About POW

How it Began

The roots for People of the Word Bible study originated in 1974 at Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, California (now in Anaheim). Pat Merold (wife of then Eastside pastor Ben Merold) started a Bible study in the home of Violette Halili. The study was formed to be an opportunity for the entire community to participate in Bible study regardless of one’s church denomination. There were 6-8 women who first attended, and it was called the Women’s Bible Study. As more women attended, the study outgrew the home and was moved to Eastside’s premises in January, 1975. Eventually, as participants would come to include both men and women, the study was renamed People of the Word.

History of the lessons

At first
The structure for the study was a combination of homework lessons done individually followed by weekly small group discussions covering the homework. After the small group discussions, a lecture would be given to the entire study building on the content covered in the homework.  Initially, Pat Merold wrote the lessons; however, she was soon joined by Betty Bright and Connie Watson as co-writers with Pat editing the lessons. In 1978 Carol Martin attended her first session of the study and asked her leader, “Who writes the lessons for the study?” The next week, the editor of the lessons, Peggy Zuber, said to Carol, “I hear you want to write some of the lessons” and asked her if she would like join the team of writers.

For the next two years
the lessons were written by various members and in committees, including Pat Merold, Peggy Zuber, Carol Martin, Nancy VanBeenan, Judy Wyse, and Ginny Michael. The committees met weekly to discuss the lesson questions. In 1986, Carol was responsible for writing the first study on Psalms and Proverbs by herself. When Ben and Pat Merold left Eastside in 1991, Carol assumed the leadership of the study. Carol says any success is not of her own effort but of the Holy Spirit’s. Assuming leadership of People of the Word has, according to Carol, been “born out of a great passion to know and help others know the Word of God.”

From 1974 to 1981
Pat Merold was the sole lecturer. Since then, the lecture team has expanded to between six and eight lecturers each study year. Lecturers are chosen in a variety of ways, one being from among those who have presented devotions to the study. Each lecturer brings his or her own style to the teaching, always with sound Biblical truths.

Our Mission Statement

Finding the truth of God through the study of His Word.

John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

God has honored the faithful teaching of His Word and grown the study over the years.  Hundreds of people have taken part in the People of the Word, and the lessons are made available to other churches. Today, the study meets in person on Thursday mornings and evenings at Friends Community Church in Brea, California. Additionally, People of the Word offers online groups. Keeping to the study’s original intent and the spirit of the Scriptures, all are invited and welcomed to People of the Word.

Thank you for visiting our website, and for those of you who have yet to join the study and are interested, please click on “Register” at the top right hand of the home page, fill out the boxes and then click on “Submit.” We’ll reach out to you right away! We look forward to being a part of your journey to come to know Jesus Christ and the love He has for you.