Disciples Women’s Ministries empowers each woman to find her voice and live out her call. Kansas Disciples Women (KDW) provides leadership and resources for all local Christian Women’s Fellowship and Disciples Women’s Fellowship groups.
KDW NewsBytes
KDW NEWS BYTES is the monthly newsletter geared towards Disciples women in the Kansas region. This free publication is emailed to all women who attend one of our Spirit Fest or fall retreats. It is emailed to all women who have signed up for it or who attend one of our retreats or Spirit Fests. Contact Carla Pearson to be added to the mailing list.
Fall Retreat
The 2026 Disciples Women Fall Retreat will be held October 1-3, 2026 ( at Disciples Center at Tawakoni. The theme, “Where Friends Gather” will be headlined by Keynote speaker Rev. Laura Phillips, Kansas City, Missouri.
Rev. Phillips is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with over two decades of pastoral and ministry leadership experience. She is currently serving as the Director of the Children Worship Wonder & Welcome Program for Disciples Home Missions. She is recognized as a trained storyteller and Godly Play Storyteller, with expertise in biblical studies, theology, discipleship, and community outreach. Her leadership style emphasizes compassion, inclusivity, and transformational ministry, aiming to inspire and minister with children and families through storytelling and worship
Registration
Registration will open on July 8 here and a mail-in paper form will also be available. You may choose from the following registration types to meet your needs:
*Full retreat - $85. Includes seven meals and 2 nights of lodging
*Two-day retreat - $75.00. Includes five meals and 1 night of lodging
* One Day - $65. Includes two meals
*Full Retreat with off-site lodging -$65. Includes five meals.
A block of rooms has been reserved in Andover at the Holiday Inn Express. 316-264-8080. Please ask for the Women’s Retreat 2026 rate when you call. The block of rooms will be released on August 27, so register early.
You may register for any single day or choose which two days you would like to attend.
Service Project
We will be assembling food bags that include all the ingredients and instructions for a family-sized chicken-and-noodle casserole. These bags may then be returned to your home church for those seeking assistance or placed in the food blessing boxes around your town. Each bag costs approximately $5.00. If you would like to support this project with a financial donation, you may include an amount on the registration sheet or send it to the regional office at PO Box 4195, Topeka, KS 66604. Be sure to indicate that your donation is for the retreat service project.
The KDW Cabinet administers a scholarship fund to assist women interested in attending the annual retreat called the Helen Schwab Scholarship. The scholarship is available to any woman and will pay up to one-half of the registration cost if approved. Contact Carla Pearson (carla.pearson58@gmail.com) if you are interested in applying for the scholarship.
Blessing Boxes
For more 60 years, Disciple Women ministries have expressed their gratitude to God through the Blessing Box ministry. For those who participate, it is a spiritual discipline more than a financial one. It helps keep a focus on gratitude to God and on the responsibility to share blessings with others.
Spirit Fest 2026
Spirit Fest was held Saturday, April 18, 2026, for the KDW Spring Spirit Fest. Our keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Robin McGonigle from Riverside Christian Church. Robin shared information about her Woman-to-Woman trip to Kenya.
Heartland Interregional Conference
Heartland Interregional Conference, held every four years, brings together Disciples Women for fellowship, renewal, and worship. Disciples Women from Indiana, Illinois-Wisconsin, Upper Midwest,
Mid- American, Nebraska, Kansas, Greater Kansas City Regions along with members of NAPAD, Convention, and Convocation attend.
Stay tuned for more details.
Kansas Christian Home
DWF groups across the region are supportive of Kansas Christian Home, providing crafts for the annual fall bazaar, and giving gifts to residents.
KDW Cabinet
Carla Pearson, Park Place Christian Church, Hutchinson, is the KDW Coordinator. A lifelong Disciple, Carla grew up in the McPherson First CC where her mother introduced her to Christian Women’s Fellowship.
The KDW Coordinator in partnership with the cabinet president assists with the planning of regional retreats and events and keeps us connected with the happenings in the General Church through attendance at annual meetings and the Interregional event every 4 years.
Email Carla Pearson here.
KDW Cabinet is led by a team of elected officers and each officer is elected for a two-year term and may succeed herself once. Each of the five districts in the region sends two representatives. Other members of the cabinet include an ecumenical representative, a young women’s representative, a Church Women United representative, a communications coordinator, a clergy representative, and Retreat & Spirit Fest coordinators.