Candice Lambe was last month installed as the president of Women of Vision Empowering Nations succeeding her mother-in-law, Reverend Marilyn Lambe.

Woven is a non-denominational group that launched in February 2007 as an international ministry. It involved Christian women from the United States, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, all of whom came together to celebrate sisterhood.

Since its inception the group has focused on building community among women of faith. Handing over the leadership of the organisation to Mrs Lambe is an exciting new development.

“My mother-in-law came to me about Woven some time ago and at first, I wasn’t sure this was for me,” she said.

“I just didn’t feel equipped, and I still felt like an outsider in the Bermudian community. So, I didn’t feel like people would know me enough to be interested in being a part of this.”

After some time she felt a bit more settled in the community and more aligned to the role that was being offered her. Eventually, she accepted.

“Mom and her board have done an excellent job in setting a foundation. A lot of what they were doing was prayer and community building,” Mrs Lambe said.

“My desire for the next phase is to continue in the space of prayer and community but I believe that my assignment to this organisation is to tap into the empowering of nations.”

She continued: “We are going to be committed to touching our world in ways where we are lifting women and empowering them to know God, understand His word and understand what that means for them.”

Mrs Lambe is no stranger to ministry and women’s ministry specifically. She grew up in the church and gave her heart to the Lord as a young girl. As a teenager she began participating in youth ministry.

“After I graduated college, that’s when I got into more ministerial training. I started serving as the youth pastor in my church. My ministerial training was basically doing whatever was needed. I cleaned the church, served my pastors, talked to kids and coordinated volunteers. I did that for about eight years before marrying my husband.”

In 2012 she married Jonathan Lambe and joined the Evening Light Pentecostal Church, where her in-laws were ministers, before moving back to Oklahoma with her husband.

“When I moved back home my desire for women’s ministry really came alive. Part of that desire came for wanting to help women find their God given voice,” Mrs Lambe said.

“We have so much women’s empowerment in the world right now but we are not always empowered in the things that God has called us to do. We are encouraged to give our opinions, but not to tap into what God is saying to us. It takes courage, education and training for us to walk in the fullness of what He has called us to be.”

She began serving in the women’s ministry team at her local church and learnt how powerful the female faith community is.

“When you get a group of ladies together who love the Lord and are committed to growth it’s really something special. I wanted to create those spaces for other women.”

In 2019 the Lambes moved back to Bermuda and the following year Mr Lambe was installed as the pastor of Evening Light, taking over from his father, Reverend Harold Lambe.

The couple spent time settling into ministry life.

“I was observing being in the church culture and noticed that people are in the church but they don’t feel safe enough to be vulnerable. And anyone who understands the ministry of Jesus Christ knows that the goal of ministry is transformation. So, we should always be changing. But if I don’t feel vulnerable enough to change in front of others, then I am not meeting the objective of my faith,” Mrs Lambe said.

Last year she launched a faith-based podcast, “Growth and Greatness”, designed to be a safe space for people to get vulnerable about their walk with Christ.

“I created the podcast so that I could encourage and inspire us to change, but also allow people do it in their own time while we are building a safe space in the church.

“It was my first step in finding my own voice so that I can help others find their voice.”

Reflecting on the historical role of women in ministry, Mrs Lambe is grateful for the foundation laid by her mother-in-law.

“Before it was popular or acceptable for women to minister in a leadership space, the Lord was using her as a leader in the body of Christ. And she had favour from day one. The Lord has just opened doors for her to lead and build community and encourage others to do the same.

“What she has been able to do through Woven and in ministry period, is amazing. She was a trailblazer and paved the way for a lot of women in her denomination. I am inspired by her and I honour the work that she has done.”

Looking towards the future of women in ministry, Mrs Lambe is hopeful that more collaboration will take place between men and women in the church.

“I think that the time is now for collaboration, probably more so than it’s ever been. The spirit of collaboration is just more prevalent now.

“The Bible tells us that this is why we are a body, because every joint is meant to supply. In times past we didn’t have a full understanding of the possibilities of what collaboration can do, we were always lopsided in service. Half of the body of Christ was not being used.”

She added: “The Lord is so immense that the fullness of who He is cannot be summed up and described through one gender. So as women begin to come into our place, in a complementary way, we are working together to portray the fullness of who God is.”

Mrs Lambe encourages other women who may feel a call towards ministry to pursue it with courage and confidence.

“If you have a heart to serve others for the Lord, do it. Because it is needed. As women we discount our ability to do these kinds of things but the Bible is clear. It says that the harvest is ripe, and the labourers are few.

“We need you.”

• For more information on Woven contact Candice Lambe at mrs.CandiceLambe@gmail.com