Hope & Belief: Community Bible Study

Community Bible Study

Women’s Group Offers Caring, In-Depth Bible Study

by Carol Hudson & Mindi Gaut

What do Rwanda, Austin, a Sudanese refugee camp in Uganda, Los Angeles, Myanmar, and Bartlesville all have in common? Community Bible Study classes that are seeing lives transformed through in-depth study of God’s word.

Community Bible Study began in Maryland in 1975, and celebrated its 45th birthday in 2020 with a worldwide study of the Gospel of John. Today, CBS lessons are taught in 75 languages in over 100 countries. A Bartlesville class just for women was started in 1983. Diane Holland, a former CBS teaching director, remembers being in the first class. Bartlesville continues to be blessed with a thriving CBS class that meets weekly, September through early May.

Community Bible Study classes worldwide follow the same format. Members complete a lesson during the week, then attend a two-hour weekly class. Those include a core group discussion led by a trained leader, followed by a teaching presentation from the teaching director. Then there is an insightful commentary to read at home. Bettye Williams, former assistant teaching director, said of the format, “CBS has helped me stay anchored in God's word for many years. It is easy to do if you follow the daily lesson schedule.” Women of all ages, stages of life, biblical knowledge, and backgrounds attend CBS.

Some women have been attending CBS for decades, and first-time members join each year. Cathy Archambo, a former teaching director who has attended CBS off and on for over 35 years, said “When I joined, I had been in church all my life. After two weeks of Community Bible Study, I realized I knew nothing about the Bible. It is the best way for anyone, old or young — whether well-versed in scripture or with no knowledge at all — to learn about God’s Word.” Merry Shepard was invited to CBS after moving back to Bartlesville two years ago. Merry said that “CBS was a Godsend for me! Introduction to CBS has lead me to begin attending church regularly, and I have become an enthusiastic student of reading scripture daily.”

Front row: Cathy Archambo, Barbara Ayenian, Linda Befort, Rissi Soderstrom, Katrina Eash, Carol Hudson. Middle row: Noelle White, Vernell Jones, Theresa Bradley, Carla Lyle, Amy Rogers, Kadilyn Hourigan, Jessica Manning, Deana Holman. Back row: Jenny Fields, Cathy Johnson, Mindi Gaut, Arlene Wheeler, Paula Giore, Lana Smith, Laura Jones, Jen Brown.

Bartlesville Teaching Director Carol Hudson speaks during a CBS meeting.

There are CBS classes from birth to age 18. The children’s department, led by Vernell Jones, is Biblically strong. Mindi Gaut, assistant teaching director, said she joined in 1999 when her daughter Kyleigh was two, after hearing of the great children’s ministry. Kyleigh learned foundational Biblical truths that have been built on throughout her life. Mindi continued in CBS because of the incredible adult study. Katie Burris, who has been in CBS for two years, said “Our three children look forward to CBS every week! I am impressed by how much they learn about the Bible. CBS helps build a love for learning God’s word.”

The Bartlesville CBS Class will begin its 2021-22-year on September 1, from 10 a.m. - noon at the current host church, Grace Community Church. The Bartlesville Teaching Director is Carol Hudson, who has served in this position for the past four years. This year they will study First, Second, and Third John, Philemon, Jude, First & Second Peter, and James. Registration fee is $35 and includes all materials. They would love for you to come join them as they come together face-to-face after a year of liveonline study. To register, or for information, visit https://bartlesville.cbsclass.org or call Deana Holman, the class coordinator, at 918-214-0688.