WOODSTOCK, Ga. — For the past 20 years, God has faithfully used Priscilla Shirer to encourage women to know Him deeply, trust Him fully and engage His Word with confidence. Lifeway and Shirer celebrated their 20-year partnership at a recent Going Beyond Live event in Woodstock, Georgia.
Nearly 5,000 women gathered at First Baptist Church Woodstock for the event on August 22, featuring Bible teaching by Shirer and music led by her brother Anthony Evans.
Typical of Going Beyond Live, the event kicked off with worship and prayer. Shirer called women to pray and recalibrate their minds for why they were there — “to bless God and allow Him to draw us to Himself.” Throughout the day, Shirer led special times of prayer, encouraging women to pray in groups for healing, freedom from bondage, and intercession for lost family members.
Shirer taught from 1 Kings 18, referring to Obadiah, a man who greatly feared the Lord and who was in charge of Ahab’s palace, as a covert operative for the kingdom of God. His fear of the Lord influenced His decisions and gave Him a divine purpose, she said.
She reminded the women in the room every single believer “has been called to be a representative of our God and His Kingdom so others see what God looks like. Wherever you are is an assignment from God.”
Shirer challenged and encouraged the women in the room to see the environment where God has placed them as a Kingdom assignment—whether that’s the home, the board room, the classroom, the school drop off lane. “Everything you do is for the glory of God to reflect the power and presence of God everywhere you go.”
Speaking specifically to the teens and young adults in the room, she told them they are on a kingdom assignment among their peers. “God has sent you to be a living, visible testimony of the kingdom of God.
The afternoon session included a live episode of the “Full Fledged,” a mother and son podcast with JC Shirer Jr and Priscilla. Their special guest for the podcast was Jackie Hill Perry. Their conversation centered on the faithfulness of God through generations, the transforming power of God’s Word, the role of suffering in our sanctification, and how to cultivate hope.
JC honored his mom and her 20 years of ministry through events, writing and Bible teaching. He noted the consistency with which both Priscilla and husband Jerry followed Christ and parented him and his siblings. “You and Dad have reflected First Class parenting.”
The evening before Going Beyond Live, Lifeway hosted a dinner for Shirer, family, friends and teammates who have served alongside her through her ministry.
“For 20 years, Lifeway has had the joy of partnering with Priscilla and Jerry Shirer,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway and former director of Lifeway Women. “And when we talk about that partnership, we’re talking about events, Bible studies, books, teaching moments, ministry opportunities and lives changed.”
Shirer’s first event with Lifeway was called Day Break, featuring Shirer and Bible teacher Angela Thomas. In 2007, Lifeway launched Going Beyond, changing the name briefly to Priscilla Shirer Live and then going back to Going Beyond Live in 2019. Along the way Shirer and Lifeway broadcast 65 episodes of “The Chat with Priscilla,” a talk show covering a variety of topics for women, with 132,000 subscribers and 5 million views.
Shirer and the Lifeway Women’s team have welcomed more than 262,000 women to 83 live events, gathering in 25 states and three countries to worship, study Scripture and grow in their faith. Through digital experiences, an additional 600,000 participants have joined from wherever they are, proving that the life-changing power of God’s Word knows no geographic boundaries.
Shirer’s influence through publishing has been equally remarkable. With over 10 million books and Bible studies in the hands of readers, her writing has equipped women to study Scripture with greater confidence, deepen their prayer lives, and discover God’s faithfulness in every season. Whether through beloved studies, insightful books, or resources that continue to disciple generation after generation, her ministry has consistently invited women to encounter God through His Word.
Over the years, Shirer has stepped into many roles—teacher, author, speaker and even actress. She has portrayed characters in faith-based films like “War Room” (2015), “Overcomer” (2019), and “The Forge” (2024). Through each of these unique mediums, Priscilla has remained committed to her over-arching calling—to equip believers with the tools they need to know and love the Lord more deeply.
Loyd said the legacy of these past 20 years can’t be measured in attendance, events or books sold. Instead, it’s found in the countless testimonies of women whose lives have been transformed by the gospel.
“We heard from a woman who picked up ‘The Armor of God’ right when she needed it most — walking through a painful season with her adult child — and who said she found peace she didn’t know how to find on her own,” Loyd recalled.
She recounted the story of a woman who, in the aftermath of a hurricane, disabled, overwhelmed and quietly struggling, opened Shirer’s book Fervent and found not judgment but truth, giving her permission to pray boldly again.
“For Lifeway, this partnership has been a sacred trust,” said Loyd. “We have had the privilege of helping place these resources into the hands of readers, but the real work has always belonged to the Lord. He has used Priscilla’s faithfulness, her voice, her obedience and her love for God’s Word to encourage generation after generation of women.
“We thank God for what He has done through this partnership, and we look forward with gratitude and expectation for all He will continue to do.”
To learn more about Going Beyond Live or to register for an event, visit Going Beyond Live. For more about Shirer’s ministry, visit Going Beyond Ministries.
MEDIA CONTACT: Aaron Earls, Aaron.earls@lifeway.com
