rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Female Christian leaders encourage women to pursue theology, discover God’s unique calling during Faithlife Live virtual event

Sharon Hodde Miller, Trillia Newbell and Wendy Widder provide wisdom and insight in honor of Women’s History Month

BELLINGHAM, Wash., March 11, 2021 – Christian authors, speakers and writers Sharon Hodde Miller, Trillia Newbell and Wendy Widder joined Faithlife, makers of integrated church technology products including Logos Bible Software, yesterday for a live discussion in honor of Women’s History Month about women, theology and the Church.

The discussion, hosted by Jennifer Grisham, a Faithlife content strategist and former church leader, included a number of topics including the overall value of women and their unique service to the Church.

“Generally speaking, women have a different perspective (from men) and a different set of life experiences,” said Widder, an author and educator with a Ph.D. in Near Eastern studies, an M.A. in Hebrew and Semitic Studies, and an M.Div. with an emphasis in educational ministries. “We see the world differently – as everyone does – but the Church misses that when they don’t hear us.”

Newbell, Acquisitions Editor at Moody Publishers and author of numerous titles including A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and the children’s books, Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea, noted that women are part of the Body of Christ and valuable to God and one another.

“We have to have a women’s perspective because we want to serve people in all the various ways and circumstances people find themselves in,” Newbell said. “There are situations a male can’t speak into well without that female perspective. Period. They just can’t.”

The speakers noted the unique calling on women’s lives and encouraged women to embrace and discover their God-given giftings.

“Calling looks different for everyone. There is not one single narrative of calling,” said Miller, who leads Bright City Church in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband Ike and has a Ph.D. on women and calling. “The one thing I encourage people to do as they are assessing their calling, is to utilize the greatest resource God has gifted you, which are the people in your life who love the Lord and listen to the Holy Spirit. Ask them, ‘What gifts do you see in me?’ They know you better than anyone.”

Widder affirmed Miller’s advice, noting women should take opportunities to serve in a variety of ways. “You find your place of calling by serving, trying and failing, filling in where you’re needed and discovering that’s not the place for you,” Widder said. “You will find God steers you in certain ways. In the end, God’s calling might be different than what you think. That doesn’t mean you missed the call, but we don’t always get the full picture God has for our lives.”

The leaders also challenged the Church to make space for women to serve by developing a culture of stewardship in terms of people’s unique gifts churchwide.

“Don’t miss the opportunity to say ‘I see this in you.’ God will use that to direct them to the place God has for them,” said Miller. “Make this a part of your culture. Name the gifts of women around you. Honor your tradition but give women the opportunity to use their gifts for the Church.”

Finally, though, the leaders applauded the uptick of women attending seminary and graduate school. Newbell, who does not have formal training, reminded viewers that growing in theological knowledge does not have to include attending school.

“Theology is important because it is what we believe about God,” Newbell said. “You can read books and be educated where you are and you should. We are called to make disciples of all nations. We are called to train and teach. When we do this, it strengthens the Body because we are part of the church.”

In order to assist women with growing in their biblical knowledge, Faithlife offers a number of books and coursework from the three featured speakers and other notable female theologians, at fl.vu/womenintheology. The company also offers a free version of Logos Bible Software available for download at logos.com/basic.

“There has never been a time with such access to resources. There is a glut of resources and material and a whole lot of it is free,” said Widder. “If you take the time and put in the effort, you can probably educate yourself in a whole lot of ways without ever leaving your desk or your couch.”

To view the full live event discussion with Newbell, Miller and Widder, visit fl.vu/womenintheology. Additionally, during Women’s History Month in March, Faithlife is giving away bundles of resources created by women to women currently in seminary or on church staff. Entry details can also be found at fl.vu/womenintheology.

About Faithlife:  Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for more than 25 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 GOOD BOUNDARIES AND GOODBYES
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER CLASSIC EDITION
DAVE RAMSEY
6 STAND STRONG
OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES WITH CONTRIBUTION BY DAVE BRANON
7 THE RETURN OF THE GODS
JONATHAN CAHN
8 JESUS CALLING FOR CHRISTMAS
SARAH YOUNG
9 MISSION POSSIBLE ONE-YEAR DEVOTIONAL
TIM TEBOW WITH A. J. GREGORY
10 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
View All
1 THE WORLD OF THE END
DAVID JEREMIAH
2 BY WAY OF DECEPTION
AMIR TSARFATI AND STEVE YOHN
3 JESUS LISTENS NOTE-TAKING EDITION
SARAH YOUNG
4 YOUR GREATER IS COMING
JOEL OSTEEN
5 PRAYING LIKE MONKS, LIVING LIKE FOOLS
TYLER STATON
6 DAILY WISDOM FOR WOMEN 2023 DEVOTIONAL COLLECTION
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 CHRISTMAS IDEALS 2022
MELINDA LEE RATHJEN
8 MY JESUS
ANNE WILSON
9 FOSTERED
TORI HOPE PETERSEN
10 LIVE YOUR TRUTH AND OTHER LIES
ALISA CHILDERS
View All
1 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
2 THE LADY'S MINE
FRANCINE RIVERS
3 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 THE HARBINGER
JONATHAN CAHN
5 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
6 THE SISTERS OF SEA VIEW
JULIE KLASSEN
7 MARK OF THE LION GIFT COLLECTION
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT AND HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AND CHARLES DICKENS
9 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
10 THE ORCHARD
BEVERLY LEWIS
View All
1 GOOD BOUNDARIES AND GOODBYES
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER CLASSIC EDITION
DAVE RAMSEY
6 STAND STRONG
OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES WITH CONTRIBUTION BY DAVE BRANON
7 THE RETURN OF THE GODS
JONATHAN CAHN
8 JESUS CALLING FOR CHRISTMAS
SARAH YOUNG
9 MISSION POSSIBLE ONE-YEAR DEVOTIONAL
TIM TEBOW WITH A. J. GREGORY
10 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
View All
1 I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN
AINSLEY EARHARDT
2 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
3 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
4 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
CLEMENT MOORE
5 THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
6 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
7 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
8 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
9 SOUNDING JOY
ELLIE HOLCOMB
10 GOD GAVE US CHRISTMAS, Board Book
LISA TAWN BERGREN
View All
1 THE MANUAL TO MANHOOD
JONATHAN CATHERMAN
2 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
3 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
4 LIVE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK
5 SPORTS SHORTS
DEL DUDUIT
6 ADORED
ZONDERVAN
7 3 BIG QUESTIONS THAT SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
KARA POWELL AND KRISTEL ACEVEDO AND BRAD M. GRIFFIN
8 OUTDATED
JONATHAN JP POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
9 THE POWER OF A PRAYING TEEN
STORMIE OMARTIAN
10 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
View All
1 3-MINUTE DEVOTIONS FOR MEN
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
2 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
3 LAUGH-OUT-LOUD JOKES FOR KIDS
ROB ELLIOTT
4 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL
MIKE BERENSTAIN
5 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE JOY OF GIVING
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
6 WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE
DONNA K. MALTESE
7 GOD'S PROMISES FOR YOUR EVERY NEED, NKJV
THOMAS NELSON
8 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
9 MORNINGS WITH GOD
EMILY BIGGERS
10 GOD WILL USE THIS FOR GOOD
MAX LUCADO
View All
1 NKJV SUPER GIANT PRINT BIBLE
NELSON BIBLES
2 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
3 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
4 NIV BIBLE FOR TEEN GIRLS
ZONDERVAN
5 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Rose Gold
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
6 NLT ONE YEAR BIBLE
TYNDALE
7 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
8 NLT DELUXE EXPLORER EVERY MAN'S BIBLE
STEPHEN ARTERBURN
9 CSB HOLY LAND ILLUSTRATED BIBLE
NA
10 NLT PREMIUM SLIMLINE LARGE PRINT ONE YEAR CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE
TYNDALE
View All
1 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
2 NIV HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
3 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
5 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV LARGER PRINT BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
8 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
9 CSB OUTREACH BIBLE
CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
10 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
View All
1 New International Version
2 New Living Translation
3 English Standard Version
4 King James Version
5 Christian Standard Bible
6 New King James Version
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New American Standard Bible
10 The Message
View All
1 INCENDIARIO
ITIEL ARROYO
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 JESUS TE LLAMA, Tapa Dura
SARAH YOUNG
5 GANA LA GUERRA EN TU MENTE
CRAIG GROESCHEL
6 MAPA DE ORACION PARA UNA VIDA MENOS ESTRESADA
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
8 EL PODER DE LA GRATITUD
JOYCE MEYER
9 ERES MAS FUERTE DE LO QUE PIENSAS
JOEL OSTEEN
10 365 DIAS DE ORACION PARA LAS MUJERES
BROADSTREET PUBLISHING GROUP LLC
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Tapa Dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 SAMS LETRA GRANDE BIBLE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
4 RVR1960/NKJV BIBLIA BILINGUE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO PARA MUJERES, Tapa Dura
DOROTHY KELLEY PATTERSON AND RHONDA HARRINGTON KELLEY AND B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA SUPER GIGANTE, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 NVI BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Blanco
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR1960/ESV SPANISH ENGLISH PARALLEL BIBLE
CROSSWAY BIBLES
View All
1 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR REVISADO
GARY CHAPMAN
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA: DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
DEBORA M. COTY
4 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
5 EL AYUNO DEL SENOR
YIYE AVILA
6 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
7 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
8 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES: 180 LECTURAS INSPIRADORAS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 EL PODER DE LA ESPOSA QUE ORA - SERIE FAVORITOS
STORMIE OMARTIAN
10 DONES DEL ESPIRITU
YIYE AVILA
View All

Upcoming Events

The Christy Award® submission period
March 1-30, 2023
Christian Collective at London Book Fair
April 18-20 | London
European Christian Rights Fair
April 24-26, 2023 | Krakow Poland
ECPA Leadership Summit & Awards Celebration
May 9-10, 2023 | Nashville
ECPA International Christian Rights and Export Fair
June 27-28 | Moody Bible Institute, Chicago

Career Center

Part Time Rights Administrator
Riggins Rights Management, Remote
Book Project Manager
Nori Media Group, Inc., Shippensburg, Penn. (Hybrid)
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center at jobs.ecpa.org, and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA @ChristianBkExpo
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2023 · ECPA