Women's Discipleship Ministries is Moving forward in Ministry

A few weeks ago, many Women's Discipleship Ministries leaders gathered via video conferencing to share the ways they are serving the Church of the Nazarene across the USA/Canada Region. Several of the leaders presented specific ways they are leading retreats and Bible studies while building unity within their churches and communities. The meeting was a great encouragement to all participants.

In October, the USA/Canada regional women’s discipleship leaders met at the Global Ministry Center for their annual meeting. Each educational field was represented in person or by video conferencing.  

Our first item of business was to pray for Nazarene women everywhere and unify our hearts through reading and exhorting Scripture. Arla Mitchell shared the devotional with us, and our team was quickly aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Arla shared from Mark 14:3-9 about the woman who anointed Jesus with costly perfume. Arla highlighted that the woman's lavish act of love was a reminder that our first ministry is to Jesus. Before we can invite others to the table to encounter Jesus, we should invite Him to sit in the seat of honor as we bow at His feet in adoration. Our worship will then allow us to take the fragrance of Jesus to those we encounter.

As a council, we imagined your women in your churches and communities who need to experience the fragrance of Jesus, and we prayed for them. We prayed for all Nazarene women we represent, those who are broken-hearted – that they may be made whole, depressed – that they may be a victorious overcomer, living in perpetual sin – that they may be saved by grace, fearful – that they may be free. We prayed for those who are bitter, busy, distracted, and disconnected – that they may be joyful in Christ, calm, and focused on Jesus. We realize many women feel disappointed in life's circumstances, unworthy of God's love, and insignificant, but we, as Nazarene women, have the opportunity to tell them God's story.

God's story tells us we are treasures of Jesus Christ and therefore we can be prisoners of hope. We trade our old titles for new ones, like the woman at Jesus' feet in Mark 14. We were reminded that we can claim new names – “I no longer call you Deserted or name your land Desolate… for the Lord will take delight in you…” (Isaiah 62:4). The hope we have for Nazarene women across the globe is that they will “…make each other strong and encourage each other's faith” (Romans 1:11-12). When we minister to each other, the Lord takes great delight.

Here are some of the ways we are serving Nazarene women on our field.

• The Naz Women's app, in partnership with Back to The Bible, has devotionals written by Nazarene women. We also have a teen girl track of wonderful devotions.
• Resources for training women’s discipleship leaders can be found on our webpage with recommended books, webinars, documentaries, and more.
• The WDM Handbook is available on our website in English and Spanish.
• Webinars about WDM are available on The Discipleship Place.

Women’s Discipleship Ministry Gatherings at General Assembly 2023

• Girlfriends of Grace Gathering – On the Journey Together will be an international gathering on Friday afternoon, June 9. We will gather to worship, listen, and learn from each other's stories and unify our hearts through prayer.

• Please stop by the Women’s Discipleship Ministry exhibit for resources, information, networking, prayer, and celebrating Nazarene women's past and present, including a Nazarene women's photo spot.

• Check out our workshop titled, Women's Discipleship Ministries – A Time of Equipping and Networking for WDM Leaders. Nazarene women across our region are doing amazing ministry, and we want you to hear about it!

I want you to know that our team is passionate about women knowing and experiencing God's prevenient, saving, and sanctifying grace. We believe our beautifully optimist doctrine transforms hearts and minds. Together, we can participate in the ways God is already at work in the world around us.

You are invited to contact your Women's Discipleship Ministry field representative by emailing wdm@nazarene.org or visiting our website here.