Ebenezer Ballarat: A Legacy of Training Women

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Ballarat has a long history of women serving the Lord. In the 1890s, God used Belle Menzies—and later one of her students, Agnes Brown—to change the cultural view of women in Korea, as one of the first PWMU missionaries to that country.

(Above: Pioneering missionary Belle Menzies, sent from Ebenezer to Korea in the 1890s with Min Sin-bok, a young girl she raised. Banner photo: Women’s Ministry Team leader Anna Harris with minister Toby McIntosh.)

Today, women at Ebenezer continue to serve in a variety of roles, many of which are built around equipping and training the next generation of leaders.
Two qualified teachers are employed one day a week each as Kids ministry coordinators, and the church now has five women who have completed METRO traineeships in partnership with AFES. This after Ebenezer celebrated the graduation of its first female trainee only a few years ago in 2021, marking a milestone in the church’s commitment to structured training for ministry.

Minister Toby McIntosh highlights the importance of training within the complementarian framework of the church.

“Our elders’ role is to identify, train, enable and support God’s gifted men and women to serve in the good works God has prepared for them to do,” Toby says. “In the past we have had gifted sisters who have led various ministries, including evangelism, mission and prayer. Presently, we can also add service leading, children’s ministry and leading growth groups to this list, all under the headship of our appointed elders.”

Seeing women develop their gifts through training is a particular joy for women’s ministry team leader Anna Harris.

“I love seeing women understand the Bible, grow in faith, and then be equipped in their faith to share that with others,” she says.

The women’s ministry team at Ebenezer has a clear vision: to strengthen the faith and community of women in the church, and to provide structured training and outreach opportunities. Their aim is to bring glory to God by being obedient to His Word, sharing the gospel with others, meeting together and loving one another well. This vision is realised through four official events per year—one training event, one social gathering, one outreach initiative, and one conference attended together—as well as through the cultivation of a culture where women intentionally love God, each other, and the wider church.

“Older women teaching younger women is a call that we should answer,” Anna says.

By investing in training, mentorship, and skill development, Ebenezer ensures that women are not just participating, but growing in their ability to lead, serve, and equip others for the work of God’s kingdom. With two Sunday services, 150 attendees, and a team of paid staff—including a full-time minister, a part-time female administrator, and two part-time kids coordinators—the church demonstrates that careful training and support of gifted women is a practical and strategic priority for healthy ministry.

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