Change is in the Air!

We have been blessed in the European Region with many gifted and capable leaders who have added much value to the growth of the European Ladies Commission. Such has been the case with Sis. Harmony Pace, who has recently stepped down after serving several years as Ladies Commission Director and other positions. Her passion and dedication have made a lasting impact on ladies’ ministries in Europe, and we are grateful and thankful for all that she has added to the kingdom work of the Ladies Commission. Sis. Kay Burgess of Spain will be replacing her as Director. She and her husband are veteran missionaries to Argentina, El Salvador & now Spain, where they have served for the last 11 years. She has been involved in all levels of ladies’ ministries over the years and is excited about the future of ladies’ ministries in Europe.

Also, Sis. Crystal Wallace, our Western Europe Representative, has chosen to step down at this time and will be replaced by Sis. Carla Calhoun, Missionary Wife to The Netherlands. We are truly thankful to Sis. Crystal for her years of dedicated service and wish her all the very best. Also coming onboard in the Mediterranean Area is Sis. Christene Moreno, Missionary Wife to Greece. Welcome to both ladies! We are so glad to have you working alongside us on the Ladies Commission and are looking forward to a great future in European Ladies Ministries!

Studying Together

Following God in Dire Circumstances

Sunshine is extremely important to mankind.  Not only do we enjoy its beauty and warmth and appreciate its life-giving effect on our plants & food, but sunlight is vital for our overall health.  There are over 180 direct references to the sun in the bible along with many other synonyms and indirect words for it.  From its creation on the 4th day, to the rising and setting of it every day since, God´s life-giving sunshine has been a part of the human experience since the beginning.   Our lives are scheduled around its presence; our very existence depends upon it.  To think that one day the sun might not actually rise upon us – would mean the end of the world as we know it. 

It is also true that too much of a good thing can sometimes be harmful, as is the case with too much sun exposure upon the human skin or any plant life.  Even the hearty sunflower can be damaged by too much sun! Wise women seek to cover exposed skin to avoid burns, and many plants must be shaded to avoid over exposure and burns.  We find one such woman in the bible who fought a battle against the ravages of the sun in the story of Rizpah, in 2 Samuel 21.  Rizpah was one of Saul’s wives who suffered unjustly for the sins of her husband and her nation.  After Saul was killed and David became king, Rizpah slipped away quietly with her 2 sons and went on with her life, until God’s timepiece caught her up in a nightmare of unimaginable events.  A deadly famine gripped Israel, and God let David know that Saul’s sins in the matter of the Gibeonites was the root of the problem, and that justice must be done before the famine would be lifted.  Only the blood of Saul’s descendants would suffice, which meant that innocent children had to bear heavy punishment for the sins of their father.  And suddenly Rizpah’s 2 sons, along with 5 others being raised by Michal, were ripped from her hands, hanged on a cruel tree and slaughtered.  The famine was lifted and life returned to normal – except for a heartbroken Rizpah who toiled night and day fighting to protect her sons’ decaying bodies from being destroyed by the elements (sunshine!) and predators.  She knew within her heart that despite their father’s actions, those young men were king’s sons and deserved a proper burial. She also knew that leaving their bodies to hang unburied testified to the vengeance of man and not of God, for the law demanded that anyone hanged on a tree must be buried before sunset of the same day. 

Like the hearty sunflower that can grow in almost any conditions, Rizpah stayed at her post and did not give up.  Throughout the long summer and harvest season, waving her sackcloth against the invasion of predators and the ravages of the sun until the rains came – the sign that God had withdrawn His judgement.  It was then that David finally became aware of her actions, and moved to compassion by her sacrifice, did the right thing and made sure that all of Saul’s descendants were properly buried in the family tomb. 

Did you know that sunflowers are not even mentioned in the Bible? They are not native to the Middle East and therefore did not exist during bible times.  They were discovered in the Americas many years later.  Yet while they do not appear in scripture, we can draw a few parallels between this beautiful, cheerful, hearty flower and Rizpah’s story: 

1. They are known for heliotropism; young buds follow the sun’s movement, while mature flowers permanently face east.  Rizpah knew where to look to find her answer!  Faithful, steadfast, weary, & sun-burned – she still knew that God would hear her and respond.  She lifted up her head and followed God’s movements – although difficult to see for a season – until He responded.  Luke 21:28 tells us to “Look up” when bad things happen around us.  “And when these (terrifying) things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.  Look up to Jesus my sister! 
2. Sunflowers have a deep taproot and an extensive lateral root system, making them somewhat drought tolerant.  Rizpah was rooted and grounded in truth, making her capable of facing terrible life circumstances without withering.
3. Sunflowers are rich in nutrients and vitamins and are cultivated extensively for their seeds.  Rizpah’s story serves as rich “food” for our lives – we can learn by her example! 
4. Sunflowers can clean the world! Sunflowers have a remarkable ability to absorb toxins, toxic metals and radiation. Following nuclear disasters, scientists planted millions of sunflowers to help the land recover.  Like Rizpah, we need to bloom where we are planted!  We can change the very atmosphere around us by filtering out worldly toxins that hinder the advancement of God’s kingdom. 

Rizpah’s name means a hot or live coal.  Whether she was being consumed by a burning passion for the protection of her sons, or whether she felt like she was unfairly thrust into circumstances beyond her control – Rizpah never wavered.  She stood tall, deeply rooted in her belief and faith in God, withstood the most unimaginable circumstances, and eventually saw her faithfulness rewarded and her plea answered by the one who could change her circumstances.  We would do well to follow her example. 

Kay Burgess

Chatting Together: Sherri Hemus

The Apostolic Church of Liverpool, England (ACOL)  

Hello. My name is Sherri Hemus and my husband John and I are missionaries to the United Kingdom, specifically England.  We moved to Liverpool along with our three children almost 25 years ago, to pastor eight women in an old church building.  God has been very faithful to us, and we have been able to build a new church building and help lead many to Jesus Christ. Our two sons have made England their home and along with their wives and children help lead ACOL. Our daughter married a man from California and that is where they are assistant pastors. 

How long have you been leading in ladies’ ministry? I began leading the ladies almost immediately with two all-night ladies’ prayer meetings yearly. They were very supportive and almost all were involved. I think they were just so thankful to have a pastor and his wife after over three years of being on their own that they would have done whatever we asked of them. They were so good to me! 

Which passage of Scripture best describes your ladies’ ministry? There are two scriptures that would describe ACOL Ladies.  The first is John 4:39 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did”.  I use this scripture because the ladies are taught that they all have a testimony and that is what they need to share with others…how good God has been to them.  

The second scripture is Titus 2:3-4 “The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children”.  The older and more experienced women have so much to give to the younger women, to teach them and show them how to be women of God: building and maintaining a relationship with Jesus;  Godly wives to their husbands; mothering and teaching their children as God desires of them; and if single, growing in God as a single woman. 

What has been your greatest challenge in ladies’ ministry? I have found the greatest challenge in our Ladies Ministry has been getting the women involved.  Some will not attend the meetings no matter what you say and do and then others are so faithful.  There are so many ladies hurting and broken and you desperately want them to know there is a safe place for them to share their heart and burdens.

What has been your greatest victory in ladies’ ministry? I believe the greatest victory in our Ladies Ministry has been getting so many of the ladies that attend our gatherings to teach other women.  We have been able to have women that have never spoken in front of a group, get up and teach the women.  Encouraging them to teach others and watching them do it has been one of our greatest victories.  Women who said they could never teach others about Jesus got up and taught and even made power points to support their teaching. They realised that God was with them and in them and if they relied upon Him, they can do whatever He desires them to do. Many taught their first bible study to a friend or family member after that.  What an accomplishment! 

What advice would you give to motivate ladies to become part of the ladies’ ministry? To motivate ladies to be a part of our Ladies Ministry I have always told them it’s a safe space of women only and we get to discuss topics that are unique to women and it’s a place that we can receive love, prayer and support from other women.  It is not a gossip club or a place for us to vent about our husbands, but it is a place we can share with one another and receive godly advice to help us.

What have you found works best? I really don’t think there is any one thing we have tried that worked best to get the women involved in our Ladies Ministry.  I do like to change up our Ladies Ministry team at least every 24 months because we want new ideas and new input from the team.  Obviously, we have the faithful women that will always be part of our Ladies Ministry which we are thankful for, but we are always reaching for those that have rarely attended and those that have never attended.

What have you found did not work? The one thing that has not worked to get women to attend our Ladies Ministry has been to offer a prize/gift draw.  I wish it had worked but, in this day and age you must be offering something very expensive for it to work.

Do you have any specific resources you would like to share? We are always looking for resources to use in our Ladies Ministry, and we pray about it each year and ask God to guide us to the areas in life He desires us to share with the women.  This year we are focusing on trials, and we found a great book by Joy Haney on trials.  We use it as a guide, and we add and delete where God leads us.  So far, it has been a wonderful topic that all the women have really related to and of course, all of us experience trials so it is something the women need and want.

Have your ladies’ ministry ever done any community outreach work? Tell us about it. Our Ladies Ministry has not been involved in much community outreach on their own.  Our church is very involved in community outreach such as our own weekly food bank, cleaning up litter in the community around the church, feeding and reaching out to the homeless and we also make and give 75+ Christmas hampers each year for needy families.

What advice or encouragement would you give to someone who is just starting out? I am certainly not an expert at Ladies Ministry but the advice I would give to someone just starting out is to create a team of women, even if that is only two of you to start with.  You cannot do it all and you need someone else to help you pray and give input. There is definitely truth in “a multitude of counsellors” as other women have different burdens and giftings from God and we need this as we try to reach and teach and love other women.  As you grow a little, add a third lady to the team.  You are all different women with different ideas, backgrounds, and talents and this adds so much to your Ladies Ministry.

Debra Summers

 Leading Together: The Resilient Sunflower

In 1889, Vincent van Gogh painted a beautiful still life of a vase of sunflowers. This painting, Sunflowers, still captivates viewers today with its vibrant colors and captivating beauty. Indeed, sunflowers are impressive flowers that can grow up to 3.6 meters tall. They also possess characteristics that offer valuable leadership lessons. 

Sunflowers often symbolize resilience and adaptability. Their stalks grow thick, and their roots grow deep. Due to their size, sunflower stems are designed to bend in the wind rather than rigidly resist and eventually snap. This flexibility is made possible by their roots, which can grow 1–2 meters deep and fan out in search of water. The sunflower stands tall not because life is easy, but because its roots run deep. Sunflowers tolerate heat and can thrive in difficult conditions. These characteristics also reflect the faithful, resilient leader. 

Jeremiah 17:7–8 tells us, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Our foundation being deeply rooted in the Lord is what keeps us standing when difficult times come. The leader stands tall not because life is easy, but because their roots run deep. When the winds of life blow, rather than breaking, the resilient leader bends with the wind, adapting to the situation and finding appropriate solutions and ways to continue growing despite challenges and difficulty. 

In the right conditions, sunflowers can go through periods of rapid development during which they can gain several centimeters in a single day. Seasons of growth and development are all too familiar. As the Preacher reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Certain seasons seem to move at a snail’s pace, where there appears to be little progress, while other periods feel full of energy and great forward momentum. 

If we find ourselves in a period of slow development, it can be difficult to remain consistent and trust in God’s perfect timing. However, we can look again to the sunflower for inspiration. God’s perfect timing accompanies God’s perfect conditions. God knows exactly when the conditions are right for rapid and significant growth. During slow periods, the sunflower gathers water and nutrients, expanding its root base in preparation for the growth to come. In our own slow periods as leaders, God deepens our foundations, trains us to hear His voice, strengthens our trust, and prepares us for the coming expansion. Galatians 6:9 tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The resilient leader continues forward, knowing that in God’s perfect timing and according to His conditions, growth and expansion will come. 

Sunflowers also possess restorative qualities. They are often planted to help restore damaged soil because they can absorb certain toxins and improve environmental conditions over time. As the hands and feet of Jesus, we are planted in places filled with hurting and broken people. Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” As peacemakers, we should leave situations in better condition than when we first entered them. Our words can transmit hope and healing; our actions can create supportive environments where healthy growth can take place. Our prayers can help heal broken hearts, minds, and spirits. Romans 14:19 tells us, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Just as sunflowers help restore damaged soil, we are called to cultivate healing, renewal, and hope wherever brokenness exists. 

Sunflowers are resilient by design: bending in strong winds, thriving in harsh heat, restoring damaged soil, and growing rapidly in the right season. In many ways, they reflect the kind of leadership Scripture calls us to embody. As leaders, may we learn from the sunflower: to root ourselves deeply in God, to remain resilient through adversity, to trust His timing in seasons of growth, and to bring restoration wherever we are planted. When our lives remain turned toward the light of Christ, we become sources of hope, strength, and encouragement to those around us.

Candace Lindholm

Meeting Together

Blooming like sunflowers – Turning towards to Son! 

The sunflower is my favorite flower. When they are in season, I always have fresh sunflowers in my house. When I look at them, they just make me smile.  

You many not immediately think of a sunflower when putting together a ladies’ event or ladies bible study. However, there is so much that we can learn from this beautiful flower.  

Just as sunflowers naturally turn toward the sun, women of faith are called to turn toward Jesus in every season. Here are some thoughts that can be used in a study to encourage growth, joy, steadfastness, and spiritual flourishing. 

“But we all… are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.”  2nd Corinthians 3:18 

Study Overview 

Supplies 

• Small sunflowers or sunflower images 
• Pens/highlighters 
• Journals/notebooks 
• Yellow note cards 
• Sunflower seeds for favours 

Ice Breaker Activities  

1. “Sunshine Introductions”

Go around the room and ask: 

• What is one thing that brings sunshine into your life? 
• Which season best describes your life right now: planting, growing, blooming, or waiting? 

2. “Bloom or Wilt?”

Read different scenarios aloud and have ladies respond: 

• “Bloom” = spiritually thriving 
• “Wilt” = struggling spiritually 

Examples: 

• Spending daily time with God 
• Comparing yourself to others 
• Encouraging another woman 
• Carrying anxiety alone 
• Trusting God during uncertainty 

Afterward, discuss: 

• What helps us bloom spiritually? 
• What causes us to wilt? 

Bible Study Session  

Sunflowers Follow the Sun 

John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness…” 

Teaching Point 

Sunflowers track the sun throughout the day. Spiritually, we flourish when we continually turn toward Jesus. 

Discussion Questions 

• What distracts you from focusing on Christ? 
• How can we intentionally “turn towards Jesus daily? 
• What habits help you stay spiritually healthy? 

Deep Roots Produce Strong Blooms 

Jeremiah 17:7–8 – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord…” 

Sunflowers need strong roots to stand tall. Women of faith need deep spiritual roots to withstand storms. 

Object Lesson  

Hold up a sunflower and discuss: 

• The visible bloom is supported by unseen roots. 
• Spiritual maturity is built in private before it shows publicly. 

Discussion Questions 

• What deepens your spiritual roots? 
• What storms have strengthened your faith? 
• How can we support one another spiritually? 

Bloom Where God Planted You 

Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good…” 

Teaching Point 

Sunflowers bloom right where they are planted. God can use us in our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities. Have some pictures of different places sunflowers have grown.  

Discussion Questions 

• Where has God planted you right now? 
• Is it difficult to bloom in your current season? 
• What gifts has God given you to bless others? 

“Seeds of Encouragement”  

Give each woman several yellow cards. 

Ask them to write: 

• Encouraging words 
• Scriptures 
• Prayers 
• Affirmations 

Then place the cards in a basket and let each woman draw one to take home. 

“Turning Toward the Son” 

Ask everyone to quietly reflect and journal: 

• What area of my life needs more sunlight from Jesus? 
• What is preventing growth? 
• What spiritual seeds do I want God to grow in me? 

Pray over: 

• Growth 
• Healing 
• Faithfulness 
• Community 
• Spiritual flourishing 

Encourage the women to continue turning toward Jesus daily. 

Snack Ideas 

• Sunflower seed trail mix 
• Lemon cupcakes 
• Yellow fruit tray (pineapple, bananas, mango) 
• Sunflower-shaped cookies 

Take-Home Encouragement 

Attach this message to a small packet of sunflower seeds: 

“Keep your face toward the Son, and you will bloom in every season.” 

I pray that as you teach to your ladies, they will be encouraged to walk closer with the Lord.  In Scotland, we don’t always have a lot of sunshine. So I have told our ladies here, “If there is no sunshine, be the sunshine in someone’s life today.” Let Jesus shine through you wherever you go and whoever you interact with.   

Mary Catherine Beek

Teaching Together

Summer has arrived!  Our family usually travels once a month to Northwest Romania to visit churches and preaching points in the area. These journeys often take us for many hours through quiet villages, across the Carpathian Mountains, and alongside many fields.  A sign of summer is the vast stretches of sunflower fields. Across Europe, they are very common—from the southern and central regions of France to the areas of Tuscany and Umbria in Italy. 

Fun fact: Romania is the largest producer of sunflowers in the EU, along with our neighbouring countries, Bulgaria and Hungary! 

Sunflowers are unique in how they grow. They are heliotropic, which means they follow the movement of the sun from east to west. Together, they turn as one—like a great choir, united in purpose, moving in harmony. 

It’s so important for us, as apostolic women, to support one another. In a world that often moves too fast and can leave us feeling weary, it is so important that we lift one another up. Let us link our branches together—standing strong, rooted in faith, and supporting each other as we fix our eyes on Christ. Together, we can shine as examples in our families, our churches, and our nations. 

One way to stay encouraged and connected is through the testimonies and voices of other apostolic women. Their stories remind us that God is always working, in every place and every season. 

Here are some resources that have encouraged me: (English)  

•       Reflections (UPCI LadiesMinistries)  -Podcast  
•       For the perfecting – Sis. Rachel French – Podcast
•       Added Blessings – Sis. Tanya Harrod – Book
•       Suddenly – Sis. Cylinda M. Nickel – Book

*Podcasts can be found on Spotify/Apple Podcasts and YouTube.  These books can be found on your local amazon.  

Now, we would love to hear from you! What are some books, podcasts, or other resources in your native language that have encouraged and strengthened you? Our desire is to share as many uplifting resources as possible with ladies across Europe, so that TOGETHER we can grow stronger in faith. 

Send us a message on our social media accounts:
Instagram: @euroladiesupci
Facebook: @EUROLadiesUPCI
  Email: [email protected] 

Christine Patterson

“She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Mark 14:8-9 (NLT)