When women encounter freedom in Christ

Through their relationships with Jesus, many women in our church have experienced a new freedom and confidence to become who God created them to be.

This is hardly surprising when we consider how Jesus Himself treated women.

Again and again in the Gospels, He empowered and restored them: the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, the woman caught in adultery, and many others.

'One of the most powerful services I have ever attended'

The women in our congregation wanted to express the freedom and new life they had found in Jesus by organising an act of worship which celebrated the preciousness and value of women in God’s eyes, while also highlighting injustice to women that is an affront to God’s love and goodness. The result was one of the most powerful services I have ever attended.

The service created an opportunity for women in our congregation to share testimonies of difficult experiences and injustices. Some spoke in person, others shared on video, and some had their stories read out. They spoke of abuse of many kinds, of not being heard or believed, of the pain they had experienced on behalf of their children, and of gynaecological issues that were not taken seriously.

It was heart-breaking to hear the extent of suffering these women had experienced. And the tears and conversations afterwards made it clear that these stories were far from unusual.

Yet the testimonies did not end with pain. Each woman also spoke of the ways God had brought light into their situation.

For some there had already been much healing; for others the journey was still ongoing. One of the women shared: "I’m still healing. And if I’m being honest, I’m still learning to fully trust God again. Trauma leaves wounds and faith can take time to grow back after it’s been shaken out of you. What I am learning is this: God is patient with our healing (more so than I am with myself). He doesn’t rush and He doesn’t turn away when we’re struggling, even though I may turn away from Him."

Another woman reflected: "Though I went through this, I have become stronger, my faith has grown deeper with God, knowing that He was there and supporting me through such a tough time."

Painting, poetry and afternoon tea

Others contributed to the service in creative ways. One woman displayed a painting called Fire and Grace, placing a black-and-white image alongside a vibrant colour version. She explained: "The coloured painting is how God created us to be: full of fire in our souls and grace in our hearts… He sees us as we are, not the washed-out watered-down version the world wants us to be."

Another wrote a poem to encourage other women who were struggling, including these lines: "The love of God that holds me so tight, and wipes my tears when I cry in the night. I am broken, it’s not easy to see I will be mended… please be patient with me."

Later that day, the church's women’s group hosted a traditional afternoon tea, bringing together women from both the church and the wider community. It was a warm time of laughter, sharing, and encouragement—celebrating the joys as well as the struggles of being female.

Many people spoke afterwards about the impact of the event.

The world does not yet reflect the Kingdom reality of women being fully loved, respected, heard and empowered. My 14-year-old daughter is not yet growing up in a world where she will always be treated with the dignity and value that Jesus sees in her.

Moments—and events—like this, can help us grow more into the likeness of Christ, as the Holy Spirit forms a community that honours one another as God intended; not just on one day, but in the whole of our life together.

This article is written by Anna Heydon, part of the Passion for Evangelism network. PfE exists to empower, encourage, and equip women to share the good news of Jesus with God-given confidence and creativity.