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About MOPS

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, a church-based program designed for mothers with babies and children under school age. A MOPS group provides a caring, accepting atmosphere for mothers and children (0-5 years), where mums have the opportunity for time-out to develop friendships, share concerns and explore areas of creativity through instruction, discussion and craft. To enable mums to have this time-out, the children are cared for in MOPPETS, a program that offers a loving, learning environment for children, from birth to school age.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Australia Inc. is an affiliate member of MOPS International Inc., a Christian non-profit organisation with its headquarters in the United States of America. (LINK to MOPS International)

The purpose of MOPS is to nurture all mothers of preschoolers to the glory of Jesus Christ.

There are currently over 100 MOPS groups in Australia, operating in every state and territory. (LINK to database of groups)

Groups charter through local churches of various denominations. The MOPS Faith Position Statement is central to the Charter Agreement. (LINK to chartering information)

Why have MOPS?

The years of raising preschoolers offer that unique combination of pure fulfilment and utter frustration!

In this high stress period, mothers often feel inadequate, isolated, lonely and exhausted!

MOPS can help!

A MOPS group provides care and nurture for mothers with children under school age by working through the local church to meet these women's needs.

MOPS recognises that mothers are not only valuable, they are also vulnerable. Mothers have distinct needs, and they themselves need to be nurtured.

The needs of a mother with young children have been identified by Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall in their book, What Every Mum Needs:

The MOPS program is dedicated to meeting these needs. By offering mothers the care and nurture they need, MOPS equips them to be more effective in meeting the needs of their own families, and reinforces the fact that "mothering matters".

How is MOPS different to a playgroup?

The concept of the MOPS program is unique and has the following distinct features:

• MOPS is an outreach ministry serving mothers with children aged 0-5 years.
• MOPS provides time-out for mums, while children are cared for in their own program, MOPPETS.
• MOPS provides a caring, accepting atmosphere where mums have the opportunity to develop friendships, share concerns and explore areas of creativity.
• MOPS is a chartered organisation. This ensures the integrity of the MOPS concept and assures that all chartered churches are in harmony with the MOPS Faith Position Statement.

MOPS offers:

• A haven for soothing frazzled nerves and forming lifelong friendships.
• A quality children's program where little ones are cared for and loved.
• Teaching by an experienced mother who shares biblical truths and practical ideas to help the mother of preschoolers fulfil her many roles.
• Discussion groups in an encouraging, accepting atmosphere where mums can express their feelings on motherhood.
• An opportunity to complete a craft project that mums probably wouldn't have the time or energy to complete at home.
• A place to gain perspective and balance in a group that helps bring out the best in mums.

The MOPS program enables women to reach out into the community and draw families into the nurture of the church. It is a vital component of the outreach ministry of many Australian churches.

How did MOPS begin?

It was a Tuesday morning, at about 9.30. They each had faced spilled cereal, tangled hair, and a few had even been forced to change their outfits due to a last-minute baby throw-up on a shoulder or lap. They had driven, or pushed strollers, to the church and had dropped their little ones off in the creche. They had made it!

And now they sat, knees almost touching, in the circle of children's chairs from the Sunday school room. Hands held hot cups of tea and biscuits in utter freedom because this treat did not have to be shared with a child's sticky fingers. Mouths moved in eager, uninterrupted conversation. Eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Hearts stirred with understanding. Needs were met.

That morning in 1973, was the first morning of MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers. Little was it known that from this small beginning in a church in Colorado, USA, the seeds of the MOPS concept and format had been planted. The needs of the women were met even then, through the opportunity for friendship, creative outlet and spiritual emphasis. MOPS International now charters approximately 2,500 MOPS groups in churches in the United States and 13 other countries throughout the world.

How did MOPS begin in Australia?

Nineteen years later and thousands of kilometres away, the same mutual need for sharing was realised by a group of mums with children under school age in Melbourne. After reading about the MOPS concept in the US, leaders introduced the program to the Clayton Church of Christ Fellowship in early 1990 and MOPS was born in Australia. From this small beginning, the seeds for future growth were planted, resulting in the formation of an affiliated body to support the ever-increasing number of Australian groups and the mums they served.

Since its formation in June 2000, MOPS Australia, Inc has grown rapidly and there are currently over 100 groups throughout Australia. In the last year alone, 35 new groups have commenced, with groups starting up regularly throughout different Christian denominations. Groups now meet in every state and territory in Australia, with an estimated ministry to approximately 2500 mums and 3000 children.

What happens at a MOPS meeting?

When a mum enters a MOPS meeting, she is greeted by a friendly face and escorted to MOPPETS, where her children enjoy their special part of the MOPS program. In MOPPETS, children from infancy through to school age experience a caring environment while they learn, sing, play and make crafts.

Once her children are settled, the MOPS mum joins a program tailor-made to meet her needs. She can grab something to eat and not have to share it! She can finish a sentence and not have to speak in words of two syllables!

The program typically begins with a brief lesson taught by an older mum who's been through the challenging years of mothering and who can share from her experience and from the truths taught in the Bible. Then the women move into small discussion groups where there are no "wrong answers" and each mum is free to share her joys and struggles with other mums who truly understand her feelings. In these moments, long-lasting friendships are often made on the common ground of finally being understood.

From here, the women participate in a craft or other creative activity. For mums who are often frustrated by the impossibility of completing anything in their unpredictable days, this activity is deeply satisfying. It provides a sense of accomplishment and growth for many mums.

Because mums of preschoolers themselves lead MOPS, the program also offers women a chance to develop their leadership skills and other talents. It takes organisation, creativity, and management skills to run a MOPS program successfully.

By the time they finish the MOPS meeting and pick up their children, the mums feel refreshed and better able to mother. MOPS helps them recognise that mums have needs too! And when they take the time to meet those needs, they find they are more effective in meeting the needs of their families.

This is how some mums describe MOPS:

MOPS mum, Perth

MOPS mum, Canberra

MOPS mum, Melbourne

'When I first started MOPS, I was very, very lonely. MOPS gave me a chance to get out of the house which I was grateful for. The talks were very informative. I found out a lot through these talks. My problems seemed to become smaller. When I first started at MOPS, I thought I was a Christian. I wasn't. Through MOPS I can now say, 'I am a Christian.' MOPS to me is not only Mothers of Pre Schoolers, but My Own Private Salvation!'

MOPS mum, Canberra

What are churches saying about MOPS?

• new opportunities for ministry for established congregation;
• · an exceptionally relevant program of ministry;
• relational evangelism can be effectively implemented; and
• a natural point of connection between the church and the community.
  

Being a church with a vision to reach and build the lives of families, MOPS has definitely been a significant part of fulfilling that aim.

Pastor, Ballarat

MOPS Coordinator, Canberra

'MOPS has had tremendous impact on the outreach areas of our church. MOPS gives many opportunities for our women to express leadership and involvement. It is without a doubt, one of the best ministries we have in our church life. It would be well worth your while to invite MOPS into your church.'

Pastor, Melbourne

We are now seeing the expansion of a very vigorous ministry in Australian churches. Over a period of years there has been a great service rendered to our communities in the form of playgroup. However, churches are discovering a new ministry called MOPS. This is a ministry to mothers. MOPS operates differently to playgroups. Mothers enjoy a time of learning, fellowship and craft and are challenged to develop a great Christian homelife for their family. I can highly recommend it as a ministry for the whole church.

Ministry Coordinator, NSW

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Common Questions and Answers

1. Why is MOPS needed?

The isolation felt by the mother with young children is a well-documented problem. Depression and stress are frequent. MOPS alleviates this isolation by providing a caring support group which identifies with a mother's specific needs and provides solutions.

4. How often does a MOPS group meet?

2. What is a MOPS group?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, a time-out program for mothers with children under school age (0-5) years. A MOPS group provides a caring, accepting atmosphere for all mothers and young children, where mums have the opportunity to share in a time of instruction, discussion and craft. Teaching is based on Biblical principles.

MOPS strives to fulfil the mother's need for friendship, the need for creativity and the need for spiritual growth. While mum attends MOPS, the children are cared for in MOPPETS, a program that offers a loving, learning environment for children.

5. What do the children do?

6. Why is MOPS a chartered organisation?

MOPS is chartered to protect the integrity and fundamentals of this Christ-centred organisation. Once chartered, you may be assured that all MOPS groups will have the same basic format and purpose to reach every mother of preschoolers for Jesus Christ.

3. What is so unique about a MOPS group?

7. Do groups have to charter through a church?