In our fall issue of Woman to Woman, Bev Weinhold, the founder and director of Vision New England's Women's Ministry from 1989-1991, shared how God had spoken to her about starting the Women's Ministries program. Maggie Rowe, Director from 1991-1998, continues with her personal story, relaying God's astonishing activity during these formative years.

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."  Psalm 115:1

During the years from 1991-98 when I served Vision New England (then EANE) as Director of Women's Ministries, I was privileged to see God at work in truly amazing ways.When I was first asked in the summer of '91 to succeed Bev Weinhold, who was moving out of the region, I must admit that I did not want the position. If truth be told, I was terrified. I was a novice myself in leading a ministry to women, as the program we were beginning at my church on Cape Cod was then just a year old. I spent several weeks that summer searching the scriptures, hoping frankly not for a confirmation of the call but rather for an escape-hatch. Surely God must have someone more qualified in mind!

Yet as I read the Word, I was drawn irresistibly to the stories of Moses, Gideon and Jeremiah. Each recognized his inadequacy to the task to which he was called, yet each was willing to be receptive to God's leading. Ultimately each responded in faithfulness to the promise that God would be with him.

God's character has not changed, and neither have His promises. When I finally said "yes" to accepting the responsibility for directing this ministry, I held God to His promise that He would supply all that I lacked in order to do the work. I had perhaps 10% of the knowledge necessary but virtually none of the people, finances or practical resources. Over the years, however, I marveled time and time again to see God raise up absolutely everything the ministry needed. I had a front row seat as I watched our glorious God at work!

It's been said that God does not always call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. That was certainly true in my case. I often joked that perhaps one reason God had placed me in my position was that I couldn't intimidate anybody! More seriously, He allowed me to empathize on the deepest level with women throughout New England who also felt "unqualified" to do the work of ministry, and we grew together.

Some people are fire-starters, Bev once explained to me, and some are wood-carriers. I was not the visionary or the pioneer that Bev was, but God allowed me to "carry the wood" for seven years to keep the fire burning, and eventually we even started a few fires of our own! Many calls requesting speaker referrals led us to create the first New England Speakers Directory for Women's Ministries, now in its third edition. Our Woman to Woman newsletter, now sent out to nearly 3,000 homes and churches, had its genesis in a prayer letter that expanded in order to include ministry strategies and encouragement.

Women in the Word continued to grow as well. Thanks to a productive partnership with First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, CT, the 1994 conference attracted a record 500 plus participants. I was thrilled to note that many of the attendees were new to women's ministries, and were just beginning to explore how they might be used in service. As Director, however, I still felt particularly burdened for the women already in the trenches of leadership -- women whose experience in ministry would provide a basis for sharing with others.

The Lord used Congress each year to speak powerfully to me, and 1994 was particularly significant. That year we sponsored our first Women's Ministries Noon Forum during the conference. With no publicity save a general mention in the Congress brochure I wasn't sure that anyone would show up, but the room was crowded with forty women eager to meet, share with, and encourage one another. As I left the room to return to my conference responsibilities, the voice of the Spirit whispered in my ear: "You must do more for leaders. Use what you know, learn what you don't, and trust me to lead the leaders."

Out of that insistent inner summons came the inspiration for the Summit of Christian Women Leaders, an overnight retreat which met for the first time in Ipswich, MA in March of 1995 that has since become an annual event.

It was also at Congress that I first met Nan Lingenfelter, who joined our staff in 1997 as Assistant Director of Women's Ministries. Even as the ministry was expanding so was my own family at home, and I could no longer handle the increasing load of administrative detail. I once heard Dr. Howard Hendricks say, "Lead in the area of your strength, and staff in the area of your weakness." How I praised God when He supplied Nan, a superb administrator, to work alongside me so the ministry could continue to grow!

As we celebrate a full decade and more of regional women's ministry in New England, I continue to marvel at the love and faithfulness of our God who always keeps His promise to equip those whom He calls. What He did for me, He will do for you as well. Soli Deo Gloria - glory to God alone!