She pulled me to the table and invited me to sit down; to pause from the speed of life and mutually listen to each other. With kinds words and a gentle nudge, my mother encouraged me to speak honestly and openly with her women’s ministry board.
Seasoned women with years of experience and wisdom graciously listened as I stammered through what women’s ministry felt like and what I thought it needed to be like in order to engage the next generation. They nodded their heads, listened earnestly, sighed deeply.
I left the Big Girls Table feeling like I said too much, yet not enough.
There has been a shift, a groaning if you will, of women who love the Church and yet don’t feel like they are part of it. I’ve blogged about women’s ministry, next gen leadership, and the feeling surrounding traditional women’s ministry models, but through the past year, I’ve connected with other women who share the same passion for leadership, desire for change, and willingness to openly discuss personal experiences. It’s been amazing to see how—like birds flying south for the winter—we’ve all be able to find each other and passionately fight for a destination that feels like home.
Sometimes we need to pause from the speed of life and speak honestly and openly about issues inside and outside of the Church. A couple of my friends have been have a conversation on how: To Gather. To Equip. To Unleash.
When we gather together, I firmly believe we can equip and encourage each other, unleashing the potential, the passion, and the purpose we are called to live out.
I’ve got to keep it real. I’m tired of hearing statisticians and reading demographic polls of how lame my generation is. The truth is that if there ever has been a time in history where people have more access to education, technology, and ingenuity, it’s now; it’s our generation. And the statistics will prove that.
Passionate about life-change, leadership, and reaching our potential, I’ve partnered up with an amazing team of women [Jen Hatmaker, Tara Jenkins, Lindsey Nobles, Ann Voskamp, Jennie Allen, Angie Smith, Rebekah Lyons, Esther Havens, Melissa Greene, Lauren Chandler, and Jessica Taylor] who want to gather, equip, and unleash. And guess what? You’re invited.
This next generation gathering will bring dreamers, feelers, doers, makers, mothers, and everything in between to equip, empower, and mobilize women to not sit idly while life is flashing by. We are called for more. You are called for more. He wants to give you more.
For more information about IF:Gathering, check out the website or signup for updates so you don’t miss the fun. You can also check out these posts so you don’t think I’m the only crazy kook who feels passionately about raising up the next generation to be amazing world changers!
- Jen Hatmaker
- Lindsey Nobles
- Lore Ferguson
- Sarah Markley
- Kelly Stamps
- Logan Wolfram
- Raechel Myers
- Sarah Bessey
- Elora Nicole
- Jessica Honegger
- Rebekah Lyons
- Jennie Allen
What I’ve been talking about for several years is coming to pass. It would be an honor to have you be part of the party. Questions? Comments? Stones to throw? Feel free to speak freely. 🙂
soooo excited about this and soooo thrilled that you are a part of it! love you xxxooo
Holy Cow what a line up!!! There will certainly be some spiritual warfare heating up before this gathering!!! This will be an Amazzzing Time!!!!
I am just SO excited for this! Seriously. Expecting God to move in this and looking forward to being a small part!!
AHHHH!!! Looking forward to this! Can’t wait to see what God is going to do through this movement.
I glanced over Jenn Hatmakers post about starting a tribe thought you would fit seamlessly with that courageous and exciting group of women. Keep charging hard girl, it’s inspiring!
Soooo exciting!!! 🙂
So with you on this. In every stinkin’ way!
Yaaaa…I’m totttaaaaallly going to this. Road trip,??? sounds fabulous to me?! 😉
Love it Bianca! Can’t wait to see you in February!
How awesome! God is truly stirring up something in the heart of his women and it’s not heartburn! The women of my church have been having this conversation lately and with our upcoming event “Amazing, in July” I know He’s going to do something radical. Thanks for leading this charge for the women of our generation. We aren’t lame. We are the generation that’s going to bring radical change to this world in Jesus name!!
I am very interested, but it would be a big deal for me, financially and otherwise, to leave my young son and fly across the country for a conference when I don’t feel like I really have a good grasp of what it is I’d be going to. All you ladies’ websites make it sound great, but… what is it, specifically? Any session titles or more specifics that I could refer to when bringing it up to my husband or inviting a friend to go with me? Taking a risk on this vision would be great, but I’m a little afraid it might be different than expected, which is a big deal when a lot of us women, moms especially, don’t get those weekends away very often. Anyway, more specifics would rock!
Great questions! There will be more info dispensed in the coming months with details. More than a conference we want to fasciliate some conversations and gather like-minded folks to join in. Did you register on the website for the newsletter?
Looking forward to this! Can’t wait to see what God is going to do through this movement.
It’s so amazing how all of this is coming together….such an answer to my prayers. It’s like your speaking the words that are tearing my heart apart, I’m ready and anxious to fulfill what God had in store for this generation!
So glad you can join in! It’ll be awesome.
I’m so there.
Cannot wait.