Embrace Grace: You are not alone

Finding out you’re pregnant can bring a lot of emotions. And for a single mom facing an unexpected pregnancy, it can also bring a lot of questions.

What am I going to do? What does this mean for my future? Who can I talk to? Am I going to have to do this alone?

At Shoal Creek, we want the answer to that last question to be clear:

No. You are not alone.

That’s the heart behind Embrace Grace, a new ministry at Shoal Creek created to come alongside single, expectant moms with practical support, genuine relationships, and most importantly, the hope of Jesus.

And for Sharee Hileman, the desire to bring Embrace Grace to The Creek comes from years of seeing firsthand just how much that kind of relationship and support is needed.

So, what is Embrace Grace?
Embrace Grace is a 12-week support group for single and pregnant women. Throughout the program, moms hear biblical teaching, listen to stories from women who have walked through similar circumstances, build relationships, and find a place where they can be honest about what they’re experiencing.

Sharee describes it as a place designed to help expecting mothers “find a place of hope and belonging.”

At the end of the program, our church gets the opportunity to celebrate these moms through a special baby shower and other moments designed to remind each woman of something we hope she has heard over and over again throughout the program:

You are seen. You are loved. And you have a place here.

For Sharee, this ministry is personal.

For nearly 10 years, Sharee has worked with Life on Wheels, a mobile ministry that provides free ultrasounds to women who need an ultrasound before an abortion appointment.

Through that work, she has met women at an incredibly important and often overwhelming moment in their lives. She has seen the fear and uncertainty that can come with an unexpected pregnancy—and she has seen how alone some women feel as they try to figure out what comes next.

Those encounters have given Sharee a desire to do more.

Not simply to meet a woman during one moment of her story, but to have an opportunity to build a relationship with her. To continue showing up. To help meet practical needs. To introduce her to a church family. And ultimately, to point her toward Jesus.

“I have worked with Life on Wheels for about 10 years and have experienced many single women who found out they were pregnant,” Sharee said. “Some of them seem so alone.”

That’s a feeling she hopes Embrace Grace can begin to change.

“I want them all to experience the love and support I have found in the Church. I want them to know that they aren’t alone. I want them to find Jesus in the process.”

We don’t want to simply tell women in our community that we care about them. We want to be willing to walk with them.

Sometimes the needs are the ones we don’t see.

For a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, the needs aren’t always obvious.

“A common invisible fear is that having a child means sacrificing their education, career, or future dreams,” Sharee explained.

She may be wondering if she can still finish school, pursue a career, afford childcare, find transportation, or continue working toward the future she had imagined.

Sometimes she needs resources.
Sometimes she needs advice.
Sometimes she needs someone to sit beside her on Sunday morning.

And sometimes she just needs someone who will answer the phone and remind her that she doesn’t have to figure everything out by herself.

That’s why Embrace Grace is about more than meeting needs for a few weeks. It’s about building relationships that can continue beyond the program.

This is where the Church gets to be the Church.

Embrace Grace meets needs in several different ways.
There are practical things like Love Boxes, baby supplies, transportation, childcare, financial assistance when possible, and a church-wide baby shower at the end of the program.

There’s emotional support through relationships with other women, mentors, leaders, and church buddies who can simply be a friend through the process.

And Sharee hopes women will find something else here too: a shame-free place where they know they are genuinely wanted.

When asked what she hopes a woman knows the moment she walks through the doors of Embrace Grace, Sharee’s answer was simple:

“That she is not alone and that we are truly interested in helping her and giving her the support she may not have at home.”

But ultimately, our greatest hope is that these women encounter Jesus.

Sharee describes the spiritual goal of Embrace Grace as helping women find their “identity in Christ,” become part of a spiritual family, and continue in discipleship after the program ends.

Because Embrace Grace isn’t just about helping someone through a pregnancy.

It’s about walking with people.
And there’s a place for you in that.

One of the things we love about Embrace Grace is that you don’t have to lead the group or become a mentor to be part of it.

You can pray.
You can write an encouraging letter.
You can help with transportation or childcare.
You can help us throw a baby shower.
You can become a church buddy—someone willing to meet a woman when she comes to church, sit with her, show her around, and make walking into a new place feel a little less intimidating.

There are a lot of ways to serve. The important thing is that when a woman walks through our doors, she sees what we hope is true about The Creek:

There are people here who genuinely care about her.

Maybe you know someone who needs this.

If you know a woman who is single and pregnant, tell her about Embrace Grace. Help her take that first step and get connected with Sharee and our Embrace Grace team.

And if you’re reading this and wondering if you should reach out, we hope you will.
Sharee said it best:

“You are not alone, your baby is a miracle, and this community is here to walk this journey with you without judgment.”

You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You don’t have to clean up your story first.
And you don’t have to walk through this season alone.

You are loved. And there is a community at The Creek ready to walk with you.

But for some girls, that moment feels out of reach.

Maybe it’s the cost.
Maybe it’s the circumstances.
Maybe it’s everything she’s been through that makes her feel unseen.

And that’s exactly why Dressed in Grace exists.

Dressed in Grace is a ministry created to bless young ladies and women with beautiful dresses while sharing something even more meaningful: the love of Christ. At its core, this ministry exists to remind every girl who walks through its doors that her true identity is not found in what she wears, but in who she is in Him.

Where It All Began
Tammie Steadham, a longtime member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church felt the Lord calling her to begin this ministry after what she thought was a normal dress shopping experience.

She had the opportunity to take a few women—who had been through difficult seasons—to find dresses for a formal event. As they tried on dresses and saw themselves in a new light, they were overjoyed. They twirled, they smiled, and for a moment, they felt beautiful again.

In a moment where Tammie was supposed to be providing a blessing for these ladies, she received the biggest blessing.

“What blessed me most,” Tammie shared, “was seeing them feel beautiful again.”

From that experience, God planted a vision: what if more women and young girls could experience that same joy—not just outwardly, but deeply within their hearts?

Why It Matters
In every community, there are young women carrying unseen burdens—questions about their worth, their identity, and their place in the world.

Through intentional care and genuine connection, this ministry creates opportunities to share the Gospel in a way that feels personal and real. It’s not just about meeting a physical need—it’s about opening the door for something eternal.

More Than a Giveaway
This isn’t simply about giving away dresses. It’s about creating an experience.

Every dress becomes an opportunity:

• for confidence to be restored
• for dignity to be affirmed
• for hearts to be encouraged

It’s about speaking truth over each girl—that she is seen, known, and deeply loved.

Who It’s For
Dressed in Grace is for young ladies and women within our sphere of influence—those who may need a little extra support, encouragement, or simply a reminder of their worth.

Whether it’s for prom, a special event, or a new season, every girl is welcomed with care and intention.

The Heart Behind It All
At the end of the day, the goal is simple but powerful. It is our prayer that every girl walks away, not only with an amazing opportunity to have the full prom experience, but that she would know that her worth is secure and her identity is found in Christ alone.

And beyond that—that she would experience a real, personal relationship with God. And if she hasn’t yet, that she would feel the invitation to surrender her life to Him.

A Vision Coming to Life
As this ministry prepares to launch, there’s a deep sense of anticipation and joy.

God is already moving—preparing hearts, opening doors, and making a way. In fact, the Lord has already begun providing for this ministry in HUGE ways - through donated dresses, accessories, shoes and more. There is an excitement for the lives that will be impacted and the stories that will be told through this ministry.

How You Can Be Part of It
Dressed in Grace was first placed on Tammie's heart. But, the overall goal and mission of this ministry is one that we can all get involved in.

Here’s how you can get involved right now:

Pray
First and foremost, we ask that you partner with us in prayer. Pray for every girl who will walk through this ministry—that she would encounter the love of Jesus in a real way.

Give
We are currently accepting donations of:

• Formal dresses (all sizes)
• Shoes
• Accessories
• 
  

A variety of sizes and colors are especially needed to ensure every girl has options.

Serve
Start asking God how you can be part of this ministry. Whether it’s helping organize, welcoming guests, or simply being present—there’s a place for you.

What We’re Believing For
As Tammie and her team begin planning and preparing for next year's event, we are believing that the Lord will move mightily through this ministry.

We are believing that as each girl chooses her dress, both she and her family will experience the love of Jesus—and that through this ministry, they would be drawn into a relationship with Him.

Because in the end, it’s not just about what she wears for one night.

It’s about what she carries with her for a lifetime.

Dressed in Grace's main event will take place sometime in February or March of 2027. For more information, feel free to contact Tammie Steadham (tammiesteadham@yahoo.com). 

Have you been searching for like-minded community, but are unsure where to start? Have you been desiring to dig deeper into God's Word? Our Women's Ministry has a solution for that!

We're so excited to introduce a new element to our Women's Ministry: Pathways.

At its heart, Pathways is about creating clear, intentional steps for every woman to grow in her faith and find meaningful community—no matter where she’s starting.

Because the truth is, we’re not all in the same season.

Some are just beginning their walk with Jesus. Others are ready to go deeper. And many are looking for a place to stay steady and keep growing.

Pathways was designed with all of that in mind.

So, What is Pathways?
Pathways is a simple, structured way to help you find your place in Women’s Ministry.
Instead of trying to figure out where you fit, Pathways creates a clear flow, allowing you to have a better understanding of where to step in and connected.

And, to make it super simple by organizing our groups and studies into three stages:

Rooted
This is where it begins.
Rooted is designed for women who are new to faith, new to church, or just looking to build a strong foundation. These groups focus on the basics—understanding God’s Word, building rhythms, and finding community.

The specific groups and studies that we offer in this Pathway are our Titus 2 Mentoring groups. In these groups, you'll spend 9 months learning and growing alongside other women, while learning from someone in a different stage of life.

For example, you may be a mom of small children, doing your best to keep your head above water. If you jumped into our mentoring groups, you could be placed in a group with those in similar life stages, while being mentored by someone with older children. Not only are you going to find community, but you'll be encouraged to stay steady through a challenging, busy season of life!

Growing
This is where you go deeper.
Growing groups are for women who are ready to strengthen their faith and be more intentional in their walk with God. These studies dive deeper into Scripture, spiritual disciplines, and what it looks like to live out your faith daily.

The Growing Pathway offers "Growing D-Groups", which are designed to meet you exactly where you're at on your faith journey, while challenging you to continue learning and moving forward in your knowledge of Christ and His Word.

These D-Groups study smaller sections of scripture and may move at a slower pace, allowing each group member to really take the time to understand and comprehend the truths of God's Word.

Flourishing
This is where faith overflows.
Flourishing is for women who are ready to lead, disciple, and pour into others. It’s about living with purpose, walking in confidence, and helping others grow along the way.

Similarly to the Growing Pathway, the Flourishing Pathway provides the opportunity to be a part of our "Flourishing D-Groups". These groups discuss similar topics as our Growing D-Groups, yet do so at a faster pace and their goal is to cover more scripture during their annual duration.

If you have a love for God's Word, and are ready to begin a journey of spiritual leadership, we suggest this path for you!

Why Pathways Matters
It can be overwhelming to walk into something new and not know where you belong.
Pathways changes that.

It gives clarity.

It creates connection.

And it helps every woman take a next step—not just attend something, but truly grow.

So, Where Do I Start?
That’s the beauty of Pathways— you can start at any point on the "path." And, no matter where you're at, there's a place for YOU. 

And you don’t have to figure it out alone—we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to get connected, we’d love to help you find your place.