United Women in Faith’s Assembly helped Sara Wolfsen turn her concerns for the world into action steps she can take to help create an abundant life for this planet and its people.
SARA WOLFSEN
Western Waters District Spiritual Growth Coordinator
Michigan Conference United Women in Faith
I’ve returned from an inspiring weekend of deep connection, justice, and joy in Indianapolis, Indiana. There, I attended United Women in Faith’s quadrennial Assembly with three terrific ladies from Fremont UMC and a contingent of 113 women from the Michigan Conference.
There, we celebrated a sisterhood of grace and diversity among 3,000 new friends. I appreciated hearing different perspectives and experiences and absorbed the collective wisdom as we shared a time of togetherness in mind, body, spirit, and heart.
Over the weekend, we attended several community gatherings and were inspired by many powerful and accomplished female pastors, business executives, writers, podcasters, and community organizers who have gone before us to Dream It! Believe It! Do It! These incredible trailblazers let their hearts break over the world’s injustices and demonstrated their determination to make a better future. In addition to the large gatherings, we were encouraged to attend town hall panels and smaller workshops to sharpen our focus on today’s social concerns and injustices.
I especially enjoyed the consistent message that resonated throughout the weekend: all of God’s people are worthy of an abundant life, and the world needs my saltiness and my light (Matthew 5:13-16) to push back the darkness to assure hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11) and an abundant life for all (John 10:10b).
As information was shared, there were certainly moments of overwhelm. Yet I found it helpful to choose one concern that bubbled up in my spirit and, in time, settle on these action steps:
Get Curious.
Climate justice has long been an interest of mine, but the topics are so broad that it’s hard to know where to begin. So I attended workshops and town halls to help guide my thoughts.
Get Educated.
I slipped into a workshop titled “Climate Justice Needs a Just Energy Transition,” led by Ilka Vega, Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. In this workshop, I learned about the UWF climate justice campaign for a just energy transition and how to engage through advocacy and action. Panelist discussions deepened my understanding of the energy landscape and its impact on marginalized communities. We also learned about resources available through local and national efforts. Later, the town hall discussion offered tips for mobilizing local efforts to address climate change and work toward just energy for all in our own communities.
Get Busy!
By Sunday morning, I felt better prepared to make an impact. All Assembly attendees received a colorful postcard urging our governors to take action by voting in favor of our climate, our health, and our future. I was glad to sign my postcard as a small way to voice my concern in a collective call to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, urging her to strengthen environmental standards that protect the health of people in our state as work progresses toward climate and energy justice.
Nearly 1,400 climate action postcards were collected at our closing service in Indianapolis. Signing my name to one postcard may not seem like much, but when nearly 1,400 people take the same action, we turn a moment into a movement. We believe that when we put our faith, hope, and love into action, we can change the world.
You, too, can move the world forward by turning your concern into action and creating abundant life for people and the planet. Consider building your three-step action plan using these suggestions:
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- Get Curious: Become involved in United Women in Faith through your local unit and/or join our ecumenical gathering of sisters and siblings on UWFaith Digital, our private network for content and community. Learn more.
- Get Educated: Learn more about United Women in Faith’s Just Energy 4 All social action initiative. Learn more.
- Get Busy: Join the Michigan Conference United Women in Faith in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, from July 16-18, 2026, for an inspiring, educational, and transformational weekend at Mission u of Michigan. Mission u is an annual Bible study and educational event with activities for women, children, and youth. Learn more.
Last Updated on June 5, 2026