L-R: Joy Villegas, Philippines; Shusma Adhikari, Nepal; Wendy Cortazar Ortiz, Colombia; Karuna Prasad, India; Margaret Gibb, WT Executive Director; Eunice Monda, Kenya; Sasha Marchenko-Kartashova, Ukraine; Veronika Nuzhna, Ukraine

We were so blessed to welcome seven international guests at the CALLED 2019 International Leadership Forum. These special leaders have shared their reflections on the forum and how their lives have been impacted as a result of the friendships made and the powerful messages that were shared:

Karuna Prasad, India

“What a great joy it was for me to be a part of CALLED in Canada. . . I was so blessed through the worship and inspired by the powerful messages. As I heard the stories of my sisters serving God in different nations and different contexts, I was reinvigorated and reminded of God’s faithfulness. How great is our God! An UNSTOPPABLE GOD. . . The weekend in your beautiful city of Guelph was beyond my expectations. The Spirit of God nudged me on to dream bigger things and to expand my territories. I have placed the UNSTOPPABLE brick on my bookshelf. Everyone who enters my office looks at it and is curious to know its significance. It’s a great opening to share my testimony. Continuing to pray that His will be done in my life and in this place where He has called me.”

Karuna Prasad & Wendy Cortazar Ortiz

Wendy Cortazar Ortiz, Colombia

“In my heart there is gratitude to the King for each person I met and I am sure that there is an unstoppable God within me and I cannot stop doing what He wants. It will be a great joy to meet again next year, since I already put that special date on my calendar!”

Eunice Monda, Kenya

“My heart is full of joy and very thankful to God for you and the entire team, Women Together. It was a great privilege for me to be in Canada. Indeed, it was a dream come true. Indeed, the powerful messages were more valuable than many years of studying. Coming to CALLED has advanced me by inspiring me to start seeing things differently.”

Sasha Marchenko-Kartashova & Veronika Nuzhna, Ukraine

“We felt so welcomed and accepted. Praise the Lord for your hearts, your love and generosity. Let God bless you and your families! We are so blessed to be the part of Women Together family all around the world! And we are excited to know that greater things are ahead!”

Shusma Adhikari, Nepal

“I was very blessed by the messages, meeting new leaders, worship, and special prayer time at the end. I was so glad that I could take part in everything this year. It was and will be a special God moment for me. Thank you, Jesus!”

FOR MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE

Excitement ran high as the Women Together planning team met for a pre-forum meeting a few hours before kicking off CALLED 2019. We were excited to welcome 100 leaders from five Canadian provinces and six nations outside of Canada.

We were ready! At our meeting, we reflected on how God gave us a miracle by providing long-term, multiple-visit visas for four of our guests. We knew by that one miracle that God was up to something, and it was good!

The CALLED registration table buzzed with conversation as women arrived from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, Ukraine, India, Nepal, Kenya, Philippines, and Colombia!

Our days were full at the Guelph Bible Conference Centre. From plenary sessions, leadership insight videos, and powerful workshops to discussion groups, a leadership panel, and a vibrant Celebration of Nations night—we enjoyed an unforgettable leadership-building and friendship-forming experience.

Conversations at meal times were rich and deeply meaningful. The opportunity to learn what God is doing in the lives of leaders in other countries was empowering. The stories shared from around the world left a deep impression on everyone present. Together we formed a global community of Christian leaders and loved it. We came as strangers and left as friends.

Eunice Monda, our Women Coordinator from Kenya and a first-time visitor to Canada and CALLED, was overwhelmed:

Words are failing me. I am in awe!”

Wendy Cortiz, a dynamic leader from Colombia, wept for joy at having the opportunity to be at CALLED and meet so many leaders from Canada and other parts of the world.

Before our final powerful prayer time, we gave every attendee a wooden block, which simply said Unstoppable.

Our 3rd annual International Leadership Forum—CALLED….Relentless—will be held at the Guelph Bible Conference Centre on October 15- 17, 2020. If you are a leader, plan now to join us!

FOR MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE

On Saturday, November 2, 2019, friends of eight Canadian authors gathered for a celebration in Pickering, Ontario to launch Volume 2 of Faith Life and Leadership: 8 Canadian Women Tell Their Stories.

Stories are powerful. When eight seasoned, accomplished women tell their stories and the life and leadership lessons they learned in their development journey, the mentoring impact is invaluable. The early beginnings described by each woman are all varied. Some fought the challenges of poverty and broken homes. Others had to deal with their own demons of self-doubt and fear of the future. While every story is different, there is one theme—God’s unfathomable grace!

As each author read a paragraph from her book, the bottom line came through loud and clear: “God led me, even when I didn’t know it….trust God, have faith, and ask.”

One attendee said this:

This is just what I needed. To meet a group of confident, strong women of faith…and listen to their stories; this was so encouraging for me. I couldn’t wait to get home and tuck into the book.”

Purchase a copy of Volume 2, CLICK HERE

Purchase a copy of Volume 1, CLICK HERE

After ministering in Mukono, Uganda, Ellen Krahn, Evelyn Franklin, Vicky Ahlberg, and Margaret Gibb travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, a familiar place for Ellen, Evelyn, and Margaret.

Our schedule was filled with gatherings for pastors’ wives and medical camps in two different locations in Nairobi. We hosted an overnight retreat—a special time of bonding and deep spiritual connection—for the Women Together Kenya team and made plans for future ministry. We also had a special opportunity to meet staff at the Kenya Medical College, hear their stories, and begin discussions on how we can work together. We acknowledged that only God could have opened that door!

Eunice Monda, our Women Together Kenya Co-ordinator, joined our team to continue our work in Kisumu, Nyang’ori, and Kisii. A week in this part of Western Kenya was filled with spiritual enrichment at the Nyang’ori Pentecostal Bible College, women’s conferences, and leadership training for women. Medical camps were held in Kisumu, Nyang’ori, and Kisii.

The medical camps are great opportunities to provide medical care, build connection, and provide spiritual encouragement. In total, throughout five medical camps, our nurses, doctors, and pharmacist saw over 500 people. Our medical supplies were depleted, but our spirits soared. At every medical camp, we had a station designated for prayer. Every person who came for medical help was prayed for. Several gave their hearts to Christ.

We will be back in 2020!

A Women Together team—Ellen Krahn, Margaret Gibb, and Vicky Ahlberg left for Entebbe, Uganda on Sept 4 and arrived in Mukono, Uganda at 4:00 a.m. on Sept 5. Evelyn Franklin, a dedicated nurse and WT team member from Canada, was there to meet us at the airport. Evelyn had been in Uganda for two months teaching a Home Based Care course to 16 young people. The course, which Evelyn developed herself, teaches practical nursing skills for providing at-home care to the elderly—a much-needed ministry in a country with few caregivers due to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDs.

With 20 hours of flying time behind them and a few hours of sleep, the team was ready to go. Ellen and Margaret taught leadership training to the staff of ROTOM, a Christian organization dedicated to serving the needs of the elderly and those under their care. Vicky had a first-hand orientation on the work of ROTOM. Evelyn finished teaching her Home Based Care Course and prepared for her students’ graduation.

The team had the opportunity to visit some seniors in their humble village homes—a deeply moving experience. We met David, a man living alone in a home that needed extensive repair. He wept when we came to visit him and brought him groceries. He was so sad when we first came, but wept with joy when he was given sugar, flour, toothpaste, and other grocery items.

It was a joy to celebrate the graduates of the Home Based Care Course with their parents and friends. Equipped with basic health care knowledge, these students have seized a golden opportunity to learn. Out of the 11 students who graduated from Evelyn’s first class in 2017, nine are now employed, and out of the 16 who just completed their training, four are employed. This is good news. One of the girls, Viola, the valedictorian, is now pursuing her dream to be become a nurse. Women Together, through Evelyn Franklin, gave her hope and a future!