Women of faith: some of the incredible women involved in the Baptist Association

Jen Trevena, Mission Catalyst at Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT, wears a lot of hats. She’s an Accredited Pastor, a single parent, and a first-generation immigrant with English as a second language. She was also the first Korean woman accredited as a pastor in the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT and the first Christian in her Buddhist family.

“When my daughter was one, God clearly called me to the pastoral ministry. In 2014, my church appointed me as a student pastoral worker, but the training was limited as they held the complementarian view of woman’s leadership. I was convinced that I was mission-focused and pastoral-focused, and this conviction led me to believe that there was a call on my life to be a church planter. I couldn’t find a position that met my gift and call in the church that I was in, so I moved to Morling College and to a Baptist church.

“I saw many women lecturers and pastors who were encouraging my leadership and vision of call. My leadership as a woman was strengthened. Yet, as an Asian woman, and as an English-as-a-second-language pastor in an English congregation, it was not an easy process for a local church to accept me as a pastor. Especially as I brought a new vision for inter-cultural church. However, through patience, tears, prayers, communication and the support of mentors and friends, I finally got a pastoral role in the church and could gain accreditation. I was a woman, church planting with an Asian and non-Baptist background, facing barriers that could make the journey to accreditation tricky. But I was encouraged and affirmed. I have been patient and faithful to the vision that God gave me and am grateful and honoured to be part of the Baptist Women who have been accredited.”

Jen wrote a chapter for the recently published book Edge-Walkers: Reimagining Faith, Church and Theology, a compilation from twenty authors about what it means for them to be on the fringes of faith, church and theology. Her chapter, titled “Kinosis”, captures some of the incredible stories from her church plant. You can also find out more about Jen’s church plant in this OurStory article.

Effie Baldwin

Effie Hinemoa Steed (1896-1987) was the first female student at Morling College. Enrolling in 1918, Effie Steed completed a one-year course of study as she prepared for mission service. Her decision to study is remarkable: she was the sole new student that year and the Baptist Theological College of NSW (as it was named then) had only started in 1916.

The Principal, Rev Alexander Gordon, reported to the Assembly, “A feature of this session was the presence of Miss Steed as a student, preparatory to her going to India. The Council cordially admitted her at the request of the Foreign Mission Committee. She has done exceptionally well, and we believe will render good service on the Field”. It would be some years before another woman became an official student at the college.

Effie’s deep commitment to mission led her to India where she served with the Australian Baptist Missionary Society from 1918 to 1946. In 1930, she married fellow missionary Cyril Baldwin.

Morling College’s female student accommodation on the Sydney campus was named the “Effie Block” until 2016, in recognition of her. These days, the Effie Baldwin Higher Degree by Research Scholarship aims to uphold Effie Baldwin’s pioneering spirit, call to Christian ministry, and academic excellence by inspiring and empowering outstanding female students to pursue advanced research degrees at Morling College.

Emmah Makuthi

Eight years ago, Emmah Makuthi 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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Read the full story here.

Lily Higlett

Lily Low was born on 7 March 1880. Her parents were prominent Baptist and part of the Albion Church in Queensland. As a teenager, Lily came to faith herself and was baptised at her family church. She became deeply involved in the life of the church. In 1909 she married Rev William Higlett and quickly settled into the role of minister’s wife. Soon the couple left Albion Church, where Lily was honoured for her “devoting herself so lovingly to the work here for so many years” and presented with a gold brooch on behalf of the women of the church, and another on behalf of the Junior Christian Endeavour.

William accepted an appointment as General Secretary of the Baptist Union of NSW. Lily began serving on the Deaconess’ Association, the Women’s Home Missions Association and the Ministers’ Wives Union. Lily was asked to speak at women’s and girls’ associations around the state. She became was well known and respected as a leader of denominational women’s work.

Lily’s passion for overseas ministry also led her to became President of the Zenana Missionary Society in 1931, a support group for Baptist evangelistic and social work among the women of India. As President, she was given a seat on the NSW Baptist Foreign Mission Committee, and she was soon attending federal board meetings.

On 7 June 1943, just four days after her first grandson, John, was born, Lily suffered a seizure and passed away. In a glowing tribute at the funeral service Rev John Deane, who was Baptist Union President at the time, said:

The official tribute of the Baptist Union Executive said that “her loss was irreparable, her worth of character was beyond praise and her complete surrender of life and will to Christ, her devotion and true humility and her natural gifts of leadership was what made her permanently fruitful in the service of God.”

You can read the full article here.