She Is Europe
To reach women in Europe with the gospel, Melinda Henderson, Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) global worker and founder of the Inspire Project, launched the She Is Europe initiative, when her husband, Larry Henderson, became Europe regional director. The She Is Europe initiative encourages AGWM female global workers in Europe to reach women and girls in their communities with Christ’s love through various ministries. It also serves as a collective platform to highlight what God is doing through many of our female global workers as they serve in their country of calling.
“Through She Is Europe, we are mentoring, discipling, and inspiring women across Europe to become Jesus followers,” says Henderson.
She Is Europe champions the ministerial contributions of nearly 70 AGWM female global workers across 22 different European countries and showcases the different projects led by these global workers. These include moms and tots groups, women’s conferences, Bible Study groups, anti-trafficking ministries, ministry to Muslim women, university ministry, pregnancy crisis centers, abortion recovery centers, kids and youth ministry, and many other avenues to reach women and girls across Europe.
“She Is Europe was a God-dream to bring awareness to the women who may never have a platform to talk about their ministry or have invitations to share their stories. Yet these women are making a Kingdom impact every day through their faithfulness,” says Melinda.
Among these global workers and their ministries is Julie Goldschmidt, AGWM global worker to Edinburgh, Scotland. Julie and her husband, David, first arrived in Scotland in 2007. In 2011, Julie, her husband, and their 6-month-old baby, returned to Scotland for their second term.
The Goldschmidt’s church plant, Bridge Family Church, focuses on accommodating young families. Julie noticed the need for more family-oriented spaces within the church. Julie and David provided Bridge Family Church with stroller parking stations, baby changing stations in every bathroom, snacks for young kids, alternative spaces for caregivers to watch the service with their children, and clean toys.
Going beyond physical needs, Julie hosts a moms and tots group to help meet the relational and spiritual needs of young mothers.
“It’s neat because I can’t go to a park in the city without running into moms who I knew when their kids were babies. They came through our church and through our toddler group,” Julie explains.
Recently, Julie has seen an increasing number of women becoming open to the gospel. Many young women and mothers are experiencing a desire to attend church for the first time or return to church to raise their children in a Christian atmosphere. The majority of first-time church attendees are female.
“It’s so cool to see God breathing new life into things. Things that you think are dead and gone and hopeless, yet, He’s sparking … a quiet revival,” says Julie. “The culture is subdued, not very emotional, not very expressive. … But we are seeing more salvations and more church attendance than ever before.”
Across Europe, women of different cultures and nationalities are finding Jesus through the faithful witness of AGWM global workers.
Ellen Cannon, AGWM global worker to Spain — along with her husband, Mark — runs Oasis Center in Madrid. The center hosts language classes for adults, homework help and day camps for children, and a variety of events throughout the year. The Oasis Center, staffed by volunteers from local churches, serves as a gateway to reach sensitive countries that are often inaccessible with the gospel — particularly first-generation immigrants from the Muslim world.
“None of the women with whom we work were born in Spain or Europe; they’re all coming from their very unique cultures,” says Ellen. “Most of them are coming from cultures where you cannot share the gospel without risk to them and to yourself.”
Language classes are segregated by gender, allowing Muslim women to ask questions and learn comfortably. These classes also create opportunities for volunteers to build relationships and share Jesus more freely through meals, visits in a park, and other events. Reaching Muslim women is often the key to seeing an entire family come to Christ.
“Women are the heart of the home. They are the neck that turns the head, even in Muslim countries. … Muslim women have a lot of influence on their children, their husbands, and the faith of the family,” says Ellen.
Ministering in Europe allows AGWM global workers to reach women from countries they previously could not have accessed with the gospel. These opportunities are bringing a new generation of families to Christ.
Although many relationships form in large group settings such as churches, ministry outreaches, and various platforms, there is astounding growth fostered through small groups and one-on-one discipleship.
Kristen Koeshall, AGWM global worker to Heidelberg, Germany, serves — alongside her husband, John — with Students for Christ, a European campus ministry. After having children, Kristen’s ministry shifted to her home, focusing on small group Bible studies and individually mentoring young women.
“Because at times I was more bound to home, I wanted our home to be a place where students could feel welcome — a place to come. I see my home as a place of ministry,” says Kristen. “Bible studies and mentoring are the heavy point of where — even with kids — I’ve been able to keep my hands on because I could make space where girls could come to me. … God has helped me keep my fingers in ministry the whole time to the capacity I had.”
Through one-on-one discipleship, small-group Bible studies, and hosting, Kristen has seen young women of various cultures, religions, and family backgrounds encounter Jesus in her home and begin a relationship with the Lord.
AGWM global workers in Europe are helping break spiritual and physical chains as even the most marginalized women are being brought to Christ through the hands of the local church.
In 2013, AGWM global workers Lisa Russi and Joy Krajicek founded Perles de Prix, a ministry that equips local churches to reach women trapped in prostitution. Perles de Prix currently partners with four churches across France for human trafficking outreach. These outreaches involve women of various ages from local churches who evangelize on the streets at night, and offer free coffee, prayer, conversation, and, if desired, a way out of prostitution.
“Ultimately, the goal for those trapped in prostitution is to get free,” says Joy. “We want to spiritually, emotionally, and relationally invite them into the Church, and family of God, because of how much autonomy and power is taken from them.”
Lisa and Joy help trafficked women testify against their traffickers and gain freedom by partnering these women with a local church to get the resources and support they need.
For two years, Lovely vowed she would leave human trafficking. However, she never fulfilled her vow. Finally, after getting pregnant, Lovely told Lisa and Joy she was ready to leave. A local church provided a home for Lovely, ensured she arrived at her doctor’s appointments, babysat while Lovely met with a lawyer, prayed for her, and became the family she didn’t have.
After completing one of the final steps of the liberation process, Lovely explained, “You’ve known me as Lovely. That’s my street name. I want to change my name. I want you to call me Mercy, because God had mercy on me. He’s given me freedom. He’s given me this family of God.”
She Is Europe not only highlights the work of female global workers and equips them to recognize their impact on the kingdom of heaven, but it also raises awareness of AGWM’s female global workers to build stateside partnerships.
“The long-term goal is to completely fund projects and connect female global workers on the field with partners here in the States,” says Laura Lussier, She Is Europe media and communications team lead. “Maybe [churches in the States] will bring a team over, maybe they’ll send [global workers] supplies, or join them as one of their financial partners.”
Besides funding, She Is Europe is showing young girls that no matter their season of life, no matter their giftings or stage of life, they, too, can be global workers.
To see a full list of the global workers, mission team opportunities, projects, partnership needs, and to find more information about She Is Europe, visit www.sheiseurope.org or send an email to [email protected].