The Good News
The Good News is that the Spirit will not be contained.
The Good News is that God will not be limited.
The Good News is that Christ has shown us the way.
And we will continue to follow faithfully.
Like many of you, I have felt the weight of the conversations and debates that have filled social media over the past week. Yet even in the midst of the noise, I have found myself returning to a deeper truth: God is still calling. God is still equipping. And God is still working through women every single day.
That reminder is one of the reasons Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina exists.
Over the last several days, our social media pages have been filled with stories, words of encouragement, and images of women faithfully serving God. We have celebrated women who are preaching, teaching, chaplaining, pastoring, leading, mentoring, and serving in countless ways across our state and beyond. Not because we are trying to prove a point, but because we are bearing witness to what God is already doing.
At BWIMNC, our message is simple:
We see you.
You are not alone.
We celebrate God's call on your life.
We stand with you.
We support you.
We believe the Church is strongest when all of God's gifts are welcomed, nurtured, and shared. We believe that listening for God's voice is more fruitful than drawing boundaries around God's possibilities. And we believe that every woman who is discerning, embracing, or living out a call to ministry deserves a community that will walk alongside her with encouragement, wisdom, and hope.
That is one of the reasons we are leading a Learning Lab at CBF General Assembly this week in Jacksonville, FL, entitled The Bold Type: Bold Faith, Bold Action—Engaging, Encouraging, and Empowering Women in Ministry. Together, we will explore practical ways churches and organizations can cultivate Spirit-filled communities where women and girls of all ages are encouraged to listen for God's call and respond with courage.
The truth is that many of us are here today because someone believed in us before we fully believed in ourselves. Someone opened a door. Someone spoke a word of encouragement. Someone made room at the table. Now we have the opportunity to do the same for the next generation.
If this vision resonates with you, I invite you to give to BWIMNC.
Join us as we tell stories that inspire hope.
Join us as we open doors for those coming behind us.
Join us as we build communities where people can flourish in God's calling.
Whether you are a minister, a lay leader, a student, a pastor, or an ally, there is a place for you in this work.
Together, we can continue creating spaces where women know they are seen, valued, supported, and celebrated. Together, we can bear witness to the ways God continues to call and equip people for ministry. Together, we can help ensure that future generations hear not only the voice of God but also the encouragement of a community that believes in them.
The Good News is still good.
The Spirit is still moving.
And God's call is still being heard.
All love,
Leslie