thinking in my faith. It's also a great place to build a community, and really a family, of women to explore and ask questions in your faith....[My biggest take-away is knowing] that I am loved and valued! AND that I can share this with others so they also feel loved and valued."
-- Lauren Stigers
Discipleship Testimonials
"While I worked at Michigan Tech, I was the faculty advisory for the His House Christian organization on campus. I was able to disciple both the women and men His House interns for several years. (How that all happened is a story in itself!) Once I retired from MTU, that opportunity wasn’t available to me anymore. I had been praying for another opportunity to open up for me when I was approached about a discipleship program and asked if I was interested. I didn’t even have to think about it as it was an answer to my prayer! And here we are now, ready to share the joy of following Jesus with other women!"
--Karyn Fay
"Being in a discipleship class with two other God-fearing ladies has been amazing! Not only do I have a deeper relationship with them, but also a much deeper relationship with the Lord. I look forward to meeting with them each week, and truly I crave learning more about His Word!"
--Nicole Spence
"It has been amazing to have been brought out of a place where I didn't have God or the Bible. When Dave and I got married, we made a promise to attend church weekly and that's when I was introduced to God's light. Years later, when I started in a discipling relationship, a whole new world was opened up to me as I began to read the Bible on a regular basis. I am learning so much and am hungry for more and more of God's word. He has helped me shift my priorities and helped me stay calm in difficulties when before I wouldn't have handled them so well."
--Paula Monroe
"Discipleship has opened my eyes to see the meaning and importance of relationships. For me, it means doing life with someone else, intentionally walking alongside someone in order to seek and grow closer to Jesus in every aspect of my life. This has helped me to see that God is a relational God. That God is not just a big God, but He is a God of the smallness, too. He's not just a Master Weaver of the bigger picture, but He is a God of detail. And He is present in every aspect, in every situation of my life, whether I've noticed it in the moment or not. Discipleship has helped me become more attuned to what He is doing in my life, and has grown me closer to other women who are there to support me in my spiritual journey as well. It's a matter of doing the daily with Jesus and letting Him be the root of every aspect of my life, and working through the thick and the thin of it with other believers."
--Danelle Leinonen