Women's Ministries

Visit the Amazing Grace 360 Conference Website

Ashley Belknap on Intergenerational Women’s Ministries – How can we Change a Model?

When speaking with women across our denomination, one of the most common questions I am asked is is, “How can we better reach the younger women in our women’s ministries?” At the heart of this question is a desire for change. Rephrased, the question could be, “How do we change our ministry to better reach all of our women – old and young alike?” Young women are not the problem; older women are not the problem; the desire is most certainly not the problem. Our problem lies in the fact that change is not easy. It’s not easy for individual sinners to change; it’s not easy to collectively change a group of sinners; and it’s even more difficult to change the direction of a ministry comprised of sinners. Yet, this is exactly what the Gospel is all about – change – changing daily into Christ-likeness!! Our goal in these two seminars is to begin addressing the question of change – “How do you change a ministry model to better meet the collective needs of all?” These are questions that we should all be asking of our women’s ministries daily – after all, as sinners change and grow, so do needs – what worked yesterday might not be the answer next year. Come join us as we explore the concept of change within ministry.

More on Ashley…

Sherry Lanier on Gospel Unity, Cultural Diversity – The Changing Faces of the PCA

This workshop has become a most exciting project for us all. Six women from diverse backgrounds; five ethnicities, four nationalities and four languages all with one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is both a living reality and a reflection, a shadow, of the Kingdom to come – God’s ultimate victory over sin and death and His restoring all things in Christ Jesus. In His Word God repeatedly tells us that the redeemed from every tribe, people group and language will worship together around His throne. When we began this project most of us didn’t know each other, but now we have become fast friends. We have learned to trust one another, to speak the truth in love, and to learn from one another as sisters in Christ who care for His glory and His covenant family, the church.

The world is seemingly becoming much smaller through technology and travel, and the ease of moving from one nation to another. The church has an incredible opportunity to reach more and more people groups with the gospel and see people come to faith in Christ as He is bringing the world to our neighborhoods and communties. Now is the time for us to build lasting bridges of relationships and trust on which the good news of Christ can cross over cultural boundaries and traverse the chasm of language to change the hearts of His called out ones. Come and enjoy and learn with the rest of us as we share God’s good work in the lives of our lovely sisters in the PCA.

Be sure to visit the Amazing Grace 360 website and register for the Pre-Conference

Sherry Lanier
Reedemer Church, Jackson, MS

Sherry Lanier and her husband Steve reside in Jackson, MS. They helped start Redeemer Church PCA, an intentionally multi-cultural church, where Steve is the Assistant to Rev. Mike Campbell. Sherry has a passion for God’s Word and discipleship and mentoring of young women. She and Steve served on the staff of Youth for Christ for 23 years and she now meets on a weekly basis with a number of young women from her church and teaches a weekly outreach Bible study for professional women. She has been involved in the development of women’s ministries at several PCA churches and currently serves as the Women’s Advisory Sub-Committee (WASC) Member for the Mid-South Region for PCA Women’s Ministry. Sherry serves as a board member for several organizations including the local Center for Pregnancy Choices, an outreach to young women in unplanned pregnancies, the Neighborhood Christian Center, an outreach ministry to at-risk youth, and Mississippi Volunteer Organizations Assisting in Disasters (MS VOAD), as well as being on staff with the PCA/Mission to North America Short Term Missions and Disaster Response Ministry. She is excited about the growing vision of the PCA to reach every people group at home and around the world. Her greatest joy is ministering alongside her husband, hosting people in her home, and being ‘Momsie’ to her precious grandchildren!

Adela Ireta
Grace Community Church, Dalton, GA

Adela Ireta is married to Reverend Carlos Ireta. They have three daughters; Denise, a violin player who lives in North Georgia and is getting a degree in music; Karla, an 11th grader; and Emma, a 10th grader. Both Karla and Emma play volleyball. Adela and Carlos began their ministry with Carlos attending seminary in Mexico. Their next calling was to church planting in Laredo, Texas, and now they serve at Grace Community Church in Dalton, GA where Carlos is the Assistant Pastor.

Renee Higgins
New City Fellowship South, St. Louis, MO

Renee Higgins loves the Lord Jesus and His church. Renee was born in Saint Louis, MO and became a Christian at the Christ Zion Water Tower Baptist Church. Across the years, Renee has used her gifts as a teacher to host home Bible studies in each military location that she was placed. Renee also served the families of soldiers through working with Protestant Women of the Chapel as an officer, teacher, and prayer leader. She is an accomplished worship leader, singer and an outstanding choir director. She is also a woman of prayer and a trained Precept Ministries Bible study teacher. Renee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Harris Teacher’s College in Saint Louis, Missouri. She is extremely hospitable and loves to cook. Renee has been married to Mike Higgins for 31 years. Presently, Mike is Dean of Students at Covenant Seminary in Saint Louis. Renee is the mother of Mary Yvonne and Michelle Joanna, and a friend to all who know her. Renee is also now grandmother to Moses!

Phemie Tan
Christ Community Church, Franklin, TN

Phemie immigrated to the US with her parents and younger sister when she was 19. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she still experiences “cultural shock” every now and then after twenty plus years of living in America. Phemie met her husband, a Singaporean, when they attended the University of Oregon. Tim is an audio-engineer and producer. He’s also studying for ordination at this time. Her husband always said that God called him to come to Nashville for music to get him out of music, meaning the industry. Besides helping Tim with the new church plant they felt called to start, Phemie also works full-time running a business in Franklin, TN. Last but not the least, she is the proud mother of two boys, 20 and 15. Phemie says, “Being a mother is one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given me. It helps me appreciate His unconditional love.”

Ronjanett Taylor
Redeemer Church, Jackson, MS

Ronjanett Taylor is a member of Redeemer Church, PCA in Jackson. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri but grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ronjanett came to Christ at the age of 9 and even at that young age, realizedknowing Jesus changed her. Somewhat turbulent adolescent years made her realize that the being a Christian and loving Jesus didn’t make you do everything right or everything good. As a young adult, sherealized that this process had a name (sanctification) and it would be a life-long process of “continuing to work out salvation…” as it says in Philippians 2:12-15. Remembering these years of change is what led to the prayerful creation of the Sister Cooks ministry for which Ronjanett currently serves as coordinator and Bible study leader. Ronjanett also sings in the choir and serves with the women’s ministry. Together with her wonderful husband Bryant of 12 years, Ronjanetthas three children Justin- age 16, Sedric – age 19, and Amber- age 20, and a2 year old granddaughter, Ambria. This marvelous blended family affords many opportunities to practice grace, patience, love, and foregiveness. Ronjanett works full time asprogram director for an AmeriCorps grant.

Be sure to visit the Amazing Grace 360 website and register for the Pre-Conference

Since CEP hosted the 2006 International Women in the Church Conference with over 4000 women in attendance we have been repeatedly asked, “When will you host the next one?” After much prayer and discussion, we are ready to announce another CEP Conference for PCA women, ages 13 years and up.

The theme for this conference is a grand and glorious look at the full orbed grace of God in our lives – Amazing Grace 360!

Whole Gospel. Whole Life. Whole World.

Be sure to stay connected to the conference, by using this conference website to see the full faculty of gifted men and women whom God is raising up to lead and teach us.

Nancy Guthrie, a gifted teacher, writer, and conference speaker will serve as the Conference teacher. The preacher for this year’s event will be Brian Habig, pastor of the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, and former Reformed University Minister at Mississippi State University and Vanderbilt University. Worship and music will be led by Kevin Twit of Indelible Grace and Laura Story.

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Conference Teacher: Nancy Guthrie	Conference Preacher: Brian Habig	Conference Musicians: Indellible Grace & Laura Story

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The CEP staff is finalizing the balance of the conference faculty with speakers and seminar leaders from across the PCA. Continue to check this website over the next few weeks as more speakers are announced.

Also, plan to arrive early in the day on Friday to attend the special Pre-conference sessions. These seminars will provide you three extra sessions to be encouraged and equipped with tools for service in the Kingdom of God.

As the CEP staff and the Women’s ministry team weighed the privilege and cost of planning another major conference, there was consensus that in the midst of an uncertain economy, often leading to a spirit of fearfulness; now is the time to rehearse the scope and surety of God’s grace in our lives, to come together as this portion of His body to worship, learn, celebrate, anticipate, and focus on His eternal grace to and in us.

As you pray and anticipate this discipling opportunity, begin now to think creatively as local churches for ways to help raise funds for your women who are unemployed or financially challenged and who want and need to be part of this weekend.

Click to visit new conference website www.amazinggrace360.com which is under development.

If you would like to receive updates and information about the conference, be sure to join our Amazing Grace 360 contact list.

Thank you for your kingdom partnership.

Jane Patete
CEP Women’s Ministry Consultant.

By Dr. Bryan Chapell

“The Lord has changed me in numerous ways. One of the most significant of those is how he has given me a much greater appreciation of my need for other people and the corporate nature of the gospel.”

– Doug Kothe (MDiv ’11)

This is how Doug Kothe, one of our current students, describes his time at Covenant Seminary. Doug’s words reflect the experience of many who come to us each year to follow the call of God in preparing for ministry. His statement also reflects our firm belief that fully preparing pastors and other leaders for Christ’s church involves much more than mere classroom instruction. It involves, as we like to say, the shaping of the whole person-head, hands, and most especially, heart-within the context of a living, learning, worshipping community of grace. And, because we believe that God calls not just pastors, but also pastors’ wives and children into ministry, that shaping process must include not only the student who is taking classes, but also that student’s whole family. This is why we strive to make our campus a place where students, faculty, staff-and their families-can grow together in the gospel and be transformed by the power of God’s grace into the pastors and other ministry leaders our Lord has called them to be.

To this end we are seeking to raise funds for needed improvements to two elements of our campus that are vital to this kind of personal and spiritual growth: Edwards Hall Community Center and Rayburn Chapel. The only large gathering places on our campus, these two aging venues need to be renovated both to accommodate our increasing numbers of full-time students and to make it easier for seminary families to meet, worship, and enjoy fellowship with one another. We also hope to make some technological improvements that will better enable us to produce gospel-centered resources for use on campus and by the worldwide church. You can find out more about our plans here or through the 2011 WIC Love Gift promotional materials available here. Please consider how your church might be able to help.

We are exceedingly grateful to Women in the Church for their enthusiasm and support for our ministry and their heart for the men, women, and children whom God has called to Covenant Seminary. We look forward eagerly to seeing what our Lord will do through them and through our generous PCA churches as we seek to continue shaping a community of grace today for a stronger church tomorrow.

Many blessings to you in Christ,

Bryan Chapell

President, Covenant Theological Seminary

Please Pray for Us!

Here are a few ways in which you can be praying for Covenant Seminary during the next few months.

• Pray for the students who will graduate this spring and move on to serve in churches and other ministries. Pray for those who are still seeking a call, that God would quickly clarify their places of future service and give them a strong sense of his guidance in this process. Pray also that he would work mightily through each of these graduates to show his grace and mercy to others.

• Pray as we continue to navigate challenging economic waters that the Lord would continue to provide the funds we need to operate the Seminary and offer scholarships and other financial assistance to our students. Pray that the Lord would help us to continue building good relationships with our donors and that he would open doors to future friendships that would lead to even great financial health for the institution.

• Pray for us as we seek a replacement for Professor of World Mission Dr. Nelson Jennings, who will be leaving us at the end of this academic year to become Director of Program and Community life for Overseas Ministries Study Center (OSMC) in New Haven, Connecticut. Pray that the transition to his new role would go well for Dr. Jennings, and that our search for his successor would be blessed.