CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Read the book from our founder Dona Fisher. Click the image below to order!
Our History
From Dona Fisher
My mother and I had a difficult relationship. I began listening to God and slowly the Holy Spirit helped me understand and process my negative attitudes from childhood. Through the spirit, I was able to lay aside the differences with my mother and we repaired our relationship. Prayer connected me to the strength of the spirit of God within me as I began to know the forgiving and loving heart of God.
Once my vertical relationship with God became strong, my horizonal relationships began growing into their rightful and good places. I enjoyed spending time with God in His Word. Mother and I both realized our monumental need to know God and His word. God’s word was what was most important to us.
This led us to consider starting our own Bible study. We were sure other women in our community needed to feel loved and forgiven and to learn God’s word and truths like we desired to do. This became an amazing opportunity to work side by side, offering other woman the hope and help they found though God’s word.
We decided to name our Bible study Change of Pace. Which is what it was – a change of pace from what the world offered and what we experience in daily life. We wanted to include all women, not just those of a particular church or religion. We didn’t want to dwell on where or whether a women worshipped regularly, conflicting religious disciplines or controversial issues. We wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere where woman could sense God’s presence, worship, dig into God’s word and build a bond of sisterhood with other women. Mother and I prayed that God would transform women’s lives, just as He had renewed our spirits, healed our pain and restored our souls.
50 years has passed and God’s word has been touching lives and continues to be a change of pace for many women.
Win | Build | Send
To support Change of Pace and other ministry efforts, my husband and I started a private philanthropic organization called the Friendship Foundation, Inc. The foundation serves people through funding Change of Pace Bible studies, hosting concerts, seminars, and outreach dinners, providing assistance to missionary endeavors and counseling for families in need, as well as giving guidance to Christian ministries. Our vision is to win, build and send: win souls to know Jesus, build them up into mature believers, and send them out into the world to win others to have a personal relationship with Jesus and to follow Him.
I have kept every comment card indicating an acceptance of Jesus Christ—how thrilling! My team rejoices with each soul that came to Christ. I have always been more interested in giving God the glory—and encouraging these souls to mature through the study of God’s Word.
I desire to humbly decrease and allow God to increase (John 3:30). My focus remains on winning women for Jesus, building up women with God’s word, and sending out women to share the Gospel.
Our Unity in Christ
Our ministry reaches across denominational lines. Please refer to our Statement of Faith and Bible Study Guidelines and enjoy the special fellowship and strong bonds we share as women from a variety of churches studying God’s Word together.
Change Of Pace Statement Of Faith
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose dwelling the Christian is able to live a godly life.
- We believe the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost onto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Change Of Pace Guidelines
What are we doing here at Change of Pace?
They (the group of believers) devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching into the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
Bible Teaching – God speaking and teaching us from His Word
Sharing – Fellowship together
Prayer – Upholding one another, bearing each other’s burdens
- The Bible is the final authority for faith and practice.
- Make preparation a priority. While all are welcome, regardless of how much of the homework has been completed, it is important to keep in mind that the more time you invest, the more you will gain.
- Pray for your Bible study leader and those in your group. This is the key to a great study and fellowship within your group.
- Honor a safe, open environment we all can freely share and participate with the appropriate vulnerability. Maintain strict confidentiality of all that is shared.
- Sharing is a very important part of our class time. Honor one another by making a place for all to share.
- Change of Pace is a ministry that reaches across denominational lines. Therefore, it is important to respect the different perspectives and practices of other churches and individuals by embracing and celebrating our unity in Christ. (Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:13)
- Remember – we are all at different stages in our faith journey. Be sensitive and supportive of one another. Allow freedom to participate in activities such as reading allow, praying aloud or answering questions.
- Regular attendance should be a priority. Each member must agree to take all reasonable steps to be present and on time each week.
Thank you for joining us here at change of pace – we’re so glad you’re here!
Our Teachers
At our Bible study, the teachers play a vital role in guiding and nurturing the spiritual growth of our participants. Each teacher is carefully vetted by our leadership team to ensure that they are not only knowledgeable but also deeply committed to the word of God. These dedicated women are passionate about their calling; they approach their role with the utmost seriousness and reverence, recognizing the significant impact they have on others’ faith journeys. With a strong foundation in prayer, they seek to support and embolden women in their spiritual walk. Their excitement for discipling others is contagious, creating a welcoming and enriching environment where women can explore scripture and grow together in faith.