Reader,

If there is ONE thing I've learned from living in the United States for 24 years this month, it's that "college" means one thing to Americans and an entirely different thing to Canadians.

I learned pretty quickly that I can't say "I weight lifted in college." Which, while true, makes Americans picture me on a full-ride sports scholarship at a university like the University of Washington, which they call college. I had to change that language fast.

A Canadian, though, would picture this more accurately. I attended a community college and lifted weights (pretty seriously) on the side. (No, I don't have a picture from that era to share. You'll have to take my word for it.) In Canada, college is college, and university is university. The two never cross over. Whereas in the US, they use college for both. Same words; very different pictures.

Paul's words work the same way. How he understood them is different from how we may understand them today.

Women are mentioned all throughout Paul's writings as co-laborers, ministers, and leaders in their communities. Marg Mowczko notes that Paul's favorite term for his ministry colleagues was synergos, usually translated as "fellow worker" or "coworker." He used it for himself and for both men and women.

Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Euodia, Syntyche: all part of a network of gospel coworkers.

Paul uses this same word in other letters. In 1 Corinthians 3 he writes:

"The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:8-9 NIV

I love that. True ministry is shared work, shoulder to shoulder, with God and with one another.

Back to Romans 16.

"Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you."

"Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord." (Romans 16:6, 12 NIV)

The Greek word behind "worked hard" is kopiaō: to labor hard, to toil, to the point of being wearied. Notice who Paul says is doing it.

I'm not going to suggest what that may stir up for you. That's what this weekend is about.

Different kinds of questions lead to different conversations. I don't want to start with "do you believe women should...?" because I don't know your context, your situation, or your life. And we don't fully know Paul's context, the situations, or the women involved in his letters.

What we can do is look at the women he wrote about and worked with, and see what that points to in your life.

Illuminate Immersion: Women Who Co-Labored with Paul to Birth the Church​
Friday evening and all day Saturday, October 16–17 · Tacoma (hybrid)
Meals included.

There is still room at the dining room table. Registration is open through Tuesday, October 13th, which is when I do the grocery shopping for our meals together.

If you'd rather join from home, Zoom is unlimited, and recordings are available afterward.

See links below for details, times and both options for registration.

$129.00 Women Who Co-Labored with Paul to Birth the Church October 16 evening & all day Oct 17, 2026. An immersive weekend of learning, reflection, and community. There has been... Read more Register here $129

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$29.00 Virtual illuminate Immersion Women Who Co-Labored with Paul to Birth the Church An immersive weekend of learning, reflection, and community. There... Read more Register here $29

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Any questions? Please don't hesitate to let me know.