Ithaca Women’s Bible Study (IWBS) began in 1969 when three friends, Letty Ludington, Diana Jenkins, and Nancy Sobel, began meeting in Letty’s living room to study the Gospel of Luke. The location enabled Letty’s mother, who was wheelchair bound and lived with the Ludingtons, to participate. While the women feasted on God’s Word, their children played in the basement.
Word of the study spread throughout the community and drew women from a variety of church affiliations. In time, the town noticed the weekly pile-up of cars that spilled out of the driveway and stretched along the road. Eventually the town put up no parking signs at which point BG offered the ladies space to meet. IWBS is open to women from all denominations and churches.
In addition to meeting Thursdays during the academic year, IWBS has hosted conferences, seminars, speakers, and evangelistic brunches. Letty has been the main Bible teacher throughout its 55 years. She says that her goal has always been to lay a doctrinal foundation for the ladies, making note that in order to do this, “I depend completely on the Holy Spirit.”
During the Covid shutdown, IWBS had to recalculate. Michelle Emr’s organizational skills and determination were instrumental in the study shifting to a Zoom format while some special events became hybrid, such as their Joy to the World Christmas Celebration, which is Thursday, December 5th at 9:30 am in BG’s Family Center (or by Zoom). Come enjoy Christmas cookies, hot beverages, festive carols and cozy fellowship as we hear a special Christmas message from Susan Hay, longtime BG supported missionary to Uganda. Bring a friend!
For anyone interested in joining IWBS in the new year, note that IWBS winter break is from Dec 6 through January 8, 2025. The first meeting of 2025 is January 9th on Zoom at 9:30 am. The new study, Even Better Than Eden, by Nancy Guthrie, will begin January 23rd and end March 20th. To learn more please contact Michelle Emr (memrrigirl@gmail.com).