ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — More than 350 women attended the second annual Women’s Evangelism Conference at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) on March 24-25.

The sold-out event welcomed women from 30 states and Canada and included attendees representing six languages, with live Spanish translation available. The event challenged and equipped women to cultivate personal evangelism in their own lives and to create a culture of evangelism among those they lead in their ministries.

“We want women across North America to see how simple it can be to talk to others about Jesus,” said Catherine Renfro, national director of women’s evangelism at NAMB. “We also want to be a part of encouraging and equipping female leaders from different ministry contexts because they’re on the front lines of serving ladies on a weekly basis. Imagine the impact if these leaders leveraged every one of their gatherings to not only share the gospel but also train those they lead to make Jesus known.”

The conference included four main session speakers and a panel discussion. All were centered on equipping leaders with the essential elements required to create a lifestyle and culture of evangelism in their unique ministry contexts. Ladies were also given discussion questions to utilize around mealtimes to help them connect with and learn from one another as they identified practical strategies to implement evangelism “as they go.”

Missie Branch, CEO and executive director of My BLVD Co., led the first main session and shared that leaders must examine themselves and live faithful lives before effectively leading others. Pointing to Rahab’s example of faith, Branch told attendees, “Your trust in God leads to faithful actions, and these actions increase your impact.”

Renfro’s main session focused on embracing the mission of Jesus.

“What we embrace is what we will embody,” she said. Renfro presented practical action steps modeled after Jesus’ leadership example when He sent out the 72 disciples to proclaim His name prayerfully, with a burden for the lost, and with a passion for making more disciples.

Babbie Mason, Christian singer, songwriter and author of “Each One Reach One,” shared a third essential in creating a culture of evangelism: engaging with nonbelievers in conversation. She challenged listeners to obey the command of Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to let their light shine before others and gave them everyday examples of how to speak the name of Jesus wherever they go.

“You don’t need a platform or a pedestal to get involved in spreading the gospel,” Mason exhorted. “You only need to let your light shine.”

Melanie Ratcliff, director of relational evangelism at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, led the last main session, which focused on how leaders must encourage the women in their ministries as they are faithful to live on mission by praying for and sharing the gospel with those in their sphere of influence. She reminded attendees of Moses’ need for encouragement.

“In the midst of the battle, when Moses’ arms grew weary and tired, he had people to hold up his arms,” said Ratcliff. “God is using you similarly to lift up and hold up others in your ministry and life.”

Besides the four main sessions, Renfro led a panel discussion with attendees Ailee Taylor, Jennifer Foster and Patricia Castaneda to discuss how they incorporate evangelism into their everyday lives to leverage their routines for the sake of the gospel.

Several attendees expressed appreciation for what they gained from the event.

Aydana Quiva, a student at Florida State University, shared that by attending the conference, she gained the courage to speak the name of Jesus more boldly to her classmates and peers on campus.

Catherine Jackson, women’s ministry leader at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, Ga., returned to this year’s conference because of the impact the previous event had on her life and ministry. After returning home, she met with her leadership team and trained them to write out their testimonies. Then, as they gathered in Bible study groups, each person shared their story.

“What we discovered was that there were ladies at the table who didn’t have a salvation story. In fact, one lady said, ‘I don’t have a salvation story. I need to know how I can accept Christ.’ And right after Bible study, that lady accepted Christ,” Jackson said. 

Earlene Hines said she attended to be taught, equipped, and inspired on how to engage people from differing cultures with the gospel.

“My prayer as I leave is that when God gives me the opportunity to evangelize,” Hines said, “I won’t stand in fear; that I stand in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit equips me to do what I’m supposed to do for His kingdom building, for that one lost soul out there.”

For more information on how NAMB is equipping and resourcing women to fulfill their calling as Christ’s ambassadors, visit the Women’s Evangelism Hub.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Courtney Moore writes for the North American Mission Board.)