![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Group-Vision26PurposeBrunch-46-1.jpg?resize=1920%2C1034&ssl=1\")
<\/center><\/p>
With the turn of every new year, you’ll find countless people considering their goals for the year. From New Year’s resolutions to SMART goals to dreams for a better year \u2013 there’s no shortage of fresh inspiration. Quite typically, however, that New Year zeal starts to fizzle within a few short weeks and even faster when life doesn’t go as planned. But I am doing my part to change that. <\/p>\n
I am using my talents and gifts to inspire women in my community by creating inspirational events where they can rekindle their dreams and reconnect with their God-given purpose. <\/p>\n
In 2017, following the devastation in our islands caused by Hurricane Irma, we sought to pick up the pieces and move forward. While the rebuilding had begun, there was still a strong sense of hopelessness and the looming question of ‘what next?’ I felt discouraged and disoriented. But instead of wallowing in despair, I felt God prompting me to do something about it. <\/p>\n
Venturing that other women were feeling hopeless too, I invited 12 friends to a small gathering where we could regroup and consider the next steps for our post-hurricane lives. It was like a breath of fresh air and just what we needed. They wanted more and soon we reconnected to create vision boards reflective of the big plans we felt God had in store for us. I knew God was calling me to reconnect with Him and to inspire other women to do likewise. <\/p>\n
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight<\/i>.” Proverbs 3:5-6 <\/p>\n
By 2019, I opened the doors to the first Vision & Purpose Brunch, a half-day motivational event for women. It\u2019s a space where real women get to share real hope, bond together in community and create a compelling vision for their future. Now in its second year, the sold-out event brought together 40 women eager to reignite their passion, reconnect with their ‘why’ and move forward with renewed purpose. <\/p>\n
I am amazed at how God will take our little and make it much. What started as disquiet in my soul has turned into a deep desire to serve and encourage the women in my community and beyond. I feel honored to pour into the lives of these women and I can’t wait to see what God will do next. <\/p>\n
My story is a reminder that God wants to rekindle the dreams He put on our hearts, no matter how buried they might seem. He has a purpose for each of us, and He will use even difficult circumstances to reconnect us with His plans. When we lean into God, he will make our paths straight. <\/p>\n
Marva is a sister in the four-member Tortola Church of Christ (in the British Virgin Islands). If you wish to connect with her for more information on her work or to organize an event see details below: <\/p>\n
Email: marvatsmith@gmail.com
\n On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @marvatsmith
\n Website: www.MarvaSmith.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the turn of every new year, you’ll find countless people considering their goals for the year. From New Year’s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[54],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-3080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-north-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Group-Vision26PurposeBrunch-46.jpg?fit=1920%2C1034&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-NG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4702,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/how-to-crush-your-new-years-resolutions\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":0},"title":"How to Crush Your New Year\u2019s Resolutions","author":"dtadmin","date":"February 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you want to \u201ccrush it\u201d in 2019, you might be thinking of all the things you want to accomplish this year. You might be surprised to find that doing fewer things might be the key to making this your best year ever. I am an avid writer of New\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/resolutions.png?fit=534%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/resolutions.png?fit=534%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/resolutions.png?fit=534%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2835,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/insights-of-a-12-year-old-part-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":1},"title":"Insights of a 12 year old – Part II","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Jesus asked solution focused questions that got to the heart of the matter.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/12yrold.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/12yrold.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/12yrold.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/12yrold.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29475,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/healing-spiritual-burnout\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":2},"title":"Healing Spiritual Burnout: Putting Paul\u2019s Biblical Secret Into Action","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"December 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When we set our hope on ourselves or on the attainment of earthly goals (even ones that sound spiritual!), we set ourselves up for disappointment, burnout, or worse.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_jci7dpjci7dpjci7.jpeg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_jci7dpjci7dpjci7.jpeg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_jci7dpjci7dpjci7.jpeg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_jci7dpjci7dpjci7.jpeg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gemini_Generated_Image_jci7dpjci7dpjci7.jpeg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/singles-service-team\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":3},"title":"Singles Service Team","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"June 3, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"The Singles Service Team is comprised of international singles and married brothers and sisters that are volunteers or in the full time ministry.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24801,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/lower-your-goals-or-raise-your-habits-a-path-to-faith-filled-excellence\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":4},"title":"Lower Your Goals or Raise Your Habits: A Path to Faith-Filled Excellence","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"October 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover why lasting growth comes from small, consistent steps and steady, focused action.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Image-20241029-071424.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Image-20241029-071424.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Image-20241029-071424.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Image-20241029-071424.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4426,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/for-a-time-such-as-this\/","url_meta":{"origin":3080,"position":5},"title":"For a Time Such as This","author":"dtadmin","date":"May 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"As young children, we often daydream and role-play, imagining the many wonders that await us in the far-off world of adulthood. We dream of being the greatest basketball player, or the most brilliant doctor, the most impactful teacher and even the best parent. As we grow, we begin to understand\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tina_crawley.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tina_crawley.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tina_crawley.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/tina_crawley.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Group-Vision26PurposeBrunch-46.jpg?fit=1920%2C1034&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3080"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=3080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}