Looking Back On SOLA’s First Annual Women’s Workshop

This article was first published in French at SOLA.

As a team, we had prepared ourselves for 30 women to sign up. To our delight, 59 did! With only three last-minute cancellations due to COVID, we welcomed 56 eager sisters to Église Espoir on May 20-21. Those joining us came from as far away as Saguenay (a 5-6 hour drive) and from as near as Longueil (where the event was held). Their ages ranged from mid-20s to mid-70s. Some were seasoned leaders among women and children in their churches, and others held no official leadership role but were desirous to learn and serve. 

4 Main Teaching Sessions

We opened the weekend with a session on the Storyline of Redemption, in which I covered the four great epochs in redemptive history (creation-fall-redemption-consummation) and the major biblical covenants. I also presented an introduction to the book of Psalms.

On Saturday morning, Debbie Brooker Hurteau taught a brief crash course on hermeneutics, focusing on context, genre, and structure. This was followed by another instructional session on Biblical Theology, in which my goal was to highlight biblical themes in order to trace a path from any Psalm to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My final talk centred on homiletics, in which I transmitted essential principles for building a grace-centered expository message.

Small Group Discussion Sessions

In addition to participating in these large group sessions, attendees took part in small group discussions sessions with questions prepared by Valerie Nielsen. Our team of trained Bible teachers led the small group times, and their purpose was to enable the women to assimilate what they were learning. Post-workshop feedback revealed that this was by far the highlight of the weekend for most of the women. 

An Expository Message and Q&A Panel

We concluded the event with an expository message from Psalm 6 by Elisabeth Aubut, in which she drew us to Christ through this psalm of lament. And finally, we held a Question-and-Answer time with a panel of experienced women Bible teachers, answering questions submitted by those in attendance.

Plus Food and Fellowship

Besides large-group and small-group sessions, we enjoyed worship through song, led by Monica Weber, bountiful snacks, coffee, and tea courtesy of Costco, and a delicious Lebanese meal catered by Boustan. After over two years of on-and-off confinement, it was a joy to gather face to face for a weekend of spiritual, emotional, and physical nourishment.

What’s Next

For those who want to go even further to develop their skills in biblical interpretation and expositional teaching, we are offering a six-week cohort this fall, continuing to deepen our study in the book of Psalms. We will meet over Zoom for two hours, one evening a week, for instructional sessions and discussions. Our goal will be to provide attendess with the tools needed to prepare and present a study of a Psalm. From among those both desirous and gifted to teach, we will propose that certain of them prepare a textual message, which they will give at our first annual SOLA women’s conference, which we plan to hold in early 2023. And in May 2023, we intend begin the three-component cycle again, by hosting our second annual workshop on textual teaching for women, focusing on the book of Exodus (followed by a cohort in the fall and a conference in the winter). 

Thank You

We owe a debt of gratitude to Yanick Ethier and the entire SOLA team that provided support and encouragement behind the scenes to make this event a reality. And most of all, we praise our great Redeemer who has called us to serve his Bride, the Church, as we labor alongside our brothers as ambassadors of reconciliation. SOLI DEO GLORIA! (To God alone be the glory!).