I come from a long line of amazing, feisty, strong, soft, focused, determined, beautiful women. Both of my grandmothers come from good stock… they are, and were, pioneers in their own right in countless ways physically and spiritually. Grandma Lippert is still alive, 93 and ready for a trip to NYC (that rhymed!) and Grandma Green has graduated to heaven.
And my mother - Mavis, well if you know her she lives and breathes Proverbs 31. She has crazy passion, endless mercy for others and walks as a forgiven women full of grace. I couldn’t be more grateful to God for the mom he allowed me to have on this earth. I even have a mother-in-law that breaks the mold… she was the bonus God gave me as the exceedingly abundantly above measure on this earth just to top it all off.
I also come from great spiritual stock… a Sisterhood of women who are truly gathering, equipping and mobilizing troops of women across the earth to rise up, be all they are called to be and make a difference in their world, and in turn THE world.
I sat under the leadership of Bobbie Houston (and still do via podcast and the Colour Conference each year) for years in Sydney, Australia before I moved to New York with my husband to plant the church God placed in our hearts. Sitting under her teaching and leadership for nearly 10 years truly and deeply changed my life and perspective on what it is to rise up and be the woman of God I am called to be. She heard a whisper from God years ago that has now become a SHOUT across the earth in the form of a Global Sisterhood. Birthed out of the Colour Conference and a group of women meeting weekly in Sydney, an army of women have truly risen up to take their place and see change on the earth and in the church globally.
So there’s a bit of my heritage, but now what does this all look like for the women (of ALL ages) at Liberty Church? Here is a little bit of background and vision to help you see our how we can begin to play our part:
When I was on vacation in July this year I was wrestling with God as to why He hadn’t given me a specific vision for our women especially after being a part of such a strong movement of women whilst living in Australia. I didn’t want to move and just do something because it’s what you “should” do. I wanted to get God on it so I could lead the charge with conviction. I guess slowing down and being on vacation was my time to hear loud and clear as to what our piece of the global puzzle was.
The truth is that the Liberty Sisterhood is simply another part of a Global Sisterhood that God is building. The Sisterhood in its truest form is not tied to one church and one group of women… WE ARE a Sisterhood across the earth, united in cause, and we just need to fully wake up to it and take our place. So I am volunteering the women of Liberty Church to become a part of something that is WAY bigger than ourselves. We are linking arms with women across the globe, with one heart to be all we are called to be in Christ AND reach out locally to those in need in our world.
Think of what we can do together! Bringing liberty and freedom to all those in need of it. Whilst on vacation I began to think of all of the women that have gone before us. Women like Catherine Booth, pioneering the Salvation Army alongside her husband William. Rosa Parks, a Christian woman who took a stand for equal rights and launched the movement into greater momentum. Harriet Tubman, a woman who was an escaped slave and leader of the Underground Railroad that served as a Union scout during the Civil War… a true abolitionist. Mother Teresa, a woman who loved the lepers, abandoned and poor in Calcutta with the purest love of God.
I thought of countless mothers who fought for their children through the Great Depression… I thought of the women I have met and talked with here in New York today who are homeless and still are fighting for their rights and the rights of their children… who just need some value and dignity given to them…
And as I sat and thought of all of those women and all they had done to bring freedom, justice, love, dignity and truth to those around them… I felt the Holy Spirit say to me “Now it’s your turn”.
I began to weep… all of these women have paved a way for us and now it’s our turn. It’s our turn to shower the earth with love, truth, freedom, dignity, peace, justice, mercy and all things good… IT’S OUR TURN!
LIBERTY SISTERHOOD… NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!
“For such a time as this” became a revelation to me instead of just a familiar scripture- it’s really our time! We ARE born for such a time as this! Sorry if I am yelling whilst writing, but we have to wake up to this (me included).
So when we launch the “Liberty Sisterhood” on Thursday September 29th in the Tribeca Cinemas at 7:30pm, we will gather in strength because countless women have gone before us to pave a way. So let’s give honor where honor is due, and then let’s take our place.
Liberty Sisterhood… Now it’s your turn…
ps Stay updated on Twitter @LibertyNYSHOOD
