Women in networking are 25 years this fall. Then it fits with a chat with the one that started it all: Elin Linde Fagerbakke.
"It all started with a fire I got in my heart when I was 17 years old. I got a renewal. The meeting with Jesus gave a desire for more to experience the same.
GOD LET IT HAPPEN
There was a time where we so many be greeted by Jesus in a strong way. Many were saved on the streets and in prisons, people of different ages flowed to Shalam in Kristiansand, where it all began. Elin had been 25 years. The journey, as for Elin Fagerbakke became an adventure based on God's leadership and vision, began 25 years ago.
The driving force was a fire after to mean something to others. I worked at Shalam during this period, where there were many offerings for drug abusers. We had a café, bible groups and good conversations, Elin recalls. Elin tells us about the beginning of the adventure that this year celebrates its 25th anniversary: "We were a bunch of five or six pieces who decided to bring girls and ladies on their turn. There were many who needed this, and the response to the trip was good. 70 women joined the first time.
One of the other ladies was Gunhild Ottestad Hansen. Together with her, Elin experienced seeing the dream that girls should be redeemed and go into life and service, become real. – It became a very strong weekend. God met the ladies who came, says Elin. More people would take part in what happened, and the next gathering was moved to Kristiansand, where they gathered an even bigger bunch of women from Friday to Sunday. Already at the time, there came girls and women of all ages, and many were heavily touched. It's a presence of God. Everyone had testimonies when they came home. Gunhild has been in the beginning, and today, Elin and Gunhild are leading the work together with Wenche Egeland and Gunvor Andresen.
While this woman's work was emerging, Elin also stood in another pioneering work, along with the man Geir. They built up the disciple Training School (DTS) for youth in Missions (UiO) in southern Norway and eventually also the centre of Skjærgårdsheimen. In the UiO, Elin experienced that leaders had faith in her and saw her, which was to equip her in what she would eventually enter through women in networking.
HEART FOR EACH OTHER
When rumors spread about what happened in Kristiansand, people came from east and west, and they had to find larger premises. At this time, there were over 300 women at the annual conference. The work grew, the women were greeted by God, and eventually the work needed a name to gather under. The name was "women in networking".
Some years it was only the national conference, but several had been given visions from God to start up their own network groups around the country. At a meeting responded over 150 ladies on this. – God let it grow, says Elin.
Elin and the other ladies worked to keep in touch with the women in the local groups throughout the year. This was by spreading rumors about the annual big bet, namely the conference: "We had an advertisement in the paper, but it was the rumor we grew the most. The women met God at these meetings. The management team has for several years traveled around the regions, and now also to the Nordic countries and countries outside the Nordics. The nice thing is that also the women around the different groups get heart for each other. "It was among other women from the network group in Rogaland who had a heart to finance the visit from Greenland and Iceland to the regional gathering in Honningsvåg a few years ago," Elin says.
The fact that the work has only been preserved about women has been natural from the very beginning: – It's fun and good to be just girls together. It creates a lightness of talking, seeing each other, coming with life as it is, an openness. Many ladies came straight from the street and became part of the environment. Elin adds that she greatly appreciates the men who have been cheering and helping out during the conferences in all years. However, the men have got their own network, network for men, which builds up in parallel with women in networking. The two services are interconnected in respect and mutual support.
KEEPING THE VISION
The focus of the leadership group has been to do what God wants from year to year, and women in networking have all the time had one or more mission projects. Elin tells about an exciting development:
"We have never thought so much that we are going to be big, but we have a fire after as many people as possible will meet Jesus.
We are grateful for the projects we have in different countries, it excits us! We have been allowed to see that God has let it sprout and heal around by.
Staying up to the vision is important. Women in networking still have several ways to express their vision. An increasing number of missionary projects, concerts and a magazine are some of them. "It is important to stick to what one is called until God eventually says otherwise," Elin says.
The road to women in networking becomes as they go, but in God's direction and favor it seems that life as a network woman is not so heavy: – No, what has been the heaviest, Elin thinks. – What has been heavy really? I don't really think it's been that hard to understand. It has been filled with joy and desire. A lot of work, but it's not heavy working when it's fun.
TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD
Women in networks are halfway to 50 years. Elins Desire a life of fire and of being responsive to what God says and will, are just some of her dreams and desires for the road ahead:
"I dream of more of what we have, but at the same time I dream that work will stretch hands more towards unsaved people in Norway, Scandinavia and beyond. I dream of doing even more for those who do not believe. Many are waiting for us to be more bold and share from life with Jesus.
Elin and the other ladies have always given 100%. The desire to be in the view of more girls redeemed in life and service is great. They wanted to see more people get a relationship with Jesus and go into what he has for the individual. "Any woman who finds Christ finds himself" is one of my slogans, says Elin. – He is our best and strongest identity source, imagine we are created in his image. He wanted us, and he will send us!
Elins advice to those who sit with the same fire is to dry.
– One must believe, dare to bet that the vision is given by God, and that God wants to use us with the gifts and the personality he has given us. Don't be afraid to start small. Connecting contacts to people with the same vision is important, Elin advises.
In the rounding question: "Have you ever thought of quitting?", the answer is "no". Fortunately.
Text & Photo: Anne Signe Øygarden
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