More than 120 women gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, from 26-28 June 2026 for the third Iberian women’s conference, as an initiative of the “As Marias” ministry. The event brought together participants from Spain and Portugal. And this year, for the first time, a few women from France and Italy joined for a weekend focused on encouragement, leadership, ministry, and holistic care.
Liliana Almeida, Camila Yabuki, Emmanuella Arruda, and others from the “As Marias” ministry team warmly welcomed the participants as they arrived. Over the years, “As Marias” has walked alongside the church, serving as a source of support, inspiration, and mentorship for women in Portugal and the Western Mediterranean Field.
Linda Louw was the main speaker for the weekend. As an advocate for the inclusion of women in leadership, she spoke from the biblical stories of Hagar and Naomi, drawing attention to their faithfulness, perseverance, and willingness to serve God in difficult circumstances. Linda’s message encouraged participants to reflect on serving God as they are, trusting that God sees them and equips them.
The weekend included workshops designed to offer practical tools for ministry and personal well-being. Celia Rossi, who currently serves alongside her husband in Greece, led a workshop on the use of art and crafts as a form of ministry and outreach. She shared how creative practices can help build relationships, open conversations, and foster connections within local communities.
Maria Garcia led a workshop focused on mental health and therapeutic support. The session addressed ways women can respond to depression, grief, trauma, and emotional stress, both in their own lives and as they support others. Garcia also guided participants through grounding techniques that can be used in moments of anxiety or high stress.
For Nina Ngoma from the France District, one meaningful takeaway was from Camila Yabuki’s message from 2 Kings 4 on the story of the widow’s oil. Nina said she left with the reminder to be an empty vessel, available for God to fill and use.
The “As Marias” ministry initially started with the goal of bringing together Spain and Portugal in providing space for spiritual growth, discipleship, fellowship, restoration and mission, where women are encouraged to flourish in God’s purpose for their lives.
However, with participation of women from France and Italy, the vision will be expanded to the whole Western Mediterranean Field. The next event is already being envisioned with that goal in mind. Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fellowship across cultures and language barriers, and many said they looked forward to gathering again next year.