This Is My Story: Women in Music Ministry

When women in music ministry come together for reflection and renewal, transformation happens—not only for them, but for their families and congregations.

Read how the 2025 Women in Music Ministry Cohort found joy and balance through community, worship, and shared calling at Lake Junaluska.

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Women in Music Ministry Cohort — A Family Journey of Renewal

by Susan Deal

In 2025, Polyphony Music Resources led the Women in Music Ministry (WIMM) Cohort, bringing together twelve women serving in music and worship leadership across the country. These women represented a range of ministry stages—early, mid, and late career—and together, they built a community grounded in shared experience, encouragement, and renewal.

Over the course of the year, the Cohort met monthly on Zoom for conversation, learning, and reflection. Sessions offered both practical insight and personal connection—everything from creative approaches to worship planning to the realities of navigating family boundaries in ministry. Each meeting became a space where participants could be fully present, supported, and honest about both the joys and challenges of their calling.

The year culminated in a powerful Family Retreat at Lake Junaluska, where participants gathered with their families for a weekend of worship, laughter, and rest. Ken Medema joined us to help participants weave their stories of ministry into song, and the result was something truly sacred. Around tables, during sessions, and by the lakeside, families and ministers alike experienced the joy of being reminded that ministry is not carried alone—it’s shared with those we love.

The retreat embodied Polyphony’s mission: to encourage and equip church musicians so they can flourish in their callings. It was a space of grace, renewal, and belonging—one that affirmed the vital importance of intentional communities for women in music ministry.

As one participant shared afterward:

The WIMM Retreat was unlike any other… I came away refreshed and encouraged. Ministry is a family endeavor, and this retreat helped my family feel valued and ‘seen.’

These stories and experiences remind us that when we create space for rest, reflection, and relationship, transformation happens—not only for the ministers themselves but for their families and congregations as well.

Looking Ahead

Building on the Cohort’s success, Polyphony is launching the next step in this journey—the Women in Music Ministry Network, an ongoing community for connection, collaboration, and support. The Network’s inaugural gathering will take place February 4, 2026, just before the Polyphony Conference (February 5–7). The event will feature Sarah Bereza, author of Professional Christian: Being Fully Yourself in the Spotlight of Public Ministry, and will mark the beginning of a sustained effort to nurture and connect women serving in music and worship leadership across the country.

Would you like to stay connected?

Complete the Women in Music Ministry Network Interest & RSVP Form to learn more and be part of this growing community.