Diane McBeth is a recipient of the CBWOQ New Initiatives grant for her Life Circles Ministry. This summer Diane travelled to Brisbane to attend the BWA Women’s Summit and World Congress.
Thank you CBWOQ for your prayer and financial support! As many of you know, I have been volunteering with Baptist World Alliance Women (BWA-W) for several years to create spiritual formation resources. Life Circles guides for peer spiritual direction are at bwawomen.org/life-circles/ in seven languages, along with videos in English and Portuguese. I have also been travelling to Africa annually to do training in different regions as well as occasionally leading online groups. This year I collaborated with Merritt Johnston (Executive Director of BWA-W) to create an online leadership development program that is also based on spiritual formation, called Rooted to Rise.
Global Launch
In July we were able to do a global launch of both programs at the BWA Women’s Summit and Global Congress in Brisbane, Australia. I was interviewed at an advance luncheon for selected women leaders; I also did a brief presentation at a Summit plenary, and facilitated two workshops.
God’s Grace
You would think that after all this time I would no longer be surprised by God’s grace . . . yet I am.
As people honestly seek God, even through simple spiritual formation practices, He responds to them personally. I saw one woman wiping away tears; another pair spontaneously hugged as they shared what God had spoken to them about. As I circulated, one woman from a small Pacific country, told me, “My friend here is from a different religion, so I am just explaining the parable to her.” Didn’t I wish I had time to find out more of that story!
A number of people went on to sign up for the next cohort of Rooted to Rise. I am excited that women from different countries and cultures will be able to grow and share together. Thanks for your participation to make this ministry a reality.
Diane