While OYM has had the opportunity to interview some remarkable people outside the organization, we wanted to look internally this month by asking our very own Sandra Glisic about a ministry she started. Sandra is OYM's Director of Operations, and she shared a bit about her experience starting a women’s fellowship group and the transformative journey of building a close-knit community rooted in faith, vulnerability, and spiritual growth.
OYM: Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your background in the Church?
Sandra: I was born in Serbia and moved to the U.S. when I was 11; my family were refugees. We settled in Rockford, Illinois, just outside Chicago. Growing up, my family attended church on major holidays, but it wasn’t until I was in high school that they started living a more devout Orthodox life.
My uncle played a big role in introducing me to the faith. He would take me to different parishes and monasteries, and that exposure was transformative. Later, when I moved to Chicago for college, I became more involved. I helped with Sunday school, volunteered with the diocesan youth department, and worked in a parish office during summers. Eventually, I pursued a master’s degree in business, and now I combine my skills in administration with ministry, working for three years managing a parish and now as Director of Operations at OYM.
OYM: What inspired you to start a women’s group?
Sandra: It was a mix of inspiration and frustration. My friend Christina Andresen, who runs a similar group in Texas, shared her approach: a simple monthly gathering with tea and light snacks. I loved the idea of a smaller, intimate space for faith and fellowship.
At the same time, I felt disconnected in my own parish. It’s a large cathedral with thousands of members, and while it offers many ministries, I often found them lacking a deeper spiritual connection. I kept waiting for the Church to provide something like this until my spiritual father said, “Why are you waiting for permission? Just do it.”
So, my roommate and I started a group this past March. Initially, it was just a few close friends, but over time, others joined. We now have nine women who meet monthly, and it’s become a beautiful space for connection and growth.
OYM: Do you think others face similar challenges—waiting for the Church to provide opportunities?
Sandra: Definitely. Many people feel like they need permission or that they aren’t qualified to lead something like this. I used to think, “I’m not a theologian; who am I to start an Orthodox group?” But I realized that serving doesn’t require having all the answers. It’s about creating a space for people to connect and grow together.
That said, it’s important to seek a blessing and know your limitations. You don’t need to solve every theological question—sometimes it’s enough to say, “Let’s talk to a priest about this.” Lay people have so much to offer, and we shouldn’t wait for clergy to lead everything.
OYM: Was this your first experience with a group like this?
Sandra: Yes, it was. Most of my previous involvement in church ministries was administrative or cultural. The young adult groups I encountered often focused on social activities rather than spiritual growth.
This group has been completely different. It’s intimate, focused, and deeply rewarding. It’s exactly what I felt was missing, and it’s been incredible to see how much it resonates with others.
OYM: What drove you to start this group?
Sandra: Well, I think what inspired me was when Christina told me about her experience. The concept really intrigued me. It was simple, intimate, and community-focused—something that felt lacking in my experience with the Serbian Church.
You see, my parish is this massive cathedral with thousands of people attending. It’s hard to feel like you’re truly part of a community, like you’re living out the Orthodox life with others in a meaningful way. That frustration grew, and I kept asking myself, Why isn’t the Church offering something like this?
Eventually, my spiritual father gave me some advice during confession that stuck with me. He said, Why are you waiting for the Church to give you permission to be an Orthodox Christian? Just invite a few people over and start.
So, that’s what I did. Some of our closest friends became part of the group initially, and it started small. Over time, by God’s grace, others joined. It felt like certain people just showed up at the right time, like they needed this kind of connection. Now, it’s been over nine months, and we meet once a month. That’s how it all started.
“We’re all called to serve in some way.”
OYM: You touched on this a bit—about asking permission from a parish or priest. Do you think a lot of people feel like they need permission to do something like this?
Sandra: Absolutely. I think a lot of people feel that way, partly because of the mindset we often have when we go to church—we expect to be served.
In my case, though, it was more about feeling unqualified. I thought, I don’t have enough theological knowledge or expertise. I can’t lead discussions about theology; only a priest can do that. But I’ve come to realize that’s not true.
We’re all called to serve in some way. Leadership and the priesthood are important, but we sometimes overemphasize the idea that only priests can serve or lead. Yes, it’s important to have a blessing and to know your limits—like recognizing when a question needs a priest’s input. But as laypeople, we can still contribute meaningfully.
For me, it was about shifting my perspective. Instead of waiting for the Church to create something, I realized I could step up and do it myself.
OYM: Have you participated in similar groups before?
Sandra: Honestly, no. My involvement in organized church ministry has been quite limited. Aside from serving on a board for a youth department, where I had a role, my focus was more on helping ensure ministry was happening—whether that was through things like flower ministry or administrative support.
I was more in a position of assisting, rather than being ministered to. When I was part of the young adult groups, they tended to be more culturally or socially focused. There wasn’t a lot of attention to the spiritual aspects, which I think is something young people really need.
Though I didn’t participate directly in any myself, I’ve observed the work of the church I worked at, which had 27 different ministries. I saw how other ministries functioned, but I didn’t personally engage in them.
OYM: Can you walk me through a typical day or session, like how the Bible study works, what you do, and how you come up with discussion topics?
Sandra: I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “Bible study” because we don’t always go through Scripture in a traditional way. Instead, we select readings or try to read a book together. It’s more of a group where we decide what to focus on, but it’s not a structured Bible study in the typical sense.
So, the girls usually come over about an hour early to hang out, grab tea, or snacks, and just chat. We start with a prayer, and then I’ll usually present a selected topic. Sometimes I ask the group what they want to discuss, or I listen for things they’ve mentioned in previous sessions. I also asked them during the first session about topics they were interested in.
Sometimes I’ll pull from things that Christina shared with me, like articles, podcasts, or activities—she even shared a whole Google Drive with me. Other times, topics are chosen based on discussions that come up or things I’ve noticed that people want to talk about. For example, we read a book together over the last three months called The Shack.
But not every session is all about deep discussions. Some evenings, we’ll decide not to focus on a topic at all. Instead, we might go to a restaurant to hang out, or in November, we had a Friendsgiving dinner. After finishing the book, we even had a movie night and watched The Shack movie, and we did a Secret Santa gift exchange as well.
We also make sure to end each session with some reflection. We’ll go around the room and take a few minutes for everyone to share any prayer requests they have. Then, we’ll pray for each person’s specific needs, focusing on what they’ve asked for.
At first, the prayer circle at the end gave me some anxiety, and I think it made the participants anxious too. It’s not something we typically do in Orthodox settings—praying for the person right next to you about their specific needs. For me, it wasn’t so much about the discomfort of praying like that, but more because it felt a bit foreign to our usual practice, almost like something you might see in Protestant settings. But it’s actually very simple and effective, even though we don’t usually do it in our tradition.
I called Christina right before the first session, feeling unsure about how to approach it. I asked her, “How do I do this without making it weird?” She told me to use Orthodox language and just follow the usual structure of a prayer, starting with something familiar like “Lord have mercy on the handmaiden of God,” and then proceed to pray for that person’s specific requests.
We did it the first time, and it was really moving. Some people ended up crying, because it was such a beautiful moment. None of us had really experienced that kind of immediate and personal prayer in a church setting before, where someone prays for you right there, sharing what’s on your mind. It created a deep sense of connection and care.
After the prayer circle, we’d wrap up with some final thoughts, and then just stay and chat, enjoying the fellowship. It became such a meaningful part of the group.
When we first started, there was definitely an initial awkwardness. One challenge was figuring out how to extend the invitation. How many times do you invite someone before you just stop? It was tough, especially because I wanted to create a space for fellowship but also for meaningful discussions. Sometimes, it was hard for me to navigate conversations—like, when do I steer them back on topic without shutting people down? It’s a delicate balance between allowing space for personal expression and keeping the group focused.
Another challenge was scheduling. Finding a consistent time that worked for everyone was tricky. We eventually settled on the third Monday of the month at the same time and place to make it easier for people. Keeping it consistent helped a lot, though there were some adjustments along the way.
As the group grew, I also faced the challenge of knowing when it was getting too big. With larger groups, it becomes harder to have the intimate conversations I wanted to foster. So, after we reached around six people, I decided to cap the group. We wanted to invite others who could benefit, but I felt this size was the right balance for fostering connection.
Lastly, as someone leading the group, I realized I needed to be prepared—especially theologically. It was important to know how to address certain topics, but also to recognize when I didn’t have all the answers and when it was better to defer to a priest. I learned it was OK to not have all the answers, as long as I created space for thoughtful discussion.
“A space to be fully understood.”
OYM: What are some of the recurring themes or topics that get brought up?
Sandra: Some recurring themes that have come up in our discussions include the will of God — that's a major one — relationships, and struggles with the Church. We talk a lot about navigating relationships, not just with friends but also with significant others. The group has a mix of people—some are married, some are engaged, and others are single—so we often discuss relationship dynamics and how to navigate them. This includes questions like, "What does it mean to wait on God?" and how we wait in relationships, whether it’s a romantic partnership or waiting for direction in life.
We also frequently discuss struggles within the Church, particularly in our community. These struggles tend to come up naturally as we all process our experiences and try to navigate them together.
As for the group’s demographic, most of us are in our 20s, and only one person is married. There are no kids in the group at the moment. We’ve talked about whether children might be involved in the future; but for now, it’s more focused on our stage in life.
OYM: As a sort of umbrella question, what are your thoughts on the importance of having a women’s-only group?
Sandra: I think it’s important to have a women’s-only group because it provides a space where we can discuss things that might feel more vulnerable or sensitive. There's an understanding and connection that comes from being with other women who are going through similar experiences. It allows us to be more open, emotional, and honest—whether it’s crying or sharing struggles—without feeling guarded. When it’s just a close-knit group of women, it’s easier to build trust, and people feel more comfortable to open up, even if they’re not friends outside of the group.
Additionally, some of the quieter members may not say much at first, but over time they start to open up as they feel more comfortable and trusted in the group. I believe it’s also important to let God work in these spaces. There’s a reason this group has come together, and we have to trust that the people here are meant to be together in this journey.
Ultimately, I think it’s helpful to be surrounded by others who understand what you’re going through and are at a similar stage in life. It allows for a deeper connection, a sense of shared vulnerability, and a space to be fully understood.
OYM; Do you have a sort of mission statement for your group?
Sandra: We don’t have a formal mission statement, which is surprising for me since I usually like to define the purpose of things clearly. But if I were to summarize it, the mission is simply about fellowship and discussing life with God. While we don’t have a specific end goal, my personal hope is that, as life changes and this particular group evolves, members might feel inspired to start their own fellowship with others. Whether that’s in a new city, parish, or community, it would be wonderful if the experience we’ve had could spark something bigger.
OYM: Do you have any advice for anyone looking into starting a ministry within the Orthodox Church?
Sandra: My biggest advice is: just go for it. Don’t let fear or overthinking hold you back like it did for me—I spent almost a year discerning whether it was the right time or if I needed permission to start. While it’s important to get a blessing from your spiritual father, you don’t need everything to be perfect. Take the leap and give it a try.
It’s also important to keep things simple. Often, we overcomplicate things, but simplicity makes it easier for everyone to participate. You don’t have to be the most knowledgeable or eloquent person to lead.
OYM: Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share?
Sandra: Sometimes, after a long day, it can feel overwhelming to host or prepare for a session, and you might wonder if it’s worth it. But every time, after the meeting, there’s always something that reminds me why it’s so important—whether it's seeing someone light up with understanding or realizing that one person needed that space to connect. Even when I feel exhausted, I always leave feeling blessed. It’s a beautiful reminder of why we do this.