Heather Lindsey will be the first one to tell you her life hasn't been easy, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, she is working hard to help others. "I have a heart for women," she stated. "I've had a hard life, a hard upbringing. You name it, I've been through it. But, one day, God laid this idea on my heart." That idea was to create 4C, a women's ministry that meets in Columbia and Manheim.
The mission of 4C is to empower women and provide a sense of community, open conversation, creative arts and worship. The "C's" stand for conversation, coloring, coffee and Christ, and the group's tagline is "4 Christ. Thru Christ." The group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 237 Locust St., Columbia, and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Teen Central, 15 S. Wolf St., Manheim.
"You walk in the door where you are, and we meet you where you are," Lindsey said. "We want to minister to women wherever they are in their lives and whatever they are going through, and we want to give them an opportunity to meet new friends."
The second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month focus on coloring and conversation, Lindsey noted, adding, "It's very low-key. We just talk and share whatever's on our hearts." On the third Tuesday in Columbia and the fourth Wednesday in Manheim, the group spends time doing crafts. "Then on our fourth Tuesday in Columbia, it's our game night, and that's usually just a hysterical night of fun," Lindsey stated.
Lindsey started her ministry in Columbia three years ago and launched the Manheim program in January 2020. She noted that 4C is faith-based, but "not faith pushed," and is open to any women. "We don't usually have specific topics we'll discuss at a meeting, but we do try to stay positive and within our limits of helping," she stated. "If there are resources or tools these ladies need beyond what we can offer, we get them help."
When she's not ministering to women, Lindsey can be found at Creative Inspirationz, a gallery she owns located at 23 N. Main St., Manheim. "I'm the major artist on site," she explained. "The goal of my gallery is to make art for working-class people. Hardworking people deserve fine art in their homes, not just prints but originals, and it shouldn't have to take your entire paycheck to get it."
Lindsey said she sees great things in store for 4C as the program continues to thrive. "We're working to build women up and make them stronger, which in turn is building up our community," she stated. "We are so quick to tear each other down, and it can be so hard to build each other up, but we are trying to change that. We are empowering women to be the best God wants them to be."
For more information on 4C or Creative Inspirationz, visit http://www.artbyheatherlindsey.com or search for "4C Ministry" on Facebook.
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