What does God’s faithfulness have to do with your leadership? At Lifeway Women’s Leadership Forum, women studied God’s faithfulness and examined how it transforms their leadership in ministry, the workplace and their homes.
“The beauty of this event is that no matter where a woman is leading, there is something here to equip her,” said Becky Loyd, director of Lifeway Women. “There are so many ways women lead every day — in their homes, workplaces and churches. As they learn to glorify the Lord in all of their lives, we are privileged to walk alongside them in equipping and encouraging them to serve and lead.”
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On Nov. 9–10, more than 600 women from 28 states gathered at First Baptist Hendersonville in Hendersonville, Tennessee, for Lifeway Women’s Leadership Forum. Women were trained and inspired for leadership as they learned from main session speakers and seasoned leaders in breakout sessions on ministry training, personal equipping, general leadership and student ministry.
This year’s Women’s Leadership Forum theme was “Faithful,” based on 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “He who calls you is faithful; he will do it.”
“This year’s event focused on God’s faithfulness — in the way He calls us and gives us all we need for life and leadership,” said Kelly King, manager of women’s ministry training for Lifeway Christian Resources. “I saw His faithfulness in the interactions with those who attended and those who led breakout sessions and taught from the main stage. Women were encouraged that their leadership is necessary and vital to the church.”
Holding fast
Opening the event, author and Bible study teacher, Alexandra Hoover, called women to a faith that holds fast.
“We can hold fast because He who promised is faithful,” Hoover said.
Walking through Hebrews 10:10–25, Hoover gave women a framework for holding fast in ministry. Challenging women to grow faith that does not waver, she reminded them that “even our ability to hold onto Christ as we await the fulfillment of His promises depends on His faithfulness.” Finally, she challenged believers to continue gathering together. “The enemy would love nothing more than for us to isolate in our faith.”
Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:24, writer and Bible teacher Caroline Saunders taught women God is faithful to sanctify His people. Following God’s story from creation to restoration in Revelation, Saunders traced God’s faithfulness to grow His people in holiness. The call for Christians, she said, is to actively participate in the story of sanctification.
“To grow in godliness, we must grow God’s way,” Saunders said. “How is God growing you?”
Melissa Kruger, director of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition, taught a theology of women in leadership based on Romans 16:1–16. She called out principles of women in leadership revealed in the closing of Paul’s letter.
“From the beginning, women have been a part of leading and serving in the church of Christ,” Kruger said. “We should be leading as brothers and sisters together.”
She encouraged women that although ministry is costly, it is a worthy calling. And she reminded women the ministry they do is necessary to the life of the church.
“When we work hard for the Lord, we are working for something that will never fade away,” Kruger said. “If you don’t serve as God has called you to serve, the whole body is going to limp along.”
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The next Lifeway Women’s Leadership Forum will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 7–8, 2024. To learn more, visit Lifeway.com/womensforum.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Marissa Postell Sullivan and originally published by Lifeway.
