Morning by Morning
Christian Community and Discipleship for Women
Anita Neuman and Shelby Somers
Anita and Shelby created Morning by Morning in 2024 to equip, encourage, teach, and challenge Christian women. They are building a sisterhood that fosters depth, growth, discipleship, and evangelism.
"Go Be Do" Podcast
"Go Be Do" is a weekly podcast in which Shelby and Anita answer listener-submitted questions.
Bible Studies
These Bible study videos make it easy for you to host a small group, even if leading/teaching isn't your thing.
Speaking Engagements
Shelby and Anita are available for in-person speaking at women's events and conferences.
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
Shelby and Anita met in 1998 when they were both serving in youth ministry at the same church. Their areas of ministry continued to overlap in the ensuing years: nursery, choirs, VBS, and more. As their friendship grew, the idea of someday serving in women's ministry together was planted as a seed deep in their hearts. That seed remained dormant for many years, as both of their respective families moved away. But their friendship remained strong, and they occasionally mentioned the "someday" of being in ministry together.Recent years have brought them into somewhat close proximity again. A 2.5 hour drive isn't quite walking distance, but it's a lot closer than a trans-Atlantic flight! And it was close enough to start doing occasional retreats and events together. That gave them a taste for what they thought was still a "someday way in the future" possibility.Then, in the early days of 2024, having not discussed the idea for ages, God started to whisper into both Shelby and Anita's hearts, "Go for it." And before they even spoke to each other about it, the theme of His faithfulness was predominantly on their minds. They started brainstorming and praying and getting input from their husbands. And now here you have it: Morning by Morning!
Anita and Pat NeumanAnita grew up in Ontario, the second of four children. She met Pat at the summer camp where they both worked as teenagers. They've moved around some over the course of their marriage, living in Michigan, back in Ontario, Ethiopia, Ontario again, and then finally settling in New Brunswick where they own and operate a small retreat centre called Ballast Lodge.Anita and Pat have four children and two sons-in-law.
Shelby and Brad SomersShelby was born and raised in Maine, the youngest of five children. She met Brad when they were in college together in New Brunswick, and they spent the first couple years of their married life there. They moved to Maine for a while, then spent a few years in Ontario, before eventually heading east again. In 2007, they planted PAXnorth Church in the north end of Halifax, where they continue to serve today.Shelby homeschooled their first five children, who have all graduated and moved out. She continues to teach the last two who are still at home. Shelby and Brad have welcomed three children-in-law into their family, and they are also thrilled to be grandparents to two little ones!
Gather a few women from your church, neighbourhood, school, or workplace and dig into the Bible together. Shelby and Anita will lead you through a weekly study via YouTube videos. No materials are required except for your Bible and a notebook and pen! Whether you're brand new to reading the Bible, or you've studied it your whole life, you're invited you to join into a community of women to discuss it and learn from it together.There are several studies to choose from, and you can do them in any order (however, we suggest doing 1 John before doing 2&3 John). You don't need to do any homework before the first session. Just watch it with your group.Click on the Available Studies button to go directly to the playlist for any of the completed studies.
You can click on the YouTube button below to see all of Shelby and Anita's videos (including some funny ones).
Shelby and Anita would love to hear from you! If you have feedback or questions about any of the Bible study content, fill out the contact form.
Every session in our Bible studies will involve discussion around five questions. Each week, you will be given the next week's passage so you can study at home and begin to answer these questions. Then, when your group meets the next time, Shelby and Anita will guide you through discussing each question, as well as giving some teaching along the way.Here are the five questions:1. What is this text about? What is the context, who is the author, who is the audience, what is happening in the text, and how would the audience understand it?2. What does this text tell us about God? Jesus, the Father, and/or the Spirit3. What does this text tell us about people? the people in that context, and us here and now4. If this text is God's Word for my life, what should my response be? How does it inform or instruct my day-to-day living?5. Who will I tell what I've learned about from this text?
Anita and Shelby love God, they love God's Word, and they love to talk about how much they love God and His Word! They are deeply passionate about encouraging women to grow in their faith and their theology.If you are planning a women's conference, retreat, or event, Anita and Shelby just might be the dynamic and delightful teaching duo that you need!Click on the button below to fill out the contact form for more information.
You can facilitate a Morning by Morning Bible study! You don't need any experience or special skills. All that is required is an internet connection and a device on which to watch the videos. Shelby and Anita will guide the group through the discussion questions and add in some teaching.Here are the facilitator's responsibilities: (these can be shared or delegated)1. Coordinate the group -- choose a time and place to meet and invite some women2. Set up screen and check internet connection3. Welcome group and introduce everybody4. Press play and pause on the video5. Keep discussions running smoothly -- don't let one person dominate the whole time, encourage participation from quieter members, keep the conversation on the specified topic6. Facilitate group prayer7. Dismiss and tidy up
"Go Be Do" is a weekly podcast in which Shelby and Anita answer listener-submitted questions. They prepare their notes for each question ahead of time, but don't discuss with each other until it's time to record.Listen to Go Be Do on your favourite podcast platform, or click the button below.To submit a question, fill out the contact form.
Anita and Shelby consider it an honour to pray for you. Every Friday on their social media accounts, they post a reminder for you to send in praises and prayer requests, which they will pray for through the week. However, you can message them on any day of the week via social media, or by filling out the contact form.
Sometimes when life is hard, it is difficult to put your prayers into words. Praying Scripture is always a good idea! The Prayer Scriptures button below is a list of Scriptures that you can pray through when you are experiencing difficulties.
Here are some Scriptures that you can pray through when you are experiencing difficult things in life.Protection from temptationMatthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Peaceful spiritPhilippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.ProtectionPsalm 91:1 My Refuge and My Fortress He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.Psalm 91:10 No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.Spiritual guidancePsalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.Blessings and provisionPhilippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.PatienceRomans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.Hearing and Doing the WordJames 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.Endurance1 Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.Safety spiritually and physicallyIsaiah 54:17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”Trust and faithProverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.Mark 9:24b “I believe; help my unbelief!”Peace and restIsaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!Wisdom and discernmentJames 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,Ephesians 1:16-21 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
This section is not yet complete. Check back soon for recommended websites, books, and the list of accountability questions.
Shelby and Anita are committed to keeping the resources of Morning by Morning freely available to whoever wants them. The only part of the ministry they charge for is speaking engagements. However, there are some real expenses that need to be covered in order to make it all happen.If you are interested in supporting Anita and Shelby in this work, you can donate by sending an e-transfer to [email protected] and specify that it is for Morning by Morning. If you would like a tax receipt for your donation, send an email to the same address, including your name, email address, and mailing address.
Here are some organizations that are closely connected to Morning by Morning:PAXnorth Church is Shelby's home church. Her husband, Brad, is the pastor. If you're in Halifax and looking for a home church or a place to visit on a Sunday afternoon, here's the place to go! PAX is also the conduit for any donations made to Morning by Morning (click on "donations" from our home page for more information about that).
Main Street Baptist Church in Sackville, NB is Anita's home church. If you are in the area and are looking for a church to visit or make your own, they would love to have you!
Both of the above-mentioned churches are part of network of churches called Fellowship Atlantic. The women serving in and attending these churches hold a special place in Shelby and Anita's hearts.
PAXnorth is also part of a network that is specifically a church-planting organization. Shelby plays a role in supporting the pastors' wives in Acts 29 Canada churches.
Anita and her husband, Pat, own and operate a small retreat centre in New Brunswick called Ballast Lodge. It is a place of stability in the midst of life's storms. Most of Shelby and Anita's audio recording for Go Be Do and video recording for the Bible studies is done there.
Shelby and Anita's friend, Holly, is an incredible local artist. One of her pieces, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", was specifically created for Morning by Morning, and all proceeds from sales of that print go directly to support this ministry. Check out her page for that piece and many, many more gorgeous works of art!