Women Worth Knowing

Karen Lafferty is one of the early pioneers of the Jesus Movement and a beloved voice in Christian music. Best known as the composer of the scripture song "Seek Ye First," Karen shares the remarkable story behind the song that has encouraged believers around the world for decades.
In this episode of Women Worth Knowing, Karen reflects on her years with Calvary Chapel and Maranatha! Music, how God led her into missions through Youth With A Mission, and the vision behind founding Musicians For Missions International. She also opens up about the personal journey that compelled her to...

Karen Lafferty is one of the early pioneers of the Jesus Movement and a beloved voice in Christian music. Best known as the composer of the scripture song "Seek Ye First," Karen shares the remarkable story behind the song that has encouraged believers around the world for decades.
In this episode of Women Worth Knowing, Karen reflects on her years with Calvary Chapel and Maranatha! Music, how God led her into missions through Youth With A Mission, and the vision behind founding Musicians For Missions International. She also opens up about the personal journey that compelled her to...

Karen Lafferty is one of the early pioneers of the Jesus Movement and a beloved voice in Christian music. Best known as the composer of the scripture song "Seek Ye First," Karen shares the remarkable story behind the song that has encouraged believers around the world for decades.
In this episode of Women Worth Knowing, Karen reflects on her years with Calvary Chapel and Maranatha! Music, how God led her into missions through Youth With A Mission, and the vision behind founding Musicians For Missions International. She also opens up about the personal journey that compelled her to...

Dixie Edwards loved her life in Indiana. After receiving the Lord at 9 years old, she quickly began to thrive in church ministry. She married the heart throb of her church, Max Edwards, when she was only seventeen. They lived on a successful farm surrounded by family. Dixie looked forward to raising her three children there. However, God had different plans. Max began to feel an intense call on his life to serve the Lord. He began to pursue the call by taking a Bible correspondence course. Then he was asked to be the preacher of a church just outside...

Dixie Edwards loved her life in Indiana. After receiving the Lord at 9 years old, she quickly began to thrive in church ministry. She married the heart throb of her church, Max Edwards, when she was only seventeen. They lived on a successful farm surrounded by family. Dixie looked forward to raising her three children there. However, God had different plans. Max began to feel an intense call on his life to serve the Lord. He began to pursue the call by taking a Bible correspondence course. Then he was asked to be the preacher of a church just outside...

Dixie Edwards loved her life in Indiana. After receiving the Lord at 9 years old, she quickly began to thrive in church ministry. She married the heart throb of her church, Max Edwards, when she was only seventeen. They lived on a successful farm surrounded by family. Dixie looked forward to raising her three children there. However, God had different plans. Max began to feel an intense call on his life to serve the Lord. He began to pursue the call by taking a Bible correspondence course. Then he was asked to be the preacher of a church just outside...

What do you do when you feel called by God but you don’t have all the right requirements? Do you give up when the way seems daunting? Evelyn Rychner was faced that very dilemma. She was sure she was called to Ecuador, but she lacked a diploma and more schooling. After meeting those requirements she applied again and was again stymied by more requirements. However, being sure of God’s call on her life, Evelyn persevered. It was the perseverance that she learned in her pursuit of God’s call on her life that prepared her to persevere in Ecu...

What do you do when you feel called by God but you don’t have all the right requirements? Do you give up when the way seems daunting? Evelyn Rychner was faced that very dilemma. She was sure she was called to Ecuador, but she lacked a diploma and more schooling. After meeting those requirements she applied again and was again stymied by more requirements. However, being sure of God’s call on her life, Evelyn persevered. It was the perseverance that she learned in her pursuit of God’s call on her life that prepared her to persevere in Ecu...

What do you do when you feel called by God but you don’t have all the right requirements? Do you give up when the way seems daunting? Evelyn Rychner was faced that very dilemma. She was sure she was called to Ecuador, but she lacked a diploma and more schooling. After meeting those requirements she applied again and was again stymied by more requirements. However, being sure of God’s call on her life, Evelyn persevered. It was the perseverance that she learned in her pursuit of God’s call on her life that prepared her to persevere in Ecu...

How easily do you lose hope? Does it wane when circumstances are hard? Ethel Bell’s faith did not stagger even when she lost her husband. She chose to return to the mission station where they had been serving with her children only to be evacuated because of Nazi invasion. Still her faith did not waiver. Even after the freighter that she was on was hit by a torpedo and she was stranded at sea with her children, her faith did not waiver. Even when some of the crew persecuted her for her unrelenting faith in God and His sa...

How easily do you lose hope? Does it wane when circumstances are hard? Ethel Bell’s faith did not stagger even when she lost her husband. She chose to return to the mission station where they had been serving with her children only to be evacuated because of Nazi invasion. Still her faith did not waiver. Even after the freighter that she was on was hit by a torpedo and she was stranded at sea with her children, her faith did not waiver. Even when some of the crew persecuted her for her unrelenting faith in God and His sa...

How easily do you lose hope? Does it wane when circumstances are hard? Ethel Bell’s faith did not stagger even when she lost her husband. She chose to return to the mission station where they had been serving with her children only to be evacuated because of Nazi invasion. Still her faith did not waiver. Even after the freighter that she was on was hit by a torpedo and she was stranded at sea with her children, her faith did not waiver. Even when some of the crew persecuted her for her unrelenting faith in God and His sa...

Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015): What was Elisabeth Elliot like before she was, well, Elisabeth Elliot? In this episode, we dive deep into Elisabeth’s early years as a believer following God’s call into the unknown. After much prayer and some rejection, Elisabeth spent her first year as a single missionary in the jungles of Ecuador where she hoped to translate the unwritten Colorado language into the gospel. Drawing from her book These Strange Ashes, we discuss the hardships of missionary life in the jungle, singleness on mission field, and the many challenges she faced, from the murder of her informant to los...

Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015): What was Elisabeth Elliot like before she was, well, Elisabeth Elliot? In this episode, we dive deep into Elisabeth’s early years as a believer following God’s call into the unknown. After much prayer and some rejection, Elisabeth spent her first year as a single missionary in the jungles of Ecuador where she hoped to translate the unwritten Colorado language into the gospel. Drawing from her book These Strange Ashes, we discuss the hardships of missionary life in the jungle, singleness on mission field, and the many challenges she faced, from the murder of her informant to los...

Welcome Mary Pero, our newest co-host here at Women Worth Knowing!
Mary is a certified ghostwriter and book coach, worship leader, and former missionary to Poland and Ireland who loves a good story. When she’s not filling in for Cheryl or Robin, you can find her reading, writing, and dreaming up new projects for her husband in their historic English Revival home in Southern California.

Resources:
Website: https://marypero.com/

Social: https://www.instagram.com/marypero
https://www.facebook.com/MaryPero.BookCoach.Ghostwriter/

Welcome Mary Pero, our newest co-host here at Women Worth Knowing!
Mary is a certified ghostwriter and book coach, worship leader, and former missionary to Poland and Ireland who loves a good story. When she’s not filling in for Cheryl or Robin, you can find her reading, writing, and dreaming up new projects for her husband in their historic English Revival home in Southern California.

Resources:
Website: https://marypero.com/

Social: https://www.instagram.com/marypero
https://www.facebook.com/MaryPero.BookCoach.Ghostwriter/

Diane Comer is a writer, teacher, and co-founder of Intentional Parents International. She has been married for 47 years to Phil, who just completed 50 years in full-time ministry, and together they have 4 grown children, now 8 with “in-laws”, and 9 grandchildren. Diane heard and immediately embraced the Gospel for the first time when she was 15 during the “Jesus Movement” days. She wrote He Speaks in the Silence, finding intimacy with God by learning to listen, about going deaf in her 20’s, which reflects her life message of undeserved grace and redemption. She also wrote Raising Passionate Jesus Followers, about what they have gleaned an...

Diane Comer is a writer, teacher, and co-founder of Intentional Parents International. She has been married for 47 years to Phil, who just completed 50 years in full-time ministry, and together they have 4 grown children, now 8 with “in-laws”, and 9 grandchildren. Diane heard and immediately embraced the Gospel for the first time when she was 15 during the “Jesus Movement” days. She wrote He Speaks in the Silence, finding intimacy with God by learning to listen, about going deaf in her 20’s, which reflects her life message of undeserved grace and redemption. She also wrote Raising Passionate Jesus Followers, about what they have gleaned an...

Diane Comer is a writer, teacher, and co-founder of Intentional Parents International. She has been married for 47 years to Phil, who just completed 50 years in full-time ministry, and together they have 4 grown children, now 8 with “in-laws”, and 9 grandchildren. Diane heard and immediately embraced the Gospel for the first time when she was 15 during the “Jesus Movement” days. She wrote He Speaks in the Silence, finding intimacy with God by learning to listen, about going deaf in her 20’s, which reflects her life message of undeserved grace and redemption. She also wrote Raising Passionate Jesus Followers, about what they have gleaned an...

Stacy Calendar has been an inspiration to many women. As a young girl she gave her whole heart to Jesus. This carried on through her college years and into her marriage and motherhood. When her children started school, Stacy immediately got involved in Moms in Prayer. Early on she joined their leadership team and inspired moms by prayer to seek the living God. She served in leadership capacities in her church, organizing large retreats and conferences. Four years ago, Stacy was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her ordeal has been horrendous, and yet through it all she continues to inspire.<...

Stacy Calendar has been an inspiration to many women. As a young girl she gave her whole heart to Jesus. This carried on through her college years and into her marriage and motherhood. When her children started school, Stacy immediately got involved in Moms in Prayer. Early on she joined their leadership team and inspired moms by prayer to seek the living God. She served in leadership capacities in her church, organizing large retreats and conferences. Four years ago, Stacy was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her ordeal has been horrendous, and yet through it all she continues to inspire.<...

Stacy Calendar has been an inspiration to many women. As a young girl she gave her whole heart to Jesus. This carried on through her college years and into her marriage and motherhood. When her children started school, Stacy immediately got involved in Moms in Prayer. Early on she joined their leadership team and inspired moms by prayer to seek the living God. She served in leadership capacities in her church, organizing large retreats and conferences. Four years ago, Stacy was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her ordeal has been horrendous, and yet through it all she continues to inspire.<...

Don’t be put off by all of Jennifer McNutt’s impressive credentials. Besides being a brilliant scholar and theologian, Jennifer is engaging, delightful, and deeply inspiring. You will love hearing her story and her passion for Jesus.

Featured Resource:
The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Can Teach the Church Today
by Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt (Brazos, 2024)
2025 ECPA Book of the Year Finalist

About Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt:
Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt holds the Dyrness Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies and serves as Professor of Theology and...

Don’t be put off by all of Jennifer McNutt’s impressive credentials. Besides being a brilliant scholar and theologian, Jennifer is engaging, delightful, and deeply inspiring. You will love hearing her story and her passion for Jesus.

Featured Resource:
The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Can Teach the Church Today
by Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt (Brazos, 2024)
2025 ECPA Book of the Year Finalist

About Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt:
Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt holds the Dyrness Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies and serves as Professor of Theology and...

Sarah Hill speaks candidly about how the suffering, turmoil, and setbacks in her life were used by God not only to launch her into ministry at nineteen years old, but also to prepare her to minister to broken people. She shares stories of the hope she has found in her own life and witnessed in others throughout her decades of ministry.

Resources:
Website: Sarahrachelhill.com (launching soon)
Social Media:
                      Facebook: Sarah Rachel Hill
                      Instagram: @sarahrhill, @thehopeeffectpodcast (to be launched)
                      X: @sarahrachelhill
The Bible

Sarah Hill speaks candidly about how the suffering, turmoil, and setbacks in her life were used by God not only to launch her into ministry at nineteen years old, but also to prepare her to minister to broken people. She shares stories of the hope she has found in her own life and witnessed in others throughout her decades of ministry.

Resources:
Website: Sarahrachelhill.com (launching soon)
Social Media:
                      Facebook: Sarah Rachel Hill
                      Instagram: @sarahrhill, @thehopeeffectpodcast (to be launched)
                      X: @sarahrachelhill
The Bible

Sarah Hill speaks candidly about how the suffering, turmoil, and setbacks in her life were used by God not only to launch her into ministry at nineteen years old, but also to prepare her to minister to broken people. She shares stories of the hope she has found in her own life and witnessed in others throughout her decades of ministry.

Resources:
Website: Sarahrachelhill.com (launching soon)
Social Media:
                      Facebook: Sarah Rachel Hill
                      Instagram: @sarahrhill, @thehopeeffectpodcast (to be launched)
                      X: @sarahrachelhill
The Bible

Robin and Cheryl take a break from the usual format of Women Worth Knowing to chat together about some of the women who have personally spoken into their lives. Among those discussed is Corrie ten Boom, whose personal encounter with Robin was truly life-altering.

Robin and Cheryl take a break from the usual format of Women Worth Knowing to chat together about some of the women who have personally spoken into their lives. Among those discussed is Corrie ten Boom, whose personal encounter with Robin was truly life-altering.

The story of Maria Dyer Taylor is a love story. It is the love story of a woman for her God, for the Chinese people, and for her husband. The story takes place in China and London. Maria was a remarkable woman, and her passion for God and others is sure to inspire.
Resources

Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven – by John Pollock
Desiring God: “A Marriage of Triumph and Trials”
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-marriage-of-triumph-and-trials
Women of Christianity: Maria Dyer Taylor
https://womenofchristianity.com/missionarys-wives

The story of Maria Dyer Taylor is a love story. It is the love story of a woman for her God, for the Chinese people, and for her husband. The story takes place in China and London. Maria was a remarkable woman, and her passion for God and others is sure to inspire.

Resources
Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven – by John Pollock
Desiring God: “A Marriage of Triumph and Trials”
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-marriage-of-triumph-and-trials
Women of Christianity: Maria Dyer Taylor
https://womenofchristianity.com/missionarys-wives

The story of Maria Dyer Taylor is a love story. It is the love story of a woman for her God, for the Chinese people, and for her husband. The story takes place in China and London. Maria was a remarkable woman, and her passion for God and others is sure to inspire.

Resources
Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven – by John Pollock
Desiring God: “A Marriage of Triumph and Trials”
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-marriage-of-triumph-and-trials
Women of Christianity: Maria Dyer Taylor
https://womenofchristianity.com/missionarys-wives

The story of Maria Dyer Taylor is a love story. It is the love story of a woman for her God, for the Chinese people, and for her husband. The story takes place in China and London. Maria was a remarkable woman, and her passion for God and others is sure to inspire.

Resources
Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven – by John Pollock
Desiring God: “A Marriage of Triumph and Trials”
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-marriage-of-triumph-and-trials
Women of Christianity: Maria Dyer Taylor
https://womenofchristianity.com/missionarys-wives

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davies from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie’s story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davies from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie’s story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davies from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie’s story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

From the time she was young, Anne knew she wanted to worship Jesus. She even began composing songs on the piano to Him when she was in junior high. Listen as Anne recounts her journey from a young woman with a love for Jesus and passion for praise to one of the first participants in the inception of praise bands. Anne with her humility, brilliance, and unfailing love for Jesus will capture your heart.

Resources:
annebarbour.com
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Samaritan’s Purse
World Medical Mission

Books by Anne Barbour

From the time she was young, Anne knew she wanted to worship Jesus. She even began composing songs on the piano to Him when she was in junior high. Listen as Anne recounts her journey from a young woman with a love for Jesus and passion for praise to one of the first participants in the inception of praise bands. Anne with her humility, brilliance, and unfailing love for Jesus will capture your heart.

Resources:
annebarbour.com
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Samaritan’s Purse
World Medical Mission

Books by Anne Barbour

From her teenage years, Jeanne Willette felt a deep compassion for children with special needs. After coming to faith at nineteen, she was placed in the Sunday School department—where she soon began a class specifically for children with special needs.

Years later, Jeanne gave birth to her third child, a beautiful daughter with special needs. This precious gift would launch her into a lifelong ministry—one that serves not only children with disabilities but their parents as well.

In these inspiring episodes, Jeanne shares her journey of faith, surrender, and purpose—from her daughter’s diagno...

From her teenage years, Jeanne Willette felt a deep compassion for children with special needs. After coming to faith at nineteen, she was placed in the Sunday School department—where she soon began a class specifically for children with special needs.

Years later, Jeanne gave birth to her third child, a beautiful daughter with special needs. This precious gift would launch her into a lifelong ministry—one that serves not only children with disabilities but their parents as well.

In these inspiring episodes, Jeanne shares her journey of faith, surrender, and purpose—from her daughter’s diagno...