In 1 Peter 4:10, we are told that “each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Emmah Makuthi, Community Transformation Coordinator at Greater West for Christ has taken this to heart in her ministry to women in Greater West Sydney.
Eight years ago, Emmah came to Sydney as a missionary from Kenya and soon joined the team at Greater West for Christ. After about one year, she felt the call to focus her work on women. Initially she resisted, having spent much of her career already working in gender issues and human rights, including for the United Nations.
“I started realising the gap in women in leadership in the Greater West,” reflects Emmah, “everywhere I went I found women with so much potential, but they were shying away from opportunities.”
Emmah began coaching women in the region, both women who were in leadership and potential leaders. But more broadly, she wanted to invite women to something about growing women in leadership. But Emmah knew the women she was meeting wouldn’t have come.
“They didn’t (most didn’t consider themselves to be leaders) ,” Emmah says, “but every time I look at a woman, any woman, I see a leader. A woman is a leader if she appreciates how her gift serves the common good. We often think of leadership through the eyes of the Leadership gift, but its more than that.
God brought a small team around Emmah and Greater West Women was born. Our mission was refined to focus on Identity. Maturity and Mission. Greater West Women’s goal for every woman they meet is to answer three questions:
Do they know who they are? (identity)
Are they being transformed to serve God? (maturity)
Are they free to serve God? (Mission)
In 2019, they launched the annual Great West Women Conference, with the pillars of Grounded, Godly and Gifted. At the first conference there was 50 women, which has grown to 260 women in 2025.
Emmah sees the conference as a space for women to meet other women, for fellowship, community and networking. “My greatest joy in Greater West Women has been the relationships,” reflects Emmah, “I meet so many women doing great things.”
One attendee remarked: “When I come here, I feel like a child of God. Your here to bring Jesus to us. Every denomination feels welcome.”
Greater West Women attracts women from all walks of life, and with a diverse range of experiences and gifts. “I want the Conference to be a place women can come and serve. Bring your gift. Last year we women from had 60 different churches attend, and 30 nationalities. One lady painted throughout the conference, using her artistic gifts to praise God.”
In recent years, Emmah’s team has expanded to include many young women from the region. The young women now champion the administration and worship, they are exceptional.
The Conference is free to attend because the team wants to remove money as a potential barrier for women to come. “But women give,” says Emmah, “we don’t charge anything to because of the generosity of GWFC and the women supports and we are thankful. Now I’m looking for a cause we can partner with to support women somewhere else in the world.”
Looking forward, this year’s Greater West Women’s Conference will focus on Identity. There will be a focus on sharing some of the powerful and inspiring stories of women in their region, as well as including more practical elements like financial wellness, seeking to reduce the barrier money plays for many women in reaching their potential.
Emmah encourages everyone to listen to the incredible stories of women in their lives. “I don’t just create an event for women to come to me,” Emmah clarifies, “I go to their things. I go to women’s events, mums’ groups, everything. It’s not my show, it’s their show. We’re a priesthood of all believers. There are incredible women everywhere I go.”
