Documentary Highlights Women Leaders Transforming the Church Community

A new documentary sheds light on the vital roles women play in the Church, offering a platform for their voices and experiences. Living Loving Serving: Women Leaders in the Church, the debut film from Keep the Faith magazine, highlights five female leaders who have made significant impacts in their faith communities.

This documentary introduces audiences to Bishop Rosemarie Mallett, Tanya Hughes OBE, Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, Pastor Rhona Mplogomo-Tackie, and Pastor Yvonne Brooks, each sharing their individual journeys in ministry. Speaking at a virtual screening, Marcia Dixon, publisher and editor of Keep the Faith Magazine, expressed her motivation behind the film, describing it as a “labour of love” intended to “encourage women in the Church”.

Laurelle Jones directed and produced the film, with sponsorship from the Pentecostal Community Bank and additional production by Abigail Otchere. Otchere remarked on the documentary’s long-term impact, stating, “When Marcia announced this phenomenal documentary I was thinking 30, 50 years down the line this would be a legacy.”

The documentary profiles Pastor Yvonne Brooks from the New Jerusalem Community Church in Birmingham, who discussed the evolving opportunities for women in ministry. Reflecting on past limitations, she shared, “Growing up, women were not in ministry. You could not aspire to those positions and we didn’t really think about it because it was like a closed door.”

Pastor Brooks emphasized her focus on serving without needing a title, saying, “I served for many years having no title, I supported my husband as he was moving into pastoring.” She highlighted the fulfillment she finds in positively impacting lives, rather than seeking recognition or positions.

Another prominent figure in the film, Tanya Hughes OBE, HR Deputy Director in the Treasury and trustee of Women on the Frontline, offers a unique perspective. With no initial church background, she found herself motivated by newfound hope and a desire to help others, stating, “I just knew that Jesus loved me and that I now had a hope in my life that I didn’t have before.”

Hughes began her ministry journey through street outreach, which she found deeply rewarding. Her involvement in church life was driven by a passion for reaching beyond its walls, aiming to “signpost hope” in people’s lives.

During the screening event, a panel of ministry leaders discussed the importance of mentoring future church leaders. Hughes encourages leadership that is inclusive of “all ages”, emphasizing mutual learning opportunities. She stated, “I think it is imperative for any leader, particularly women in leadership, to pave the way for others to be able to come through and stand on their shoulders.”

Pastor Brooks advocates for nurturing emerging leaders through guidance and support, saying, “Look for these people around you that God will send to you and deposit in them, then nurture what you have deposited in them to help to bring them to a place of maturity.”