More than 120 women gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 26 to 28 for the third women’s Iberian conference, as an initiative of the “As Marias” ministry. The event brought together participants from Spain and Portugal, and this year, for the first time a few women from France, and Italy joined for a weekend focused on encouragement, leadership, ministry, and holistic care.
Upon arrival, participants were warmly welcomed by Liliana Almeida, Camila Yabuki, Emmanuella Arruda, and others from the “As Marias” ministry team. Throughout the years “As Marias” has sought to walk alongside the church by serving as a source of support, inspiration, and mentorship for women in Portugal and the Western Mediterranean Field.
Linda Louw served as the main speaker for the weekend. As an advocate for the inclusion of women in leadership, she spoke from the biblical stories of Hagar and Naomi, drawing attention to their faithfulness, perseverance, and willingness to serve God in difficult circumstances. Participants were encouraged to reflect on serving God as they are, trusting that God sees them and equips them.
In addition to the main sessions, the weekend included workshops designed to offer practical tools for ministry and personal well-being. Celia Rossi, who currently serves alongside her husband in Greece, led a workshop on the use of art and crafts as a form of ministry and outreach. She shared how creative practices can help build relationships, open conversations, and provide ways to connect with people in local communities.
Maria Garcia led a workshop focused on mental health and therapeutic support. Her session addressed ways women can respond to depression, grief, trauma, and emotional stress, both in their own lives and as they support others. Garcia also guided participants through grounding techniques that can be used in moments of anxiety or high stress.
For Nina Ngoma, from the France District, one meaningful takeaway came from the opening message shared by Camila Yabuki, who preached from 2 Kings 4 on the story of the widow’s oil. Nina said she left with the reminder to be an empty vessel, available for God to fill and use.
The “As Marias” ministry initially started with the goal of bringing together Spain and Portugal in providing space for spiritual growth, discipleship, fellowship, restoration and mission, where each woman is encouraged to flourish in God’s purpose for their lives. However, with the large participation of women from France and Italy, the vision will be expanded to the whole Western Mediterranean Field, and the next event is already being envisioned as embracing the whole Field. Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fellowship across cultures and language barriers, and many said they looked forward to gathering again next year.
-article by Erin Ketchum, Western Mediterranean Field
