Teenagers are going off to college and their parents do not know what to do. They are off all alone without their parents’ constant advice, stories, and helpful reminders to clean their rooms. It is the mom’s little boy or daddy’s little girl, and no one knows how to help them when they are gone except to hope for the best. However, there is a whole group of mothers in similar situations who know exactly how hard it is to prepare, and will have advice to offer and hand out.
Mothers of College Students, M.O.C.S, is a group of moms who have kids in college. They meet to pray about their children in college and kids who are preparing to head off for the same journey.
M.O.C.S meets every Wednesday at Diana Rohlfing’s, leader of M.O.C.S, house and pray for each other’s kids.
“We meet each week, during the school year, for two hours. While the moms gather, we visit and discuss the latest news from our kids and any special issues that come up. Then we take about one and a half hours to pray individually for each college student whose mom is there. I choose one scripture and pray it for each child and then three or four moms pray for their specific requests,” said Rohlfing.
This program was designed and created for moms who struggle with what to do or say when their children have gone off to college as well as how to prepare for their departure.
“We started our first meeting by discussing issues revolving around college-finances, communication with our kids when they are away, what it’s like when they come back home, etc. The group decided that they really wanted to continue meeting…It was then that I discussed with Kim Doyle the idea of making this part of the prayer ministry at WCA. With an emphasis on prayer, we could meet, discuss our college kids and then spend time in prayer for them and for each other,” said Rohlfing.
Participants praise this prayer program as being a huge help to them, and they want to help others feel the same way.
“I joined the group when my oldest daughter first went away to college. This was an unsettling time in our relationship and for both of us spiritually. I was praying for guidance and wisdom when Mrs. Rohlfing started this group, the first of many answered prayers! My daughter is a senior now and I am still in the group because I see the value of constant prayer for our college kids and I enjoy the time with moms who share this priority” said Maureen Wenberg, a participant of M.O.C.S.
This prayer group has been a great success for those who are in it.
“Our mom’s prayer group has been a blessing to me and my college kids and has increased my faith tremendously as I have seen God’s faithfulness week after week. He has answered our prayers, not always how we expected, but always above and beyond what we asked,” said Wenberg.
Reflecting on the whole experience, Rohlfing has high hopes for the prayer group, and its future.
“It has been wonderful, God has blown us away with his answers to our prayers and provision for our kids. I love how God took a desire for mentoring in my heart and turned it into a prayer ministry. Our youngest son, David is a freshman this year and I will continue this group until he graduates. Hopefully, after that someone else will continue it. I do love leading this group. It has blessed me immensely,” said Rohlfing.
Mothers who are interested in joining this prayer group should e-mail Diana Rohlfing at [email protected]. It starts at 2:30 and ends at 4:30 on Wednesdays. Mothers with students who are seniors or have kids in college are invited.
