“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

esther 4:14

Wow! Our God is so good!

As I look back over the past year the most poignant vision of what I hoped 4word would be was the final scene at the annual meeting of the Board and Advisory Board members. At the end of our November face-to-face meeting, while holding each other, with masks on, and closing our eyes while listening to the UK Blessing, tears flowed down many faces. 

These were tears of joy! Why? Because we are blessed to be Jesus followers, sisters encouraging each other, and leaders used to encourage thousands of women in the workplace to find their joy in Jesus in a year with a lot of “trouble.”

We were so happy to be together as sisters in Christ supporting each other with a desire to be WORLD CHANGERS by being LIFE CHANGERS. Twenty-four hours before the annual meeting, we heard how God used 4word in five women’s lives whose stories brought our work to life.

Let’s recount the ways God has blessed 4word over this past year:

Gala 2020 – We beat our previous Gala results by over 40%, awareness of 4word grew, and the Holy Spirit touched many that night. 4word’s Giving Week beat our global goal by 15%.

Community Groups – Since 4word’s Digital Content and the 4word Mentor Program were already virtual, the only pillar that had to pivot when the pandemic hit was 4word’s Community Groups. The Community Group leaders and team became virtual in two weeks and their attendance grew in April by 60% compared to February. Our Specialty Community Group, C-Level, held an in-person forum that was SOLD OUT and beat all goals spiritually, relationally, and professionally. Watch here to learn what impact this has had on Wendy Whiteman.

Digital Content – Through the wonderful technology of Zoom, we were able to transparently address racial injustice by producing Candid Conversations: Racial Reconciliation, a four-part series led by a panel of Black 4word women, with SOLD OUT audiences. In addition, the Christian Women Entrepreneurs: Unmuted and United webinar was held in October and brought a special group of women together, thanks to Kristen Stockton. Lastly, our weekly Monday blogs are now being translated into Mandarin, thanks to Advisory Board member Ivy Liu.

Mentor Program – Anita Scott’s testimonial brought many of our donors to tears at our annual Impact Celebration Lunch in November. You can click here to watch it and be blessed, too. The 4word Mentor Program continues to be used by God to enhance leadership, deepen relationships, grow confidence, and integrate spiritual life in all parts of life. I am especially thankful that 24% of the mentees in Class 25 are women of color.

As I look back over 2020, I am grateful to God for the way He blessed women in the workplace through 4word. We could not do the work we do without our staff and over three hundred and fifty volunteers including our Board, Advisory Board, Digital Content interviewees, Community Group Leaders, Mentors, the C-Level Committee, and Gala team.

Going forward in 2021, we plan to GROW and reach more women in the workplace as we focus on our pillars being self-sustaining. We continue to need your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Please join us in being WORLD CHANGERS by giving some of your treasure, God’s gifts, by donating to our Year-End Giving drive here.

With so much gratitude,

Diane