Meet Dana Maksimowicz

I am a mom of 3 teens and wife to a 20-year Air Force veteran. Our marriage has taken us to 5 different states and a stay in Belgium. With each move throughout the years, my top priority is connecting with the people that make me feel at home; other believers in Christ. I always know that no matter where we go if we have nothing else in common, our Jesus can bind us together with a common thread.

My husband retired in 2017 and began a new career as an airline pilot. This brought us to Texas and for the first time since our wedding day, we did not have our Air Force family. This was a tough move for me.  I was alone often and the kids and I only knew a couple families in the area. I quickly began visiting churches to try and find our best fit. That, in of itself, was always a challenge taking three kids to a new church each week without my husband trying to see where God was leading us.

Our friends attended Faith Bible and invited us to try it out. Our visit there was touched by folks organized to greet us and show us around the facilities. We felt like God was leading us to stay and make Faith our home. The congregation size was larger than we were accustom to so it was tempting to listen to Satan say, “no one even knows you are here, there are so many people.” He is really good at pushing my buttons. I knew the importance of getting plugged in quickly so I would not feel isolated in this new city. I started attending the Thursday morning women’s Bible study and met some great ladies there. God then led me to seek out an even smaller group to find “my people.” I started talking with Evelyn Tarbell to find where I might fit. 

Satan was setting me up to think I wouldn’t fit anywhere with what was offered at the time. I wasn’t a single mom, I couldn’t attend a couple’s group without my husband, my kids were not toddlers anymore –it was a new phase of life. So, I wondered if there were any other moms with pre-teens or teens that might be interested in joining a new small group. Evelyn sent an email out for me to see if there was any interest.  We had a great response and God guided me to start a Moms of Teens small group on Thursday mornings in our home. I didn’t know if anyone would show up, but I was going to sit and be ready to welcome anyone who came. They came and kept coming back. The second year we divided into two groups and God continues to be faithful in our third year. 

God knew exactly what I needed and has brought me some AMAZING friends. What a blessing this group has been. It is so nice to see other women celebrating this stage of life and being able to share our struggles with each other. He was at work letting us all know that we were “in the same boat” raising these teenagers. I had found my people. I want to encourage you to seek out a small group!

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you seethe Day drawing near.