More than 100 women gathered in Derbyshire over a week in early May to be encouraged and equipped at conferences for women involved in church ministry.
Thrive (for women in ministry) and the Ministry Wives Retreat (for women married to men in ministry) are organised by the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), held annually to enable women to connect with those in similar roles, situations, positions, and ministries in church life.
Some are needing encouragement to press on in their own walk with the Lord, whilst others are looking for ways in which to serve better and be reinvigorated. The conferences have grown significantly in the last few years, with 40 women in ministry and 65 ministry wives attending in 2024.
FIEC’s Directors for Women’s Ministry, Elinor Magowan and Rachel Sloan, hosted the conferences and taught from the Bible.
Elinor spoke on three of the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, with the challenge to be satisfied in Christ, confident in His power over death, and to remain in Christ to know joy in life and ministry. Rachel spoke from Revelation, drawing back the curtain on God’s purposes in the world, with the certain truth that even through suffering God will protect His people and bring them into the presence of our glorious Saviour.
Testimonies and reflections from those in ministry brought reality to how we can persevere with joy. Much prayer was engaged in, the sun shone, lots of coffee was drunk, and the mealtimes were filled with conversation.
Elinor Magowan, FIEC Director for Women’s Ministry, said: ‘It has been great to see more women come to the conferences over the years and to see relationships grow between us as we return year on year and meet new people. Central to the retreats have been the small groups which give women the opportunity to reflect on God’s word with five or six others, able to share personally with each other.’
