Meet Our Staff

Susan Miller- Founder/President

Ann Kelley- Creative Design/Website Management

Jill Maher- Office Management

Paulette Miller- Regional Coordinator

JoAnn Smith- National Coordinator/Military Liaison

Donna Ludwig- Director of Volunteers

Joan Langston- Financial Magagement

What is a Moving On After Moving in Bible Study?

A Moving On After Moving In Bible study is an excellent way to reach out to women experiencing the loss and loneliness of a move. They are eager to make friends and to be connected within a church like yours. During a move emotions are raw and hearts are more inclined to the Lord more than ever as women seek direction in their new community.

Moving On After Moving In is a 13-session Bible study that addresses a woman’s emotional struggles and the opportunities for spiritual growth as she starts over in a new community. It is based upon the book, After the Boxes are Unpacked, by the President of Just Moved Ministry, Susan Miller. A seasoned mover and popular speaker, Susan shares the biblical principles she learned as a result of her 14 moves.

The study takes women through the important stages necessary for a successful move: letting go of the past, starting over in a new community, and moving ahead with a new life. Not only does the study prepare, encourage, and equip a woman for the emotional and spiritual strain of such a major life change, it provides a wonderful way for women to make the friends and community connections they long for. Upon completion of the class, many women go on to serve in other capacities within the church.

Since 1995 this Bible study has been offered wherever women find themselves brand new and starting over: churches, military installations, homes, seminaries, missionary organizations, and corporate settings around the world.

The class is available in two formats.

1. The DVD Teaching Series can be viewed by members of the class and requires only a facilitator and a DVD player. In this format the women will watch Susan Miller teach a Moving On After Moving In class. A Facilitator’s Guide is included to help the Facilitator lead the discussion following each viewing.

2. The second format is the Class in a Box. It contains everything you need to offer a Moving On After Moving In class, including a Leader’s Manual, books, and Newcomer Workbooks. The Leader’s Manual provides a Class Leader with weekly lesson plans, chapter objectives, icebreakers, ideas for getting the women to share, visual aid suggestions, scripture references, and prayers.

For each format it is highly recommended that each class member has a copy of After the Boxes are Unpacked and a Newcomer’s Workbook that accompany the study, enrich the experience of each woman, and facilitate spiritual and emotional growth. (When you order After the Boxes are Unpacked for your group members from Just Moved, you receive a discount on the book and you support the ongoing efforts of the ministry to direct women to Jesus Christ as they experience a challenging time in their lives.)

A Moving On After Moving In leader or facilitator that registers her group with Just Moved Ministry is offered one-on-one guidance, teaching tools and ideas, a quarterly Leader’s Connection Newsletter, and promotion of her class on the Just Moved Ministry website.

For more information, please call Just Moved Ministry at 480.991.5268, 9am to 4pm, MST.

Class Spotlight

Overlake Christian Church
Redmond, WA
Lori Creekmore, Group Leader

This is my January 2010 photo of all of us at my house when I did a brunch to celebrate the arrival of a baby in our group. From left to right, Jericho, myself, Perry, and Melodee. We are missing Josie, who could not attend the brunch.

Monthly Challenge- Jan 2011

People who focus on joy, who look at life through its lens, and who express joy in all their dealings and relationships have a more satisfying life. - Karen O'Connor
Let Go: What brings you joy?

Start Today: Don't miss the joy of this day by trying to figure out what's coming next.

Move Forward: Whatever unknowns are ahead this year, I trust God to be with me.

December 2010



Let Go: What were your expectations for this move? Have you been disappointed?

Start Over: No one expected God to come to earth as a helpless baby. God works in ways that are unexpected for a plan that is too wonderful.

Move forward: Write down the expectations you had for this transition that you are in. Destroy the list that you made to symbolize that it no longer has power over you. Write down a new expectation: that each day God will reveal more of Himself and His plan for you.

A Moving Story

From east coast to west coast... from anger to peace

Marnya, a military spouse in VA

I thank you for the recent phone call and email. I was so surprised that someone called me. I was unsure about joining the community but, now I see that this is a real community of people that truly care. I thank you so much for taking out the time to call and send me an email it made me feel like someone actually care about the transition I am about to embark on.

I am a military wife and my husband has been stationed in Japan for the last year. It has been a very hard year without my spouse, but I am home with my family and friends for support. My husband is awaiting new orders for his next duty station.

All year I have prayed that we will stay home and have been pretty much selfish about the moving thing - even angry at times. But I decided to seek God about the matter and, after all my kicking and screaming, I am at peace that we must move in order to keep the family together and not spend any more time apart.

Driving home from work one day, I heard about this ministry on a broadcast called Family Life Today. I was so surprised to hear that there was such a ministry. I thought, "Wow God, you really know what I need." It has been a month or two since that drive home and recently I decided to check out the website. The website was great and so encouraging. ...I look forward to the things to come as I transition to a new location.

The move from the east coast to the west coast is very scary, but I am trying to trust and believe God that everything will be ok.

Editor's note: Since Marnya sent in her story, she has made the move to the west coast and, while the transition has not been easy, she writes, "...it is getting easier to make friends and reach out to others. The key word is 'reach out'. I had to make myself available to make friends. I am learning to be content no matter what situation or location I am in. I am learning to trust God in everything. Thank you and the Just Moved Ministry for your prayers and support."

Tips for Moving On

A Fresh Start for a New Year

Because I'm a creature of habit, I'm often reluctant to change my routine. Some habits are worth keeping but some need a good cleaning out.

Are you, too, a creature of habit? Do you find it hard to change old ways? Many aspects of your life may need to be examined and weighed to see if change is necessary. They may be important matters of the heart or just minor things in the course of a day that need rethinking or revising since you've moved. Now is the time to make a fresh start. What a great opportunity to make some changes that will give you new direction, and make your life easier and more enjoyable.

The giant step of self-discipline will be the springboard for setting new goals, new priorities, and doing some reorganizing. Philippians 3:13-14 gives me some biblical insights regarding self-discipline. "I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Do you see the four key phrases in these verses which are necessary for self-discipline? They are: one thing, forgetting, reaching forward, and press on.

1. One thing means I need to be single-minded and focus on what I'm trying to accomplish. Doing ten things at once is definitely a distraction from my primary goal.

2. Forgetting indicates putting something out of my mind. I need to clear my mind of less important things so that I can be free to do what is most significant.

3. Reaching forward involves stretching or extending myself. At times I feel like I'm trying to do something that's out of reach; but the more I stretch toward the goal, the closer I come to achieving it.

4. Press on means to go forward with effort and commitment. Worthwhile goals aren't simply going to happen. They must be pursued with determination.

My daddy told me when I got married, "You can find out everything you need to know about how to live your life - everything from spending money to being a good wife to raising children - all in the Bible. That's the best manual you can have." I continue to get wonderful direction, for even the smallest things, right within its pages. I even find instruction for self-discipline and setting goals.

I encourage you to rethink and reflect on any area of your life that you feel might need a change, either personal or spiritual. This may be just the right time to turn things around.

(Excerpted from After the Boxes Are Unpacked by Susan Miller)

Monthly Devotional- Jan 2011

The fresh start you need, the second chance you yearn for, the new beginning meant just for you.

God is all about giving people a fresh start, a second chance, or a new beginning in life. Countless stories in the Bible remind us of this: Ruth and Naomi, who were given a new beginning; the woman at the well, who was given a second chance; and the prodigal son, who was given a fresh start in life.

It is reassuring to know that God can do the same thing for us today when we surrender all to Him. He is the author of forgiveness, restoration, and healing. He is calling your name. Run to Him as the New Year begins. He is waiting with open arms to welcome you and give you the fresh start you need, the second chance you yearn for, and the new beginning meant just for you.

Scripture to Remember:

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Question to Consider:

Have I surrendered everything to God-including my heart?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Please come into my life and my heart today! I accept you as my Savior and Lord. Forgive me, as I have sinned against you and against others. Heal me from the hurts of my past, restore my life, and renew my heart. Amen

Thought for the Day:

Today is a fresh start, a second chance, and a new beginning for me!

-Susan Miller

The story of Ruth and Naomi is in the Old Testament in the Book of Ruth

The story of the woman at the well is in the New Testament in John 4:7-28

The story of the prodigal son is in the New Testament in Luke 15:11-32

Heart Notes from Susan

Dear Moving Friends,

It's Monday morning, the first week of the New Year, and I find myself moving slowly, just trying to get my thoughts together for the day. Because of the holidays I'm out of the rhythm of my normal routine, and a little overwhelmed with a long to-do list demanding my attention between home and office. I'm waiting on a service man to show up for some home maintenance so I can get to the Just Moved office--when the phone rings. Although I don't recognize the number on caller ID, the name is all too familiar.

"Susan, it's Elaine! Happy New Year darlin', how are you?" I smile from ear to ear just hearing her unforgettable voice and feeling the warmth of her love over the phone. I've known Elaine since I was in college. She lived across the street from my mom and dad in Florida, and was my mom's best friend for what seemed like forever. She was an intricate part of my family's daily life. I wore Elaine's wedding dress when I married Bill, she celebrated the birth of my children, she tucked me in her bed the night my mom died, and grieved with me when Bill died.

Elaine and mom celebrated any and every holiday, with great zest and enthusiasm-- especially the 4th of July. The tradition was always a sheet cake decorated like a red, white, and blue flag with little toothpick flags on top; a red, white, and blue paper tablecloth for the picnic table in her back yard, with matching red, white, and blue paper plates and napkins. Red jello salad with cool whip was the first thing on our plates. We always wore the same stars and stripes head bands and matching red t-shirts for pictures, which I still have. Sparklers glittered at dusk dark as we waved them in the air, as if we could, at that moment and time, sparkle the world with our laughter.

Elaine is now 81 years old, and lives alone--but has lots of friends, as you can imagine. I haven't seen her in years, but I call her a couple of times during the year, and she always calls me at Christmas. This year she didn't call-until this morning. Perfect timing to get me back on track. Her words not only encourage me, but help to put my life in perspective for the day, and even for the New Year. Her life has been tested with pain and heartaches over the years, but she stands unwavering in her faith, and leans on the everlasting arms of Jesus each day. She shares how every day when she awakes she says, "Good morning God, I can't handle today alone, so I'm depending on you to help me." Then she says, "Susan, I don't know how people live every day without God. I talk to Him all day long. I couldn't have gotten through the death of family and friends, health problems, and hard times without Him."

Do I know this in my head and heart? Yes, and I hope you do too. Do we need to hear it again (and again) from people God puts in our path, at just the right moment, when we need it the most? Yes, we do. Let me be your "Elaine" today, as I remind you that God will never leave you, or forsake you in the New Year. Greet Him every morning and give Him your day. Talk to Him all day long. Depend on Him to meet your needs, through the good times, and the hard times, as you face this year. Then, perhaps when we are 81 years old, we can share the wisdom of our years with God to encourage someone-like me, or you.

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan Miller

January Moving Message from Susan Miller

January Moving Message from Susan Miller