By Garry Sanossian
Catalysed by a network event on International Women’s Day last year, 12 women from churches across our network gathered to form a creative cohort called ‘Belly & Bones’, asking together, “What do women in spiritual leadership have to uniquely contribute to the Church in this moment?”
This question led them on a journey of personal transformation through engagement with first-nations culture and country and nurturing each other in their giftings. Now nicknamed the ‘Bellies’, their journey-to-date has culminated in the production of the publication: Taste and See – a journal of stories, reflections, poems, and artworks that speak from the feminine perspective – being launched in March this year.
“The journal is a gift, a witness statement, a creative response to how God might speak to and through our network of churches,” said Jo Huntington, one of the Bellies and Network Pioneering Coordinator. “It’s not just a collection of art and written pieces but a platform for storytelling, inspiration, challenge and empowerment.”
Coinciding with International Women’s Day 2025, Taste and See is being launched on March 15th at Dunmore House at Pendle Hill. The bellies have given an open invite to all from our network and beyond to join them for an afternoon of celebration including live readings and an interactive exhibition. Those who attend will receive a free copy of the Journal, feast on a delicious grazing table and be inspired to pay attention to how the Spirit is stirring in their belly and bones.
The Belly and Bones journey began in March 2024, as the Bellies gathered for their first retreat together at Bundeena House, wondering what God might draw out of them. Rooted in the Jeremiah 20:9 (NLT) description of a “fire in their belly” and the “burning in their bones,” this retreat offered a sacred space to reflect, connect with God and explore spiritual and creative callings. Women were invited to share their stories, nurture each other’s creative gifts and cultivate a vibrant group of faith and artistry together.
At that first gathering, the Bellies encountered both the courage and vulnerability of belonging. Meeting new faces carried a natural hesitancy, but the atmosphere quickly became one of peace and connection. “Meeting new people always comes with a bit of vulnerability,” Vicki Keogh, one of the Bellies, shared. The Bellies also started to dream together of what their collective voice might look like and self-organised into teams focussed on learning and bringing about this reality.
As their journey continued to Dalby, Queensland, this bond deepened, not just among themselves but with the wider community. This on-country experience hosted by first nations guides became an immersion into a shared purpose where they found themselves embraced as family. “It was just such a blessing,” Vicki reflected. “I felt truly privileged to be part of this journey. There was such a deep sense of care for everyone and it was evident that every person mattered.”
For the Bellies, their time at Dalby became a pathway of discovery, learning from first nations wisdom, permaculture principles and bringing country and kin into dialogue with the creative pieces they were working on.
“At the beginning, I wouldn’t have called myself a creative person,” Vicki reflected. “But through this journey, I’ve come to see that we’re all creative because God, our Creator, has made us that way.”
Vicki soon realised that writing became a powerful way to understand her spiritual journey. Putting thoughts into words turned reflection into revelation, shedding light on how God is at work in her life. “By writing, I really unpacked my journey more,” Vicki explained. “Putting my thoughts into words made it come alive. It helped me recognise what God has been doing, especially in this last season of my life.”
“I’ve seen so much growth, not just in myself, but in all of us.”
Between the Bellies, a collection of their creative expressions began to take shape – eventually becoming the journal Taste and See.
Vicki believes this journal carries more than just words or art on a page, it holds the potential to stir hearts and open eyes to how God is moving.
“I know God is going to use everything within the journal,” Vicki said. “Each person who reads it will experience it in a different way, but my hope, my faith, is that it will be life changing. That as people taste and see our journeys, they might also glimpse what their own journey with God looks like.”
Out of this deeply formative journey, the Bellies believe this journal has a unique and significant role to play in hope-sharing with our network. Bellies member, Loani Falconer shared, “I hope that something in them (the readers) may be drawn to attend to what God is stirring in their hearts, to not only read the journal but to have conversations about the various ways they experience God and walk their own journey.”
Reflecting on her desire to see this journal come to life and be shared, Kym Dixon (the Network Resource Team’s Health Support and Formation Leader) said, “I was drawn to the Bible, where God chose women to be the first messengers of resurrection life, having a sense that in this season of change for the church, stirring inside women – in their bellies and bones, was prophetic insight to influence the way we (the Church) show up for the next season. So, this journal also becomes a witness statement to how the Spirit is moving in this time and place.”
Read more stories from churches of Christ in NSW & ACT HERE
