In my very first Out of the Valley website, we had a community forums feature.  It was used periodically and posts came in waves – lots of hurting ladies at once, then no posts for a few weeks.  I had a fabulous moderating team as well.

Then I transitioned to a newly formatted website using a different content management system that did not include forum software.  We finally got another one installed, but then it literally disappeared one day.  As in, you click on it and it was a white page.  From there, we have not had a chance to work on it.

I have been involved in ministry community forums before as a moderator and a board director and am quite familiar with the work involved and the time required.  As I have thought about all of this, including the lack of time to even get the forums working again, I have decided to discontinue that feature of this ministry.

If you are the type of woman who would thrive from getting support in a community forum atmostphere, check out today’s article at Sharing the Journey.  She is interviewing the founder of the Online PPD Support Group (secular) that is now quite active.  I, personally, am not involved there nor have I ever been, but because I was active on forums for quite a few years both as a member and as a leader/board member, I know they are very helpful and the ladies can be a great support when you are hurting.  You know you are not alone.

I find that I am best supporting and ministering to women right now through personal contact (email) and through the blog and maintaining the site and blog itself.  I am enjoying it very much!  However, my time online is limited, especially while my children are so young, so for now the forums as a feature of Out of the Valley Ministries are on hold until God leads me otherwise.

If you have thoughts on the subject and the need (or not)  for a faith-based online forum, please feel free to comment or email me!

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