Discover how faith can transform your personal ambition into a mission to help others. Learn why women’s leadership is essential for a better world and a more productive workplace.

Women have made significant progress in higher education and the workforce, yet a gap remains in top leadership representation. When women lead, companies see increased productivity, better morale, and improved collaboration. At the Bay Area Christian Church (BACC), we believe everyone benefits when women rise to the occasion.

In this video, we explore the stories of women who refused to let challenges stop them from making a difference—from the critical calculations of Katherine Johnson, who overcame racial and gender discrimination to make spaceflight possible, to the biblical courage of Deborah, who led Israel to victory when others were fearful.

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.

Isaiah 60:1 NLT

The world is full of unmet needs, unheard voices, and unhealed wounds. God is rising to the occasion to meet those needs—the question is, will we?

Women have made significant progress in higher education and in the workplace, but they continue to lag behind men when it comes to representation in top leadership roles when women are involved in leadership. Companies are likely to perform better team morale, productivity and collaboration increase. Everyone benefits when women rise to the occasion and lead. 

I’ve always been inspired by women who believe they could change things and refuse to let their challenges keep them from making a difference. Some of the women who have inspired me are Katherine Johnson, who battled both racial and gender discrimination while doing critical calculations that made human spaceflight possible. 

There are many women in the Bible who have also inspired me. Deborah, who is a leader and judge in a male dominated society but stepped into battle, leading Israel to victory. While the military leaders were hesitant and fearful, these women faced challenges and yet all rose to the occasion to lead and make a difference in the world. 

I’ve always felt like I could change things. I always felt like I was meant to do something, and I had a lot of dreams when I was younger, but my motivation was mostly attention and praise for myself. I attended college, I worked full time working out, constantly, carrying on a social life, and after college I was already running on empty. I just didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing, how I was going to get it done, and who I was working so hard for. 

Even though I grew up religious, I did not have an honest and personal relationship with God. When I started to study the Bible with a group of friends, I learned about how much God loves me, forgives me, and has chosen me for something special. And God’s love brought a security that helped me to change my motivation from myself to helping others. 

One of the scriptures I love is 1 Corinthians 16:14. Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do. 

The Bay Area Christian Church. I am so glad to be part of a women’s ministry that empowers women to have godly ambition and lead in every area of their lives. Countless friendships have inspired me to persevere in the face of challenges, to not give up or be defeated by them. 

My husband and I had tried for years to get pregnant. We went through two surgeries, a failed pregnancy. It was a very painful, discouraging time. But I had women in the ministry who encouraged me, helped me, supported me, and actually inspired me that God could use that as an opportunity to help other people. And we’ve been able to use those challenges to adopt two amazing girls and help so many people to go through similar things. 

In Isaiah 6:1, it says, Arise, Jerusalem, let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 

I believe that when there is a need unmet, a voice unheard or a wound unhealed, God is always risen to the occasion. The world needs us as women to see the needs around us and take actions to meet them. God is rising to the occasion to meet those needs. The question is, will we?

Faith Purpose Women

Written by

Michele Coulliette

At the Bay Area Christian Church, Michele Coulliette is the women’s ministry leader at our Sunnyvale campus afternoon service—a dynamic community of families, professionals, college students, and teenagers. Alongside her husband, Jason, Michele provides mentorship and spiritual formation to new leaders as they grow in their devotion to God and love for others, bringing thirty years of ministry experience to her role.

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