Vision for the Future

Women in ministry are deeply connected with Jesus and each other

Mission

Strengthening women in ministry: Spiritual Enrichment | Personal Connections | Resources for Ministry

Core Values

Grace | Generosity | Humility | Friendship | Vitality

Dreams

The NEWIM Board and Leadership Team articulated our dreams in 4 ministry areas. See more below.

Small Group Gatherings | Contemplative Retreats | Safe Connections | Newim will be known

 Foundational Verse

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
—Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)

Our Story

The Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry (NEWIM) was born out of one woman’s need to connect with other women who were ministering to others, for the purpose of sharing ideas, resources, and spiritual encouragement. In 1985 women across Los Angeles and Orange County began meeting and found tremendous support both personally and for their ministries.

In 1987 NEWIM became a non-profit, inter-denominational organization with our purpose inspired by Colossians 1:9-12.

Today, we continue to be a network of evangelical women who love Jesus and want our service to flow from a vibrant walk with him.

We hope that the ministries and the resources NEWIM provides will deepen your desire for a life of service to the Lord and prompt you to follow him wherever he leads you.

NEWIM continues to minister to women who seek the biblical call to serve Christ, whether they are new in their walk with the Lord or have served Christ for many years. NEWIM offers opportunities for women in leadership to rest and be restored by the Lord so that we may love him and others well. Read more about our story...

Our Call

It is our conviction that women who are serving in ministry (directors of women’s ministries, women who are married to pastors, laywomen who are leading ministries and non-profits, women serving as pastors in their churches, missionaries, speakers, Bible Study teachers) need encouragement from one another and set-apart time to be with Jesus. It is the leadership team’s desire to provide local small group gatherings, a variety of contemplative retreats, and safe places for women to come and be encouraged. Read about our DREAMS below.

Check out Christianity Today’s webinars: Reimagining Biblical Womanhood, part 1 and part 2, and learn how God calls each of us into ministry.

We welcome your gifts. Partner with NEWIM to strengthen women who serve Jesus.

Newim is “Evangelical”

NEWIM is evangelical. Unfortunately, “evangelical” is currently being used to describe a variety of political, social and cultural views which may have very little in common with the theological or religious meaning of the term.

“Evangelical” is in our name because we take the Bible seriously and trust in Jesus, his death and resurrection for salvation. We are women who have experienced God’s love and grace personally and who deeply desire that all would hear the good news and come to know his love. This is what it means to be evangelical. We are an organization serving the spiritual needs of women who love and serve Jesus in ministry. Historians say evangelicalism as a movement began in the 1730s and modern American evangelicalism emerged in the 1940-50s. Click here to learn more about the history of evangelicals and the role of women in the movement.

What Does “in Ministry” Mean?

NEWIM believes that God calls all of us into service. So regardless of our title or compensation, if we are serving Jesus, we are “in ministry.”

We also believe that women who are married to pastors, and women who serve on staff at a church, and women who are CEOs of nonprofit organizations have a special need to connect with peers and form safe friendships outside of their church and local communities. NEWIM provides opportunities to meet other women who share your role and understand the unique challenges women in your leadership position face.

Are you serving Jesus? Then NEWIM is for you—you are in ministry.

Are you serving as a pastor, pastor’s wife, or on staff at a church? Then NEWIM is for you.

Dreams for the Future

Small Group Gatherings

Our dream is that women are drawing together, forming small groupings of 7 or 8, finding time to meet over coffee or dinner or online, sharing their personal stories of ministry. As a result, women find strength and encouragement to take on the challenges they experience both personally and in ministry, leading to greater enthusiasm and joy in service. Women feel empowered and share resources, ideas, and prayer. NEWIM teams will be invited to come, lead and train women to create supportive environments in diverse cities through retreats and workshops spurring new growth and developing mature leaders.

Contemplative Retreats

NEWIM will be known in Christian circles as the organization that offers unique contemplative retreats for women of all Christian denominations and in all stages of their walk with Christ. These retreats will be available throughout the year in multiple locations and expanded venues. They will include the 3 Day-Springs Retreat, a two day Silent Retreat, a one day retreat embracing silence and reflection and a half-day retreat for women with limited schedules and resources. NEWIM will be offering many opportunities for women who need time away from their busy lives to reconnect with Jesus and once again hear his voice.

Most of NEWIM's retreats give women time, space, and resources to connect with Jesus in solitude, while also offering some opportunities for guidance in the Christian spiritual disciplines. Some retreats may have a unique focus, such as connecting and encouraging women in pastoral ministry, healing, writing, or acting as a springboard to advance them into leadership. Women will find opportunities at NEWIM’s retreats to be with like-minded women in similar roles or with similar struggles so they feel safe, encouraged, and affirmed. Relationships begun at contemplative retreats continue on after the retreat as leaders check in (in person or online) to offer encouragement, and thus mentoring is organically happening. Other churches or organizations looking to lead contemplative retreats will seek guidance from NEWIM and our team leaders will help mentor them in establishing their own retreats.  

Safe Connections for Women in Ministry

Newim aspires to be an organization that is a “safe place” for women in ministry. All of our events/retreats are intentional about giving women serving as womens ministries directors, or who are married to pastors, the opportunity to be with other women serving in a similar ministry role in small groups. We know what the research confirms, serving in ministry can be isolating and very challenging. Getting together with others who understand can be a lifeline.

Also, women who are going through a common challenge (for example, those who are grieving, or whose husband has struggles with sexual integrity) will have the opportunity to get to know other women in similar situations. Opportunities for SAFE CONNECTIONS are created during our contemplative retreats, and when women gather in small affinity groups for prayer and to work together on meaningful projects. NEWIM leadership seeks to create opportunities where women feel safe because the person leading and those attending have walked in the same shoes.

Enhancing NEWIM's exposure

As an organization, we are dedicated to helping women know God better. How can we help them do this if they don’t know about us? The best advertising is through word of mouth and referrals, so we rely heavily on our leaders and teams to spread the word to their friends, colleagues and congregations. We also recognize the influence of social media and therefore seek to have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and any other forms of social media that may arise in the future. We also maintain a presence through our website, which features articles, resources and information about our retreats and other events. Our goal is to become known to as many individuals as possible, so that women will hear about NEWIM, and be able to take advantage of our ministry.