TEAM TESTIMONY

My Story (A Synopsis)

To our readers, I greet you in the Precious Name of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus

Christ. I do hope you are blessed by the outline of my journey.

The Beginning

When I came to the Kingdom of God in 1996, I had no idea that God was going to use

me to lead a ministry or anything else for that matter. My focus was on the Lord,

getting to know Him for myself and loving Him more as I got to know Him. Within a

short time of my conversion, I realised that I had a servant’s heart and a discerning

spirit.

God began to show me people in the church who were hurting emotionally and would

encourage me to devote my time praying for them privately. As time went on, I

became aware that Christian and non-Christian people would confide in me about

what they were going through, or about various painful incidents they had

experienced. I would encourage them as well as pray with them. I also found myself

sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my work colleagues, my son’s

friends and anyone else who was not yet a Christian. I discovered that there was much

pleasure in sharing the Word of God and motivating and encouraging people.

A Servant’s Heart

I found serving rewarding, be it ushering, cleaning, administration etc. In my church I

was willing to serve wherever was required of me by my leaders (within reason).

Thinking of ways to minimise their workload in particular areas was something I

enjoyed doing. At my former church’s four-day annual conference, I would make

myself available to help wherever needed. In the first year, I was placed with the

cleaning team. The following year, I persuaded the leader in charge to allow me to

take over the coordinating of the cleaning, so she could focus on other areas.

A Call to Ministry

In February 2001 God gave me a vision to hold a meeting for women in the Body of

Christ. My primary role was to ignite true love, break down denominational barriers

and to love, build and encourage women of all ages and from all walks of life, to walk

in God’s freedom and wholeness for their lives. I had no idea how or when I was going

to carry out this directive until when I discussed it with my biological Sister who was

also in Christ. I was amazed when she informed me, that God told her, He would like

her to organise women’s meetings for the church we were currently attending.

We worked together and had our first meeting at my home in March 2001. This was a

great success; women were freed from all kind of inhibitions, addictions, hurts,

turmoil… the list goes on. When I saw the manifestation of God’s love in that room, I

was blown away by the magnitude of His love. That day I received a true revelation of

how much God loves his children, irrespective of the sins in our lives, and how much He wants to bring us to a place of Right Standing in Him. That day in 2001 is imprinted

in my mind and upon my heart forever.

God’s Encouragement

Don’t give up!

Our women’s meetings were running for approximately 18 months when God took me

to a place of being still to heed His direction. We (the team) went into a time of prayer

to ascertain God’s will for the next step. Then in July 2004 Women Arise Ministries, (a

name given by God), started in South London. Following the all-round challenges I

faced, the insurmountable battles and conflict encountered, combined with the very

lonely journey of leading was immense so I decided to give up on the ministry. Whilst

I said nothing about my decision to anyone, I found my sons and others who had

shown no interest in the ministry would ask why the ministry was inactive. I knew this

was God, and He gave me no rest until I continued with the assignment that He

entrusted to me.

Growth and Development

Under God’s guidance

As God directed I followed; In February and September 2006 we commenced meetings

in East and West London, in 2007 we expanded to Stevenage, then North London and

so it continued. While the women’s meetings were the heartbeat of the Ministry, God

wanted us to hold other activities throughout the year such as, a time away where

women would be ministered to spirit, soul and body in an environment away from

home. We also held family conferences, banquets to embrace the whole family.

Fight the good Fight of Faith

The race is not for the swift, nor the strong, but he who endures

Being in ministry is hard work; don’t let anyone tell you different. The spiritual, physical

and mental opposition is immeasurable but I can honestly say that this position has

taught me much about myself and continues to do so. It has taught me about dealing

with the sin issues in my life, which has brought much transformation and humility of

heart. It has also taught me to walk by faith and trust God, even when it is difficult to

do so. The vision for WAM is far bigger than I could ever imagine and although we are

only doing a segment of what God has asked us to do, I now thank God for entrusting

me with this ministry and His people.

God and His sense of humour

Ladies please know that God has a sense of humour, sometimes the very thing that

goes against your normal disposition is the exact same thing He uses to take you out

of your comfort zone and to show you what He has placed in you. Travelling the

world, let alone running a global ministry was never on my agenda, but it was on

God’s agenda for me. A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his  steps (Proverbs 16:9). I do chuckle to myself whenever I think of this total shift in my

life.

Wait on God

Do not move prematurely

I have had to learn to wait on God and stop operating prematurely in the things that

God has shown me or told me that He would like me to do. It is important that we

operate in God’s timing and not ours. I know that God has a plan for you all and that

plan is to prosper you and give you a hope and a future. Ladies, it is to your advantage

to understand that some dreams and visions come into fruition quicker than others

hence why it is important not to compare your timing with others. If your time has not

yet come to develop what God has placed within you, do not despair, do not be

discouraged; it will come to pass because God has promised and He never lies. In your

waiting learn to serve God faithfully wherever He has placed you, because when you

show yourself faithful in a little, He knows you will be faithful in much and much shall

be given.

Thank you

To achieve any goal in life you will always need the support of others. I would like to

thank God for Joan W, who supported me at the beginning of my journey with WAM

and encouraged me to keep going with what I am doing as this is of God.

I thank God for my sons; they were used by Him to bring me back to what He had call

me to do, and to date they still remain diligent in their support to me and the Ministry.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to my beautiful cousin Patricia R who took me

under her wings as a new Christian and taught me how to remain steadfast in the Lord,

through His Word and through Prayer no matter what.

I am truly thankful to God for Loxley E one of my then church Minister, whose wife was

also a part of the Ministry. God put him in place to pray, mentor and encourage me

in the infancy of Women Arise Ministries (WAM). Loxley give up his valuable time to

support and transport us to the West Midlands to promote WAM.

All that we do in this ministry would not have been possible without the Women Arise

Ministries Team, past and present, (that consist of women from different churches,

denominations, cultures and age groups) who have given their time to support the

ministry, to see the vision come to fruition.

Last but not lease I would like to say a massive thank you to my husband (who is now

my greatest support) for releasing me into full time ministry even though it was

financially difficult to do so and for being diligent in his support to me and WAM.

I became part of Women Arise Ministries Global from the beginning. Both Joanne (CEO/Founder) and I had similar dreams in February 2001 about having meetings for women to encourage them. My vision was for the women of the church we were attending and Joanne's was for women in church, not in church, local and national. We decided that we would work together. Being part of the WAM Global has been an exciting and scary experience. I have been challenged, stretched and allowed to use, develop skills/talents that I possess. Joanne has invested much time and energy in training us to lead and bringing out the best in me. There has always been the ethos to do things with excellence making sure those we serve get our very best. WAM Global has been a platform where I could share my creativity, artistry, give presentations, encourage people and live purposefully. What is even more amazing, I have got even better at these things; which helps me in my career and personal life. Better still I have the privilege to learn from people from all walks of life.New Paragraph

I joined WAM Global in 2005 after having met Joanne Daley the CEO through the workplace.I was intrigued by her kindness, encouraging manner and warm sense of humour and decided to get to know her outside of the work setting. 

Joanne invited me to one of the women’s meetings she held on a bi-monthly basis which i attended and found very encouraging so continued to go.  

WAM Global has also helped me emotionally dealing with my insecurities, my self esteem and the building of my confidence. Being part of WAM Global has also taught me the importance of reading God's word daily to build an intimate relationship with Him, which has helped me to grow spiritually and now I can help others in the same way.  

WAM Global is a family to me, a family that supports me in my good and my bad times.  It has also taught me the value of a family. WAM Global  has given me purpose, and I would recommend this wonderful Ministry to anyone who wants to grow in any areas of their life.

Executive Assistant to CEO

I have been part of WAM Global since 2008 and have gone from being a guest at WAM’s team events to being on the Leadership team through a great system of internal development and mentoring. In my earlier years with WAM I have worked in the Promotions department and have been involved in the organisation of WAM’s National and International events. With all the skills obtained I am now the Executive Assistant to the CEO.

WAM Global is a great organisation in which to be developed and challenged to be the best that God has called you to be.  WAM is an effective tool of God to encourage and empower women who feel isolated, marginalised, or fearful that they have nothing to offer or that they cannot be used by God.  It is also a Ministry that reinforces how much God loves you and has a plan for you.  

Head of IT UK 

I was invited to one of WAM's meetings a couple of years ago. I felt so welcomed and loved for an amazing group of ladies from different churches which share the same faith and same love towards others.

I felt very touched with the the fellowship, humbly service and kindness of everyone, that it didn't take me very long time to decide joining WAM as a volunteer.

I am honoured to belong to WAM Global and I look forward for the years to come to continue alongside my sisters to keep serving the Lord!

Every blessing,

Janice Grant Head of Prayer Ministry UK

I was invited to a WAM Prayer Breakfast Meeting by my neighbour who was a member of the WAM team. Whilst at the meeting I felt an awesome presence of Almighty God in the place.  To my amazement I was called, by the person who was leading the meeting, to pray for families and the future of the Ministry.  Whilst I was praying I sensed that God wanted me to be a part of this Ministry, and to travel with them to encourage women with His love plus build them in their natural gifts.   

I have now been in the Ministry for five years and initially worked in the Promotions department. However as time went on it became apparent that I was called to the prayer dept., undeniably this helped me to grow and develop in my calling as an intercessor.  I am indeed very humbled and grateful to our Heavenly Father for entrusting me in the role of the Head of our UK Prayer Ministry and for the leading of a team of nine women. I am also thankful to Joanne, the CEO of the Ministry, for her obedience and faithfulness to God.