Echoing the Heart of God at the Women's Conference
God works through all circumstances to bring glory to himself, and he has asked all of us to make disciples. These were the two main messages of Jackie Redmond, the National Director of Women’s Ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Redmond presented at the Northern Plains District Women’s Conference entitled, “Echoing the Heart of God” held at Bethel on April 23rd and 24th.
At Friday’s event, Redmond shared her testimony with about 60 women. Her story is one of redemption and God’s work in difficult circumstances. Redmond became pregnant at 16, had a baby at 17 and was married shortly after. Neither she nor her husband was a believer. Redmond came to faith seven years before her husband. Her husband Bruce is now a pastor and church planter, and they are getting ready to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. God actively pursued and transformed them. Christa St. John, Women’s Ministry Director at Bethel, saw God’s work in Redmond’s testimony.
“It [her testimony] was evidence of God taking things and making them truly beautiful,” St. John said.
Everyone in the audience seemed to identify with Redmond’s story, St. John said. Chelsie Larson, who attended Friday night’s event, said that she learned a lot about keeping her marriage vibrant.
“We learned as women what we can do to keep our marriages flourishing,” Larson said.
The women enjoyed listening to Redmond and spending time together. It was a night filled with “lots of chocolate and fellowship,” St. John said.
Most of the women who attended Friday’s event also attended Saturday’s workshops. The workshops focused on the “Disciple-making Pathway” and how everyone is called to make disciples. Redmond presented the model not as a step-by-step guide but as a cycle much like a dryer spinning. Each person continues to pass through each of the stages of engaging, establishing, equipping and expanding as they make disciples. But Redmond cautioned the audience that they aren’t disciple-makers until they are “spiritual grandmas,” meaning that believers don’t become disciple-makers until they have seen spiritual grandchildren.
Disciple-making is difficult, but it is something that Jesus called all believers to do in his last words.
“None of us are exempt as believers,” St. John said.
It is a simple message, and one that the attendees took to heart. No matter how hard the circumstances are, God will continue to bring glory to himself through his disciples.