“You will never know to what heights you can soar, unless you spread your wings and fly.”
On 14 January 2007, our plane took off in Frankfurt, Germany. Together with my friend and supporter Annette, I flew via Singapore to Sydney, where we met with Robyn and David Claydon.
At the 2006 Younger Leaders Gathering in Malaysia, Robyn had handed over to me the role that she had served in, that of senior associate for women in evangelism. During our time together in Sydney we planned our next steps, and I was able to meet supporters of Robyn as well as friends connected with the movement in Sydney.
Together we went on to Hawaii, where David Hamilton was holding a conference at the University of the Nations. What started at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization in Pattaya, Thailand, as Issue Group 24, “Empowering Men and Women,” had turned into a working group that continued to meet and discover opportunities for teaching and modelling the way God wants men and women to use their spiritual gifts fully.
The conference drew many students as well as a large group of Korean pastors and their wives. Afterward, our working group continued with planning and praying for the release of women in churches to the full use of their gifts.
From Hawaii, Annette and I flew to Chicago, Illinois, where I was able to spend time looking over historical archives housed at Wheaton College. My research included the role of women in the history of the movement. During our stay in Chicago, I met with a group of ten women who were interested in helping to form a women’s network.
We were also joined by a participant with a connection to the first International Congress on World Evangelization in 1974. She was excited to hear that the work remained active. It was special as she prayed for me and blessed me in my ministry.
Our journey was truly remarkable, as we felt the Lord’s presence and guidance. We were glad that we could work to encourage women around the world to “spread their wings” and soar into the full heights of their calling. The newly formed ministry supporting this and other involvement bore the title “WINGS”—Women’s International Network in God’s Service. Thank you for your prayers.
The work among women continues. The blessing of the Lord is passed on from generation to generation and around the world.