May 15, 2025
MARTINEZ, Ga. — Catherine Renfro challenged women to live with “expectant faith,” Friday, April 25, at Georgia Baptist Women’s 2025 Spring Event at Abilene Baptist Church. Saturday’s message from Elizabeth Woodson focused on the theme of enduring faithfully through difficult seasons by trusting in God’s presence, promises, and purpose.
Beth Ann Williams, Lead Strategist, Georgia Baptist Women, reflected on the event, saying, “What joy it was to be together with the Georgia Baptist Women family for a weekend of powerful teaching. Women were challenged to stand on the truth of God’s Word and were given practical ways to live out their faith. It is so encouraging to see so many ages of women in different seasons of life connect through worship and mission action.”
Some 600 women came together in Martinez for two days of encouragement, fellowship, and teaching, kicking off with a Mission Georgia service project on Friday.
That evening, following the service project, participants gathered for a business meeting that included a special recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Lauren Sullens, outgoing president of the Georgia Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, honored the historic role women played in its formation. She recounted how WMU leaders, mobilized by faith and vision, exceeded their fundraising goal during the 1919 $75 Million Campaign, ultimately helping lead to the establishment of the Cooperative Program in 1925 with the highest female representation ever on an SBC committee.
Later that evening, Renfro, the National Director of Women’s Evangelism for the North American Mission Board, challenged listeners to live with expectant faith—a posture of daily anticipation that God is at work and will move through the lives of believers. Drawing from Mark 5 and the story of the woman healed by touching Jesus’ robe, she emphasized that faith in action begins with belief that one encounter with Jesus can change everything. She reminded women that “serving others is a doorway to sharing Jesus,” and shared her own family’s story of saying yes to an unexpected adoption opportunity, demonstrating the life-altering results of putting faith into action.
Renfro identified three characteristics of expectant faith: it is active, not passive; personal, but not private; and contagious, inspiring faith in others. She encouraged the women to step into opportunities God places in front of them, whether in their workplaces, neighborhoods, or everyday routines. By doing so, they become part of something bigger than themselves—God’s mission to make Jesus known. “Expectant faith will lead us to intentionally pursue Jesus,” she said, urging listeners to deepen their dependence on Christ through Scripture, prayer, and worship.
Ultimately, Renfro called on the women to live with boldness and spiritual attentiveness, trusting that God can do immeasurably more than they ask or imagine. She challenged them to start each day not surprised by God’s activity, but looking for it: “When we recognize that God is always working, we will live by faith in such a way that we enter into spaces expectant for what He’s going to do.” Through Scripture, personal testimony, and heartfelt encouragement, Renfro painted a compelling picture of gospel-centered living that starts with saying yes to God, even in the ordinary.
Jonathan Hoyle, worship pastor at Abilene’s Martinez campus, led women in heartfelt worship alongside his team throughout the weekend. Saturday was filled with music, small group meetings, and gentle yet powerful teaching by Woodson, a Bible teacher, theologian, and the founder of The Woodson Institute, an organization focused on making theological education accessible to everyday Christians.
Woodson’s keynote message was a powerful call to perseverance in seasons of difficulty. Drawing from Joshua 1, Woodson urged women to “keep going” even when life feels uncertain, painful, or overwhelming. She opened with personal stories of grief and loss that accompanied her move to seminary, framing the lesson with her uncle’s wise encouragement: “The cost of giving up far outweighs the benefit.” That sentiment echoed throughout her message as she walked through God’s conversation with Joshua, reminding listeners that even in pain, God’s promises and presence endure.
Woodson outlined four principles necessary to persevere in faith: process the pain, stay focused on the goal, remember the truth, and live courageously. She emphasized the importance of bringing emotions honestly before God, particularly through the biblical practice of lament. “If you do not transform your pain through the gospel, you will transmit it to other people,” she warned. She challenged the women not to numb their pain with distraction or performance, but instead to draw near to God in prayer, honesty, and dependence.
Staying focused, Woodson said, requires remembering that the assignments God gives us didn’t start with us and won’t end with us. Every season, even the unwanted ones, carries gospel opportunities for service, transformation, and freedom. She encouraged women to resist distraction and discontentment, and instead embrace the people and places God has divinely positioned them to impact. “What God has given you didn’t start with you, and you’re not the only one it will impact,” she said. By meditating on Scripture and anchoring their identity in God’s character, believers can reclaim joy, purpose, and perspective, even in difficulty.
In closing, Woodson called on her listeners to live courageously—not because life is easy, but because the ending is already determined. Citing Joshua’s daunting assignment and the repeated command to “be strong and courageous,” she reminded the women that God’s presence enables bold obedience. Through simple but powerful disciplines like gratitude and celebration, believers can cultivate a resilient spirit that keeps going, grounded in the faithfulness of God. “We can live courageously,” Woodson said, “because we know how the story ends, and the One who writes the story goes with us.”
Attendee Yvonne Parker was deeply touched by Woodson’s message, saying, “It was a powerful message for all of us in the room."
The 2025 Georgia Baptist Women’s Spring Event also featured a diverse lineup of breakout sessions designed to equip women for gospel-centered service in every stage and sphere of life. In Navigating Hard Relationships, Paula Walker offered practical strategies for engaging with broken and hurting people, encouraging attendees to reflect God’s compassion in even the most difficult relational dynamics. Kim Campbell led Living the Psalms, guiding women through the rich emotional and spiritual landscape of the Psalms and offering tools to study, pray, and apply them in everyday life.
Catherine Renfro, in Women in the Mission of God, challenged participants to look beyond their daily checklists and recognize their divine calling to live on mission. Drawing from Scripture, she emphasized how God continues to invite women to be part of something greater than themselves. In Seasons of Motherhood, Jan Morton reminded mothers to fully embrace each stage of parenting, teaching from Psalm 90:12 on how to be present and wise in every season of life.
Ryan Rice’s session, Mission New Orleans: Reaching the City with the Gospel, highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities of urban ministry in a post-Christian culture. His insights into missions in New Orleans offered strategies that could be adapted to any local context. Being the Bride of Christ, led by Gayla Parker, provided a fresh and deeply biblical perspective on the church’s identity, using Proverbs 31 to explore what it means to live as the Bride of Christ both individually and corporately.
An IMB worker from South Asia, who cannot be identified due to security concerns, led Piercing the Darkness through Prayer. She shared about work in South Asia and how women could be involved through prayer. Belinda Harris closed out the offerings with Loving Your Neighbors through Literacy Missions, a practical session that addressed the growing need for literacy ministry in Georgia. She equipped attendees to help children and adults learn to read while also sharing the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
“However far you have to drive it’s worth it!” said Christie Harp, who attended with her daughter. “Every session we attended blessed and encouraged us. We heard God speak. The best part,” she declared, “was when we left, my daughter said, ‘Mom, we have to go next year!’”
Gloria Leeb called the Spring Event “a great blessing” and said she left inspired to live every day as a witness to Christ. She added that she felt renewed motivation to spend time in the Psalms and to stay focused on God’s truth.
“This was my first time at the event, and all I can say is amazing,” said Lakisha Carn. She described it as a powerful opportunity for Christian women to gather under one roof to worship and be taught through God’s Word. “I highly recommend this event and can’t wait for next year.”
“As we plan Spring Event our heart’s desire is for it to be much more than a weekend that makes women feel good,” Williams said. “We want women to leave transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Our prayer is that women leave refreshed and empowered to follow God in obedience in whatever way He is leading.”
___
A gallery of photos from the event is available here.
