Influencers Women Global Council Launch by Dana Martin

Shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm

1 Peter 5:2

Several months ago, I was tasked with testing the pulse of the Influencers Women that, up to that point, was largely a mystery to the Influencers Global Ministries and the men shepherding it.

This ministry started for men, the materials are written for men, the founder and director are men, and a board of men skillfully lead it. Influencers has been wildly successful with men at the helm.

They know men. They excel at all things men. And Jesus.

But, in what seemed like overnight, the women’s ministry grew so fast it behaved like a freight train racing down new tracks. Women began reading the materials as quickly as they could, groups formed, and the Lord started transforming the women, their families, their marriages, and their hearts at a pace that has reached (and, in some areas, even surpassed) the pace of men’s groups.

Women’s groups were forming in areas where no men’s groups ever existed.

What to do? I learned that while the Influencers are thrilled with the growth of the women’s movement and determined to come alongside and help in any way they can, they are flummoxed when it comes to the needs (or even the state) of the female branch of this ministry. We have spread so far so fast that they weren’t even sure we all knew each other (we don’t).

The men are determined to help us get organized. They don’t want to stop the train from breakneck speed; they simply weren’t sure they should be the conductors.

That’s when I received my assignment. The board had a plan. It’ll be easy, I heard, as they handed me a list of women who were helping (at the time) plan and organize the Women’s Summit for 2025. Most of the names on the list were strangers.

“Assess the health, activity, leadership, and perspective of Influencers Women,” was what I understood as my task. Just talk to them.

I accepted the assignment before thinking it through. Later, I thought, “How in the world am I supposed to get these gals to talk openly to me about the state of the ministry? They don’t know me.”

See, the longer I guide Journey groups, the more I learn that women need time to trust each other. And women are busy, so I suspected that cold calling each woman and asking private thoughts would get me nowhere. Women need time to think, to process.

I let that list sit in my email for two weeks. I let it fluster me. I was having doubts that I was the one for the job.

Turns out, I was the one.

Late one night, I woke up sensing the Lord reminding me, “Haven’t you been asking Me when I am going to use your writing ability for the Kingdom? You’re a writer. Interview them. Write.”

And just like that, I awoke to a new idea, His idea. He was trusting me with this task and had already equipped me with everything I needed to get the job done.

I’ve always been a writer, but my writing had been for secular publications, and its joy was fleeting. I was relieved when I closed my writing and editing business, as if I was closing the door to my old life. I began leading Journey groups full time. My heart wasn’t in writing anymore—God had completely captured my heart.

But of course, I wondered about my talent. Why did I have it? This task was potentially the answer. I have interviewed hundreds of people and drafted numerous articles based on thoseinterviews, but now God was giving me a chance to use my skillset for His purposes.

He was answering a secret petition of my heart.

And I love women, so, I interviewed them. I developed a series of questions and emailed each woman, introducing myself and the prospective article (that you’re reading now) for which I needed their input.

The women, as it turns out, were lovely and eager to answer the questions I emailed to them. They love Influencers and want to see it grow, want to see more oversight, and want to feel connected to others across the nation and world. They want to feel like someone is thinking about their needs, praying for them, and they want mentors to help them answer questions or solve problems.

In short, they want someone to know they exist.

Some regions are growing out of their shoes, while others are feeling a lack of support.“Sometimes I feel like I’m on an island,” one woman wrote.

Overall, the women believe that when the materials are followed as written, and that the groups are going vertical, then satisfaction is high. “I will rate my satisfaction even higher when all women’s groups are following the DNA, keeping their groups vertical, and trusting that Holy Spirit is leading,” said another respondent.

When asked what changes they would like most, many answers can be summarized by this response: “My wishes are for prayer groups, fellowship, and communication,” and “for a women’s board to keep us connected all year.”

And THAT is why the Influencers Women Global Council was formed – with YOU in mind.

The goal is to receive and address the needs and concerns of the Influencers Women, to be your voice, and to make you feel like you aren’t alone.

The Council is here for you. We are here for you.

We will work diligently to address the concerns of women and make ourselves available in whatever capacity needed. Over the next months, we are getting organized and dividing our areas of responsibility to make the most of what God is doing through this ministry and through each of our unique gifts. We are at His disposal.

And while the Influencers Women Global Council falls beneath the protective covering of the Influencers Global Ministries, the men are here for direction but are not wanting to be the train conductors.

Instead, think of them as the happy spectators, waving our banners and throwing confetti from the bleachers as we race on by. They are here to support and guide us if needed but are even happier and more content to enthusiastically watch our progress from their own view of the parade.