We are launching a leadership training cohort for women in ministry – Te Puna Wāhine.
I conducted a survey last year to hear from women across the Nelson Diocese who serve in ministry leadership. In this survey, and through conversations, many women spoke honestly about some of the challenges they experience in ministry leadership.
Several common themes emerged:
Many women expressed a desire for intentional spaces where they could connect with other women in ministry, share their experiences, pray together, and grow as leaders.
The cohort is a response to that invitation, to create a supportive learning community where women can flourish in their calling together.
In Scripture and in many cultures, wells and springs are places of life, refreshment, restoration, and relational encounter.
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:13-14
People gather around water because it sustains life.
The vision behind Te Puna Wāhine is that women in ministry are called to be wells of life in the communities they serve, places where others encounter encouragement, spiritual nourishment, and the presence of Christ. At the same time, those who serve as springs for others also need spaces where their own souls are replenished.
Te Puna Wāhine will be a six-month commitment from April to September, which includes a monthly input meeting and weekly gatherings in groups of three for deeper conversation, prayer, encouragement, and accountability.
The cohort is open to all women in the diocese who are serving or interested in serving in the church or wider community (with sessions accessible to all online via Zoom to make participation from afar easier).
In the monthly sessions, we’ll cover topics such as:
My prayer for this cohort is that it will become a life-giving well for women in ministry.
I hope that participants will experience renewed encouragement and strength in their calling, deep friendships and supportive ministry relationships, greater confidence and clarity in their leadership calling and role, and a sense that they are not alone in ministry.
If you (or your wife, sister, mother, daughter) are interested, join me for an information evening on 31 March at 7pm. The Zoom link will be sent out closer to the time.
Kindly sign up here to register your interest by 29 March.
Ultimately, the hope is that as we women are nurtured and strengthened, we will continue to be wellsprings of life in their churches and communities, bringing encouragement, wisdom, and the peace of Christ to those we serve.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
We are launching a leadership training cohort for women in ministry – Te Puna Wāhine.
I conducted a survey last year to hear from women across the Nelson Diocese who serve in ministry leadership. In this survey, and through conversations, many women spoke honestly about some of the challenges they experience in ministry leadership.
Several common themes emerged:
Many women expressed a desire for intentional spaces where they could connect with other women in ministry, share their experiences, pray together, and grow as leaders.
The cohort is a response to that invitation, to create a supportive learning community where women can flourish in their calling together.
In Scripture and in many cultures, wells and springs are places of life, refreshment, restoration, and relational encounter.
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:13-14
People gather around water because it sustains life.
The vision behind Te Puna Wāhine is that women in ministry are called to be wells of life in the communities they serve, places where others encounter encouragement, spiritual nourishment, and the presence of Christ. At the same time, those who serve as springs for others also need spaces where their own souls are replenished.
Te Puna Wāhine will be a six-month commitment from April to September, which includes a monthly input meeting and weekly gatherings in groups of three for deeper conversation, prayer, encouragement, and accountability.
The cohort is open to all women in the diocese who are serving or interested in serving in the church or wider community (with sessions accessible to all online via Zoom to make participation from afar easier).
In the monthly sessions, we’ll cover topics such as:
My prayer for this cohort is that it will become a life-giving well for women in ministry.
I hope that participants will experience renewed encouragement and strength in their calling, deep friendships and supportive ministry relationships, greater confidence and clarity in their leadership calling and role, and a sense that they are not alone in ministry.
If you (or your wife, sister, mother, daughter) are interested, join me for an information evening on 31 March at 7pm. The Zoom link will be sent out closer to the time.
Kindly sign up here to register your interest by 29 March.
Ultimately, the hope is that as we women are nurtured and strengthened, we will continue to be wellsprings of life in their churches and communities, bringing encouragement, wisdom, and the peace of Christ to those we serve.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
