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Empowered to Lead, Inspired to Act
- cindydockendorff
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
Leadership rarely begins in the spotlight. More often, it starts with a nudge, a quiet conversation, a passing comment, a moment of courage shared in a workshop or mentioned over coffee. At interMISSION 2025, we watched those nudges multiply. Women walked in wondering what God might be asking of them. Many walked out knowing.
This week’s post is a celebration not of interMISSION itself but of what happens afterward: The stories we’re still hearing. The hearts still stirring. The women who returned home lit from within, feeling seen, called, and sent.
“They saw something in me.”
For many, the shift into leadership doesn’t come with a formal title or role. It comes with a realization: “Someone believes I can.” That simple thought becomes a turning point. One woman who attended interMISSION this year shared, “They saw something in me.” That changes everything.
That kind of seeing — the intentional recognition of someone’s gifts — is catalytic. It unlocks boldness, especially when it comes from women further down the road, those who’ve led through the seasons and stayed faithful over the long term.
At interMISSION, that kind of encouragement was everywhere. Women named the potential in each other. They affirmed one another’s ideas, presence, and voice. And that has ripple effects far beyond a single weekend.
“Fantastic young leadership coming on encouraging the seniors of ongoing the legacy.”
One of the most powerful themes to emerge from interMISSION was the mutual honour between generations. As one attendee noted, “Fantastic young leadership coming on encouraging the seniors of ongoing the legacy.” It wasn’t just the older encouraging the younger. It was reciprocal.
We saw younger women speak with confidence and conviction while older women responded not with hesitation but with joy. There was a sense of shared stewardship, a recognition that God is writing a story with all of us in it. Each generation brings something essential. Legacy isn’t something you cling to. It’s something you entrust to others. And when leadership is entrusted to others, it’s also multiplied.
“How Empowering Women Elevates the Whole Church”
One workshop that continues to spark reflection was the workshop session titled “How Empowering Women Elevates the Whole Church.” The message was simple but profound: When women are fully empowered to lead, serve, teach, and dream within their communities, the entire Body of Christ thrives.
It’s not about women replacing anyone. It’s about women standing fully in who they are — gifted, equipped, called — and releasing that into the life of the Church. The impact is holistic. Culture shifts. Stories get told. Work gets done.
It’s not empowerment for empowerment’s sake. It’s for the sake of the mission.
Women left that workshop not just stirred but activated. Some began conversations about their call to pastoral ministry for the first time. Others envisioned leading ministries they had once considered out of reach. Some are now mentoring younger women in their churches or starting prayer groups with a fresh sense of vision.
A Fire Was Lit
We often think of leadership as something reserved for the few but interMISSION reminded us it’s something we all carry in seed form. Sometimes we just need the right environment to let it grow.
The truth is, most of us don’t become leaders in isolation. We become leaders because someone nudged us, because someone called us forward, because someone told us, “You have something to give.”
This post is for anyone who felt that fire lit at interMISSION in a workshop, in a hallway conversation, in the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit whispering, “It’s your turn.” Whether you’re stepping into a new role or simply speaking up where you’ve stayed silent before, that’s leadership too.
Your yes matters. Your courage counts. And your story will inspire someone else to say yes next time.
What Happens Next?
We hope the nudges and ideas you’ve been working through since interMISSION are still alive and growing. If something was stirred in you, don’t wait for permission. Begin. Talk to someone. Pray it through. Ask questions. Start something small and see what God does with it.
And for those who have led faithfully for years, thank you. Your legacy isn’t behind you. It’s still unfolding. As you continue to mentor, encourage, and make space for others, you’re multiplying your impact.
Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a posture. It’s the willingness to serve, to risk, to try, to speak, to stay.
So who called leadership out of you? And who might be waiting for you to do the same?
Here are more resources to help you continue reflecting on interMISSION 2025:
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