Southwest Kansas women forming new non-denominational ‘United Sisterhood’

First event to be held August 14 in Ulysses

United Sisterhood is a new formed group of women in Southwest Kansas who have a dream of bringing women together and encouraging and empowering them to step into their calling in life. The group will hold events four times a year in an effort to accomplish that dream.

Shayla Jaquez, a founding member of the group stated, “Women are the revolution. We are the difference. It starts in our homes with our husbands, our children, our jobs and flows into our churches, friendships, areas of influence and communities. We believe that investing in women is worth it and will change our families and communities. We are presenting an opportunity for women to take a break, four times a year, attend one of our events and to be reminded how fearfully and wonderfully God made them and that they are not alone on this journey of wifehood, motherhood, singlehood or any other season they are in.”

It all began with an idea of an in home bible study that now has been occurring for over a year and a half. Jaquez, a born and raised Ulysses resident, invited friends, Amy Orosco, Hattie Wiginton along with BriAna Davis, a local children’s pastor, to partner together and bring women together in a more intimate setting of a home. The bible study was eventually named WANA (Women Are Not Alone) and quickly became a success with women gathering on the second and fourth Thursdays every month to learn more about God, pray for each other and discuss and encourage each other in their walk with the Lord.

After about a year of WANA gatherings, Jaquez again gathered the core group of ladies and they all realized that God was asking more from them and after an extensive evening meeting, United Sisterhood was birthed. “I was actually inspired by the idea of Monty Teeter who had started a local chapter of Sons of Thunder. I immediately thought, ‘We need something like that for women’ in Southwest Kansas,” added Jaquez.

An announcement was made at their WANA gatherings and many women committed to helping with United Sisterhood. Since that time, the core group has been meeting to establish a vision for the ministry. The vision is summarized in their mission statement We Are Not Meant To Be Scattered But United. Discovering Our Purpose, Sharing Our Victories & Welcoming Our Struggles. United Sisterhood Exists To Come Alongside Women To Leave You Encouraged, Empowered & Equipped For Your Everyday Ordinary. Wiginton added, “I spent way too many years of my life not seeing the worthiness in myself that Christ not only sees, but created in me. I will spend the rest of my years helping women so that they too start seeing and believing how precious they are.”

This group is not about a particular denomination or age group but rather a rally around the bible and biblical truths. Jaquez stated, “I really felt God keep pulling at my heart about division. I was eager to meet other women that I didn’t go to church with on a weekly basis but shared the same love of God that I had. I wanted UNITY among the women of God. We are more powerful together! Eccelesiastes 4:9-10 says ‘Two people are better off than one, for they help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.’ King Soloman wrote this verse about companionship and the need to do life together.”

Orosco stated, “When Shayla came to me with this passion for women to come together and worship, it wasn't her words or ideas that stirred my spirit, it was the passion. The passion to give women purpose and to help them find their calling. It was the Holy Spirit that nudged my heart to come alongside Shayla and help call all women to come and worship The Lord together.” Orosco added, “I've heard the words, ‘hungry and being fed’ when I was first saved, not sure what they meant but started coming to an understanding when I had an overwhelming feeling of needing to hear and learn more of God's word more than just on Sunday or Wednesday. I needed it because I was new to the faith. I thought of all the other women who may be needing to share their struggles and victories in their faith and knew we should do something."

Shortly after the group decided on a plan Jocy Wickard-Franco was added to the core group. Jocy is a graduate of the James River Leadership Campus with a degree in Leadership with an emphasis in Women’s Ministry and has brought those resources and knowledge to the group.

Over 40 leaders have evolved from the Ulysses, Lakin and Johnson area so far to fill roles in areas including Promoting and Marketing, Prayer, Décor, Greeting and many more. The group is still needing more volunteers in other communities to bring ideas, concepts, resources and to become point people in those communities.

A Volunteer Kickoff meeting will be held Thursday, August 13 at 6:30pm at the Grant County Civic Center for anyone that wants to be on a volunteer team. Everyone is invited to be a part of the ministry and if you are interested in attending the volunteer kickoff or being a contact person in your city or church, please contact us at weareunitedsisterhood@gmail.com before the event.

United Sisterhood will hold it’s first event on Friday, August 14, 2015 in Ulysses at the Grant County Civic Center at 6:30pm.

Joining them will be speaker, Amy Perkins and the Desperation Leadership Academy’s band both of Colorado Spring, Colorado. Davis added, “I’m excited for our first event to happen and seeing all the women united together to worship.”

Future events are slated for October 30, January 15, 2016 and March 11, 2016.