How TFW Started

In 1990, after hearing a sermon series entitled “A Passion for God” by Charles Stanley, I (Sally Hall) realized I did not have a passion for God – especially for His Word. I had asked Jesus to live in my heart at the age of seven. I loved the Lord, enjoyed Bible studies, loved church and prayer. I knew God was there and had heard me when I called out because I had seen His hand upon my life many times. I knew the importance of His Word for my daily living, but felt frustrated with my inability to glean truth and understanding for myself. So, I read what everyone else was able to glean and was dependent on others to feed me truth and lead me into understanding. Now, how frightening is that? I prayed and I served and sought a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. But, after hearing the series “A Passion for God,” I was suddenly hit with the reality that my relationship with the Lord was not satisfying. I wanted a passion for HIM. I wanted a deep and intimate relationship with my Lord. I wanted the God who is a consuming fire to light a fire within me that would never die out! For three years I prayed for a passion for God and His Word. In 1993, after starting a Lord series Bible study written by Kay Arthur of Precept Ministries entitled When Bad Things Happen, I received notice of a training to be held in NJ. The two and half day training on how to study the Bible was offered by the dear folks at Precept Ministries. I registered, went and by the end of the first day I knew my life had changed FOREVER! I was taught how to study the Bible inductively and using the book of 2 Timothy, I learned the importance of being diligent “to present myself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) By learning how to study the Bible and then studying it inductively, God developed within me a passion for Him, His word, prayer and service to Him and His.

In the fall of 1999, I attended a women’s conference at Precept Ministries with my sister who lives in Georgia and two women from my church (Laurea Thornton and Joyce Weber). The theme for the weekend was God’s Standard For Women and Kay Arthur’s teaching was powerful. I was in a state of shock most of the weekend as I realized just how far from the Word of God I was in my beliefs concerning my role as a woman and a wife. While I had been a Christian since the age of 7, I was hearing many of these truths concerning Biblical womanhood for the very first time. My heart was broken as I realize how the women’s movement had changed our culture and our beliefs. God put within me an overwhelming desire to live according to His standards – especially for me as a woman! He also put within me an overwhelming desire that the women of my community be taught God’s standard for women (Biblical womanhood).

I returned home and ‘polled’ the women in my Precept Bible study classes to see how interested they might be in learning more about Biblical womanhood or having someone come to teach us, but didn’t receive the kind of feedback that would propel me forward. By Christmas, I was more burdened than ever but doubtful about what to do. My Bible study “just happened’ to take me to Nehemiah 8 and as I read that beautiful chapter, my heart soared and I realized that was what had happened to me as I heard truth and was exactly what could happen in my community on a community-wide level. So, in January, I put an announcement in my church bulletin that once a week during the month of February, a prayer time was being held. The purpose of the prayer time was to seek God’s will concerning the teaching of Biblical womanhood. Who did He want coming to teach, how would all this happen, who would help with the planning, where would this teaching be held, when would it take place, how would it take place, etc. I searched His word for every reference to truth, His precepts, His word and I wrote down all I learned. With His help, I then used His word as a pattern for prayer for the month. A small group of women and a few men joined together in February of 2000 and prayed. As we prayed His word, which is truth, we were convicted, filled with hope and unified that truth needed to be taught! At the end of the month of prayer, all our who, what, where, when and how questions were answered.

At the end of the month, we not only had plans for a conference, but the organization Truth for Women was born and a ministry called Share the Power who welcomed us under their non-profit corporate umbrella. But, how would we get the word out, or find the helpers, or accomplish any of this? Through networking! With just the few who had gathered for prayer, we were able to gather a list of 150 names and addresses of women who we thought would want to know about what we were planning, could personally help or share with others who could help. Then, we mailed detailed information about what we were planning and the kind of help we needed to each one. The following was sent as an introduction to the conference and expresses beautifully (then and now) the desire of Truth for Women for the women in our community concerning their role as women.

    “Just how far have we come as women? Because there are so many voices, and so much confusion about women, their roles, and their sexuality, we would be wise to stop and see how our thinking lines up with the Word of God. How we think and what we believe ultimately determines how we behave. Our choices and our behavior not only impact our own lives they have a ripple effect on our families, on our society in general – and the reputation of Christianity.

    Have we come too far as women? Is it possible we have believed a lie? Wouldn’t it be wise to stop and ask ourselves a few important questions? Questions such as:

Have we believed a lie regarding the Word of God or the character of God?
Have we believed a lie about our value and/or worth as women?
Have we believed a lie regarding our sexuality?
Have we believed a lie regarding our role as women?
    Truth dispels a lie! God’s Word is truth and God, in His Word, has a very clear standard for women. Perhaps it is time to ask: What is God’s standard for us as women?

    Imagine women gathering in the Lehigh Valley to receive God’s clear Word concerning His standard for women. Women from every social, cultural, and/or denominational background….”

From this original mailing to the 150, God raised up a leadership team. All were focused on planning and preparing for a fall 2000 conference, but others were also laying a foundation for the organization. God gave us a theme verse from John 17:17 - Make them holy by the truth; for your Word is truth.

Such unity came in working toward a common goal! It was understood by all that God wanted women from every social, cultural and denominational background to hear TRUTH, enjoy times of gathering together, and to join hands and work together in order to cultivate a spiritually healthy community. Women working together – growing in TRUTH – cultivating community!

Since February of 2000, God has brought many teams of women together to accomplish the work. Some women have served only briefly while others have been serving for years. All have volunteered their time and served sacrifically. Using the book of Nehemiah as a model for this ministry, we have joined hands in the work - in order to fight for our families and our homes. Every February we seek HIM in prayer. Our desire is to do only the will of our Father, to stand before Him with clean hands and a pure heart, to remain set apart in our behavior and in our work and to consecrate ourselves and the work of ministry. Click here to read how God has moved in our hearts, guided the ministry, directed our paths, has worked and is working through this ministry to cultivate a spiritually healthy community.

Since 2000, TFW was under the non-profit corporate umbrella of Share the Power. But with our vision of The Women's Center, Lehigh Valley shared in the fall of 2003 and plans to open a boutique in the spring of 2004, we determined it was time to move toward incorporation. In June of 2004, we received our 501(c)(3) non-profit corporate status from Pennsylvania and proceeded to apply for federal non-profit status.

Glory be to God!