An increasing number of women in paid ministry are seeking support from God and the church to preach the Gospel thanks to the input of this year’s Women in Ministry Day.
Over 50 women of every age and stage met in the idyllic setting of Eden Gardens, North Ryde for a day of Bible teaching, practical ministry seminars and fellowship organised by the Diocesan Women's Ministry Team.
The large turnout displays the wide range of women involved in women's ministry in the diocese.
Emily Furse-Roberts, 26, has been a Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) apprentice at St Swithun's, Pymble for 15 months with a focus on ministering to women in the youth and evening congregations.
"I couldn't imagine doing anything better with my time. Seeing God at work changing people's lives and having conversations with them about their Christian faith is such a privilege," she says.
Emily reduced her employment as a speech pathologist to part-time so she could take up MTS three days a week.
"When the opportunity came up to use more of my time to serve three days a week, I had to take it. Talking to people about God is something I don't get to experience in my speech pathology work," she says.
Meanwhile, Lesley Ramsay, 56, is the Senior Women's Evangelist at Evangelism Ministries and has been in full-time ministry since marrying a clergyman 36 years ago.
"As I was involved in church and saw the work progress and people converted, I knew I wanted to get involved in this. It's become quite a passion over the last 36 years," she says.
"I love doing evangelism, so being a full time evangelist, I sometimes wake up in the morning and pinch myself and say, "Is this a dream?'" Mrs Ramsay says.
Archdeacon for Women's Ministry, Narelle Jarrett and Psychologist Dr Alan Craddock led sessions dealing with the challenges of stress to ministry and the importance of building networks of care and support for those in ministry.
Archdeacon Jarrett says women in ministry frequently leave because of discouragement and not finding adequate support.
"There are unique challenges for women in ministry. They have a unique role " many work part time and without pay, there is a lack of job security and no perceived career path," she says.
"There are many really courageous women working away to head up the Mission to women in the diocese, yet their circumstances are much more fragile."
"We can help by recognising that if we are serious about the Mission, we need to engage women along side us to achieve it," Archdeacon Jarrett says.
Tara Thornley, 36, who has been the women's pastor at Unichurch, UNSW for seven years says she has been blessed to receive a lot of support during her ministry.
"I have had a few times in last few years when I have struggled, so I have learnt to keep asking others for help and for ideas on how to better serve," she says.
"I feel very supported as a woman in ministry and there are so many great conferences like this that I don't feel there is a lack."
Archdeacon Jarrett says the church is the best resource for supporting ministry workers.
"God has placed us in the church " the greatest place for doing ministry " but also the best help, support and encouragement for people who work in ministry. Often ministry workers can fail to take advantage of that," she says.
