More than 30 Hub Leaders from all over the country came together in Overland Park, Kansas., Nov. 2-4, to be encouraged, trained, and loved. It was a first-time event for Hub Leaders and for Stonecroft staff.
Friday night brought the women together (and two infants) to worship and unite their hearts in the purpose behind hubs, a model of gathering women to share the Gospel with those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as Savior. Though the idea of hubs originated about five years ago, the actual model developed in 2016 when six women gathered in a basement to kneel before God and ask for a vision of outreach. Less than two years later, more than 40 hubs have been created with more on the way.
The multigenerational group at the retreat heard from President and CEO Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton the first night, who encouraged them in their mission to reach women for Christ, where they are, as they are.
“I talked to them about a vision I sensed may have been from God,” she said, “that during their gathering they might see the ceiling taken off of their hopes and dreams of how the Gospel would go forth. I read 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 where it says no eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has prepared.”
At the Stonecroft Home Office, more worship and prayer opened their time together, before the staff-planned breakout sessions and training. One training was on Wholehearted Life, a new evangelism tool currently being piloted and set for release next year, created by Evangelism Resources Director Jessica Leep Fick. Traci Crowder, Great Lakes/Mid-South Divisional Field Director, led a session on evangelistic prayer.
“As we begin to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, it opens our eyes to see that in the business and hurriedness that is our life … it’s more important to see those around us and start those relationships,” Traci said in her session.
Powerful prayer and devotions topped off both that day and the next, when Sarah LeBlanc, Director of Field Ministry, shared with the leaders from the story about the four friends who lift off a part of the ceiling to help their friend find healing from Jesus. (Sarah and Naomi did not coordinate their talks to the Hub Leaders.)
“The Hub Leader Retreat was an incredible weekend where we saw God exceed our expectations,” Sarah said. “It was incredible to see women gathered from all across the country representing 30 hubs with a huge variety of backgrounds, experiences, and ages. All of us left feeling encouraged and inspired with new friends. I believe this retreat was just a small taste of the incredible things God is doing and has in store for this ministry.”
The entire weekend was full of the Spirit’s presence and blessing. Leaders left with new friends, new tools, and a new hope for the work for God in their cities.
Cara Day
Director of Marketing and Communications