About MomQ

At MomQ we believe that motherhood is a calling from God. While it is both a privilege and an honor, it is by no means easy! Moms have a lot of questions/concerns and need caring support along their journey. Whether you are a brand new mom or a little more seasoned, MomQ is here to help you fulfill your God given role. Don’t see a group in your area? Contact us today about starting one in your community!

What We Believe

As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that He is the only son of God who came to earth to conquer sin and death. We believe that those who place their faith and trust in Jesus as their Savior have a right relationship with God and eternal salvation. We believe that the Bible is the literal, authoritative word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit to be used for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

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Vision

To help mothers from all stages of life find hope, peace and joy on their journey.

Mission

We empower mothers with confidence in community to build strong faithful families and raise virtuous children.

Core values

Pour out love not judgment
Be authentic in sharing struggles and victories
Be doers of the word not just hearers
Be teachable and value listening to wise counsel

In all these: Bear one another’s burdens

“MomQ has been my weekly dose of encouragement. It has transformed the way I approach the daily hardships of parenting, and strengthened my marriage. I absolutely love how moms from all walks of life can come together to dive deep into God’s truth. Our mentor moms have created a positive, safe environment where we can be honest and vulnerable without judgement. Whether you are a seasoned Christian or are just seeking answers, this group is for you. All the teachings provide a relevant, biblically centered approach to the different struggles and challenges of raising Godly children in a noisy world. ”

– Michelle

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where do you meet?

We meet Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:30 am.
Hill Country Bible Church, Steiner Ranch location
4310 N Quinlan Park Rd. Austin, TX 78732
Our semesters run about 12 weeks

What can I expect at the weekly meetings?

Our mornings are richly filled with both connection and learning. We begin by gathering as a large group for 15-20 minutes of coffee and a light breakfast. Next we have a speaker on the topic of the week that includes a spiritual focus as well as practical life application. Finally, we spend the rest of the morning in small groups reflecting on what we have learned in guided discussion with our experienced mentor moms.

Who is MomQ for?

We welcome anyone who is looking to connect with others and gain practical wisdom on parenting from a biblical perspective.

Is there homework required?

No, we know how busy you are at this stage of life. We just want you to come and be encouraged each week.

What if I didn’t register but would like to join late?

You can join us anytime during the semester. Each weekly topic is independent of the others. However, we do ask that you register your children if needed so that we can be sure they are properly cared for.

Can I join the same small group as my friend?

Yes! We want you to be comfortable so just email us at info@momq.org with your request and we will be sure to accommodate you.

Is what I share in the small groups confidential?

Absolutely! We have a small group agreement that includes a commitment to confidentiality, sensitivity and acceptance.

Who We Are

Our Team

Our experienced teachers and mentor moms have successfully walked the road of motherhood and have a passion to share the lessons they learned along the way. Each week our mentor moms faithfully lead their small groups in authentic conversations that build upon the teaching topic. Our core values are reinforced in this community where moms find fellowship, compassion, love, acceptance, integrity, discipleship, empowerment and prayer.

Teachers

Candace Nassar

Candace is a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ, wife and mother of 3 adult children. She is also a visionary women’s ministry leader, disciple maker and experienced bible study teacher with a strong understanding of women’s needs. She attributes this to a life of living all over the country, including the Southeast, the Northeast, California and Texas. She has been married for over 30 years to a wise Christian man and her children are all committed followers of Jesus Christ.

Heather Van Stavern

Susan McAlinden

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Julie Whitehurst

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Barbara Bland

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Jes Gierke

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Kendra Echols

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Board of Directors

MomQ is a 501 c (3) non-profit led by faithful volunteers who believe that God designed the family as the building block of society. They are committed to providing moms with encouragement and counsel from a biblical perspective.

Candace Nassar

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Julie Whitehurst

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Sandy Rigney

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Kevin Whitehurst

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Stay In Touch

Candace Nassar

Candace has an M.B.A. and spent over 20 years in the business world with experience in banking, consulting and entrepreneurship. She caught the teaching bug while homeschooling her kids during elementary school. After moving to Austin in 2012, she spent 10 years teaching in the Leander Independent School District. She is a member of Hill Country Bible Church Steiner Ranch and on the teaching team of the Saturate Austin Institute. Of all of her roles in life, Candace says none is more important and difficult than being a wife and mother.

Candace is passionate about helping moms become more confident and comfortable in their God given role. Her messages are authentic and deal with the tough issues that moms face today providing insights and answers from a biblical perspective. She hopes to never move again but says she would if God asks her to. “Ever since becoming a believer at the age of 30, God has shown me time and time again that His ways are best!”

Heather Van Stavern

Heather is a gifted communicator who is passionate about obeying the will of God and teaching His word. She and her husband Brad have been married 18 years and have three children: Jade (18), Chance (15), and Dax (13). A former public high school speech/communication and theatre teacher, Heather currently serves the body of Christ as a lead teacher in Women’s Ministry and lead teacher in Children’s Ministry at Hill Country Bible Church. Over the last 20 years at Hill Country, Heather has been instrumental in several community-focused ministries, including launching a popular community fun run event that connects people who are far from God with the local church and leading a large afterschool club for 5th-grade public school girls to explore and grow in their faith. Heather will take the truths of the Bible and apply it to your life in a friendly, sincere, "I want to hear more" style. She considers it a privilege to speak into the lives of women, guiding them toward knowing and loving the God who made and adores them. Heather enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and Mexican food. She, however, can do without olives, creepy-crawling things, and laundry.

Susan McAlinden

Susan McAlinden spent twenty-one years raising her family, participating in Bible studies, leading small groups, Moms in Prayer groups, and mentoring moms of younger children. Being a mom was Susan’s favorite job, and she loves to encourage other moms as they juggle their own family, their extended family, their marriage, and time for themselves. As her nest started to empty, God called Susan to new ventures, and He will do the same for you. Currently, Susan is a contributing writer on the website, Freedtoflourish.com. She was recently published in the Proverbs 31 book, “hope when your heart is heavy.” Susan likes dark chocolate, a good book, a daily walk, and encouraging others to be who they were created to be.

Julie Whitehurst

Julie Whitehurst was born and raised in Texas, and has resided in Austin for the last 11 years with her husband, Kevin, and their three children, Matthew, Connor and Lily. She was raised in a family that made Jesus a priority and has continued that pursuit of Jesus daily. She has taught in married couples Sunday School classes and has led bible studies for women for the past 15 years. She loves all candles, coffee, fashion, and her beloved Golden Retriever Jojo-bean. On any given day, you may find her with a blanket and a book sitting near a warm fire in the fireplace. If Tom Brady is playing? bonus.

Barbara Bland

Barbara is an authentic, disciple-making grandmother who is young at heart. She has been married to her husband Joe for almost 40 years. They have two awesome sons and daughters in law and at present, two wonderful grandsons. Barbara is a shining light striving to reflect the love of Jesus in all she does.They have attended Hill Country Bible Church in Austin for over 20 years and been involved in many ministries including, Women’s Bible Study, Celebrate Recovery, Re-Engage, to name a few. She loves being a mentor mom especially to moms with littles because they teach her so much about raising babies in today’s world. She, in turn, is able to give them insight into how she handled things ages ago. She says, “God’s principles never change from generation to generation.” Barbara enjoys exercising at the gym, working in her yard, and taking care of her grandbabies.

Jes Gierke

Jesica is a stay-at-home mom who has a passion for Christ and teaching. She combines these two passions by both homeschooling her children and investing in women through various ministries. She and David have been married for over 18 years and have been blessed with two amazing children. She grew up in central Mexico where she learned to appreciate the simpler things in life and the value of family. She has lived in Texas nearly 16 years, by way of Chicago, where she met David, her husband and best friend. Jesica is an avid reader and rarely encounters a book she doesn’t want to at least check out. She holds degrees in both marketing and management from the University of Illinois at Chicago, studied women’s literature at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain, and once upon a time held a teaching certificate. In her free time, she loves to garden, read, but most of all spend time with her children and husband playing games, building puzzles, and sharing a meal.

Kendra Echols

Kendra is native to central Texas. She and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Austin for almost 25 years. They have 3 teenage children and a chocolate lab. She appreciates authenticity and seeks to build relationships on the truth of God's Word and is grateful to be part of the MomQ Team. Kendra has served in Women's Ministry & Children's Ministry at Hill Country Bible Church for 20+ years. She enjoys playing tennis, the guitar and singing, traveling and hiking with her family, jigsaw puzzles, and college football Saturdays with neighbors.

Sandy Rigney

Sandy loves Jesus and serving His people. She has a degree in communications from the University of Northern Iowa. Her work background includes Moody Press, Willow Creek Church in Chicago, and owning her own business in home organization. She was also on staff at Hill Country Bible Church in Austin and All God's Children International. As a stay at home mom for years, she invested into her 3 children who are now grown and walking with Jesus. Two of them are married and she has one sweet grand baby. Her current focus is discipling younger women. She has been involved with MomQ since its inception and is thrilled to be serving on the board of directors.

Kevin Whitehurst

Kevin is a software entrepreneur and executive for Mindglobal in Austin, TX. Founded in 2000, Kevin has helped grow Mindglobal serving global Fortune 500 companies. Kevin completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Applied Statistics, both from Baylor University.

More importantly, Kevin is married to his amazing wife, Julie and together they have been blessed with 3 children, Matt and daughter-in-law Lauren, Connor, and Lily. Kevin is passionate about being a husband and father, looking to create a legacy of faith and fun. Kevin also serves on the Central Texas board for FCA, has been a leader in youth groups at HCBC, and a men’s small group leader over the years, most recently at Manup.

About MomQ

What We Believe

Vision

Mission

Core values

– Michelle

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where do you meet?

What can I expect at the weekly meetings?

Who is MomQ for?

Is there homework required?

What if I didn’t register but would like to join late?

Can I join the same small group as my friend?

Is what I share in the small groups confidential?

Who We Are

Our Team

Teachers

Candace Nassar

Heather Van Stavern

Mentor Moms

Susan McAlinden

Julie Whitehurst

Barbara Bland

Jes Gierke

Kendra Echols

Board of Directors

Candace Nassar

Julie Whitehurst

Sandy Rigney

Kevin Whitehurst

Stay In Touch

Success!

Candace Nassar

Heather Van Stavern

Susan McAlinden

Julie Whitehurst

Barbara Bland

Jes Gierke

Kendra Echols

Sandy Rigney

Kevin Whitehurst