Lauren France, Founder of The Lydia Network, on the Pivotal Role of Women in Fueling the Great Commission (Ep. 127)

Lauren France, founder of the Lydia Network, encountered the Gospel after graduating college and was immediately captivated by its transformative power. Her passion for sharing Christ and making disciples quickly took root, leading her to serve in various capacities where she honed her skills in organization and fundraising. As she grew in leadership, she recognized how these gifts could be leveraged for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.  

With a deep calling to empower global church leaders, Lauren now serves as Director of Development and Marketing with Equipping Leaders International, which provides theological training to indigenous pastors across 38 nations. Along this journey, she became increasingly aware of the vital role of women in fueling Kingdom work through generosity. This realization inspired the founding of the Lydia Network—a nationwide movement equipping and empowering women to step boldly into their God-given calling as givers. Today, the Lydia Network unites women from all backgrounds, mobilizing them as catalysts for the extraordinary work God is accomplishing around the world.  

Major Topics Include:

• Lauren’s inspiring backstory
• Gaining the pinhole-to-panoramic view of missions
• Why Lauren is so passionate about women givers
• The Lydia Network story
• The desperate need for theological resources and training for global church leaders
• The cost of training and equipping indigenous pastors
• Powerful stories of how God is moving in the nations 
• Encouraging women to help fulfill the Great Commission through giving
• Crossing denominational, racial, and generational lines to further the gospel
• Stories of women leveraging their passions and skill sets to enable generosity
• What’s ahead for the Lydia Network

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• “Long before I ever knew God, God knew me.”
• “We get the privilege of living this adventurous, generous life with God. God has that for His daughters and He wants them to live whole-heartedly.”
• “About 95% of global church leaders have no theological training.”
• “If you transform a leader, you transform a church. If you transform a church, you transform a community.”
• “God is building the next movement of generosity in the Church.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• The Lydia Network
• Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
• Equipping Leaders International
• When Women Give by Kim King
• The Generosity Gap by The Barna Group
• Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)
• Polished Network
• Women & Work by Courtney Moore
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

2 Timothy 2:2 | Making Disciples  

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”  

2 Corinthians 9:8 | Sufficiency in All Things  

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  

Matthew 18:20 | There I Am  

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

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