#16: Growth Happens in Safe, Life-Giving Community

You were never meant to grow alone.

In this episode, April Nova Scipio wraps up our Core Values series with a truth that shapes how we gather, connect, and grow:

Growth happens in safe, life-giving community.

Isolation may feel easier, but it will never produce the depth of transformation that a healthy community can.

Real growth requires being seen, supported, and strengthened alongside others who are also committed to living by faith.

In this episode, she walks through:

•  Why we are designed for community, not isolation 
•  How accountability strengthens consistency and growth 
•  Why safe spaces create room for real transformation 

This is about more than being around people.
It’s about being in the right environment—one marked by trust, care, and shared faith.

Because growth flourishes where you are known and supported.

You don’t have to build your life alone.

Faith First. Rhythm Always.

✨ Next Step:

If you’re ready to continue this journey with support and community, join the Nova Community—a faith-filled space for women learning to live with clarity, peace, and faith-first rhythms

👉 Learn more at https://thenovacompany.org

✨ Private Mentorship Community:

If you are interested in applying to join my private mentorship community, email me: april@thenovacompany.org

✨ novaRetreat: 3rd Annual Dream with God Retreat

A Spirit-led weekend for women ready to abide deeply, align intentionally, & courageously advance as God reveals what’s next.

👉 Learn more at https://www.thenovacompany.org/novaretreat 

Subscribe to The NovaCo Podcast and share this episode with a friend who’s stepping into a new season.

🎸 Intro music produced by Cory Valjien. https://spotify.link/Ot87eEITRDb

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We were actually created to grow with other people. Isolation, like there's no strength in that. But man, you were created to be strong. You were created to lock ons with other people and do life with them. You were created to learn from other people and they learn from you. It is community is a good thing. Welcome back to the NovaCo podcast, a podcast that is just for you because you want to live differently. You want to live a life that's full of clarity, that is full of peace and in full alignment with God and his word. So excited that you're here. If you are here for the very first time, welcome. I'm April Nova Scipio and I have the privilege of hosting this podcast, but also I lead the Nova community. We are a group of women. We are truly living differently. We are supporting each other and creating intentional rhythms all around the Word of God. There's a space for you. I want you to join Nova community by clicking on the link in the show notes of this episode or in this description box of this video. Those of you who are over on YouTube, I'm excited, you guys. We are wrapping up a series this month and it's been all about core values. It's been really unpacking the truths that shape NovaCo, that shape my life. And I'm hoping they will begin to shape your life. I believe that you are not limited by what I say, but I just know like God's going to keep speaking to you things that you can apply in your own life. And so get your journal, get your Bible, write down what he tells you. But I just am really believing for God to move through me and really impact you today. This episode today really hits home for me because community has always been something that is so important to me. And today's episode is all about how growth happens in safe, life-giving community. I remember that when I fully gave my life to the Lord, like I went all in. You know, I said yes to Jesus when I was eight years old, but I didn't, I did understand what that meant. I knew that Jesus died for me. I knew he was again, I knew he was my savior, but I did not learn about cultivating a relationship with him. That didn't come until later when I got to college. And when I really went all in on cultivating a relationship with him, I recognized that there wasn't strong community available for me to do that. And so that really stirred something in me. And God put into my heart, this is way back. I don't even, let me think about the year. I'm gonna date myself here. This is way back in 2003, beginning of end of 2003, beginning of 2004, when the Lord began to really plant in my heart this desire and this love to build safe, life-giving community for women. And so I've been on this journey for a while, you guys, of creating community for women. And I just want you to know that's important. Like you were not meant to live or do life alone. And the enemy loves to isolate us because he knows isolation weakens us. And isolation, man, you you might feel weak in isolation, but you get into community and you're gonna feel strong. And community, that's when you're gonna grow. Your growth is gonna skyrocket, right? We just know like growth flourishes where there's safety, where there's trust, where there's truth. And I'm so thankful that God has allowed me to create spaces for women to do just that, to grow and feel safe and build life-giving, authentic relationships. And so I want to share three thoughts with you today. The first one is this we are designed for community. You see, community isn't just a good idea. We were actually created to grow with other people. Isolation, like there's no strength in that. But man, you were created to be strong. You were created to lock arms with other people and do life with them. You were created to learn from other people and they learn from you. It is community is a good thing. We see back in Genesis, let's read Genesis chapter 2, verse 18. Then the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him. Man was not designed to be alone from the very beginning. And I'm so thankful that God created community and allows us to motivate each other and push each other to do amazing things. That is one thing we do inside of my community. We celebrate. We want to celebrate you and what God is doing in you. And we want to support and motivate each other. This is what we were designed to do. Let's look at Hebrews chapter 10. I want to read verses 24 and 25. Hebrews 10. Starting in verse 24, it says, Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Now is a great time to be connected inside of healthy community. We need each other. Let's put aside the isolation, let's put aside the comparison, let's put aside, you know, the people pleasing, and let's just be a community that loves. Let's just love each other and do the things that God is calling us to do, not just individually, but collectively. We were designed for this. The second thought I want you to think about today, and maybe you want to write this down in your journal, accountability strengthens growth. Right? We talked about how growth flourishes inside of this community. And now, what's going to strengthen that growth? A level of accountability. Like you grow faster when you're seen. You are accountable when people can check up on you. In my experience, accountability is the thing that helps create consistency. Let's look at Ephesians chapter 4, verses 9 and 10. It says, two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. I need people in my life that love me, that support me, that can help me, that I can trust, that when I fall, they are not, you know, looking for more ways for me to fall or casting judgment or have an opinion about what they think I should do. No, I just need them to grab me and help me get up. Right? I have walked through some hard things, and I'm so thankful that I had people in my life that can just pull me up and keep me accountable for standing on the truth of God's word, to keep me accountable for walking a life of faith, for being accountable to obey the things that the Lord has told me, regardless of what it looks like. That accountability in my life has created a level of consistency, and I am so grateful for, I'm so grateful for community. Proverbs chapter 27, verse 17. It says, as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. We were created to sharpen each other, and as we sharpen each other, keep each other accountable, we will grow. And we'll grow in a healthy way. That's the thing. Like some people they're trying to grow, but their environment and how they're growing is not healthy. But when we are connected with the right people, we grow and flourish, and it's healthy. Here's another thought I want you to think about today. Safe spaces produce real transformation. And I just have to pause here and say, I know this firsthand because the Lord has entrusted me to create a safe space for women to experience transformation through my retreats. Every year, Labor Day weekend, I host the Dream with God Prayer Retreat. So I want you to click on that link in the show notes of this episode or in the description box of this video and check out Nova Retreat. Listen, we're gonna gather and we're gonna grow, and we're gonna be in a space where transformation happens because we are seen by God and known by each other. I'm telling you, growth requires honesty, and honesty happens in safe spaces. And so I want to encourage you to get in a safe community, get in a safe space where you can be seen and trusted and you can trust others. And I don't take retreat lightly. It's a space that I steward well because I recognize that God entrusts me with that. And I don't take that lightly. And so if you're interested in going on retreat this year, reserve for a spot. It's I'm telling you, so much transformation happens on retreat. I'm telling you, this will be the third annual prayer retreat. And God is, he always shows up and blows our minds on what he does in the lives of every single woman that's there, including mine. Galatians chapter 6, verse 2. It says, share each other's burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ. The thing about a safe space is you don't have to have it all together. It's not a space where you have to perform. It's a space where honesty is valued, and as burdens are shared, man, we can help each other. We can share with each other words that will give life and infuse hope and faith into the situation. Let's look at James chapter 5, verse 16. It says, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. This verse hits home because of the spaces that God allows me to create. I'm like, yeah, we get to talk to each other and share where we're where we're missing it or how we messed up. We get to pray for each other and what happens, healing happens and freedom happens. And wonderful. This this verse says the the prayers has great power and produces wonderful results. Have you ever thought about that? Like your prayer has the power to produce something in the life of someone else. Man, I'm so excited about this prayer retreat. We're going to be producing things in our lives because we said yes to praying together and being in this safe, life-giving space. And of course, I want you to come to retreat, but maybe you aren't able to come this year. I want you to ask the Lord to help you connect with a safe space where you can experience another level of transformation. I want to pray for us today. You guys know I love community. You don't have to figure life out on your own. I'm telling you, when you get in the right environment, it will accelerate. I'm telling you, it will accelerate your growth. Let's pray. And then we'll do our declaration. But let's pray. God, thank you. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your mercy. Father, thank you that community is your idea. I'm so glad, Lord, that we don't have to do life alone, but you've created spaces and opportunities for us to grow together, to learn from each other. Opportunities to be seen and known and heard and prayed for. Father, thank you for that. Thank you that we are stronger together. Father, I pray for every single person right now who feels isolated. Lord, just wrap your arms around them right now. Remind them that they are loved and remind them that ultimately, Father, you see them. And Lord, I'm asking you to lead them to the best, safe, life-giving community that is best for them. Father, we just love you so much. We honor you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Let's declare this together. Say this after me. I am not alone. I grow in community. I am supported, strengthened, and sharpened. I receive and give life in the right spaces. I am becoming who God called me to be. And yes, you are, and so am I. We're becoming everything that God has called us to be so that we can do everything He's called us to do. I love you so much with the love of Christ. I hope you have enjoyed this series where we have been unpacking the core values, the truths that shape Novico. They have shaped my life. I hope they are shaping your life. Listen, the best is yet to come. Get connected with me however you see fit. Maybe you're joining Nova community. Maybe you're joining my mentorship community. You, if you're interested, interested in mentorship, just send me a DM or email. I'll let you know the process for applying for mentorship. Maybe God's nudging you to go to retreat. Maybe God's nudging you to sponsor someone to go on retreat. Click on all the links in the description box of this video or the show notes of this episode. I'm excited, you guys. God is He's doing amazing things and we're right in the middle of it. And it's so exciting. Do me a favor if you haven't already subscribed to the podcast, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Share this episode out and tag me on all the social platforms at April Nova Sibio. And I cannot wait till the next episode. Remember this this is how we live. Faith first, rhythm always. Be blessed. Love you guys.