In the Autumn of 2020, Jo Lee was leading the women’s ministry in her local church, when she felt God say: ‘Dream big Jo, it’s time to go wider.’ After meeting with some women to pray, RISE was birthed - to encourage, empower, and inspire women from around the globe to transform the world around them, one life at a time.
If you knew me ten years ago you would know that I used to believe I was insignificant, and didn’t have a voice. I remember being asked to do a notice at church, and for two weeks leading up to it I didn’t sleep, I was so worried about getting the notice wrong, and was crippled by fear.
A New Year’s resolution one year was to know in my ‘heart’ not just in my ‘head’ what it meant to be ‘royalty, a daughter of the King’. I read a book on the subject and as I read a chapter about false humility, I knew this was perfectly describing me and I needed to repent!
I knelt, saying sorry to God for believing the lie that I was insignificant.
I knelt, saying sorry to God for believing the lie that I was insignificant. There wasn’t any writing in the sky, but, when I stood up in this calm but radical moment, I knew I had been transformed from the inside out. I knew who I was, that I was significant and called for impact.
READ MORE: ‘Me, a 24-year-old woman, leading a church? It felt absurd!’
In the Autumn of 2020, I was leading the women’s ministry in our local church, and I felt God say: ‘Dream big Jo, it’s time to go wider.’ I met with the women’s team, alongside some visionary, prophetic women, and we prayed, laughed lots, got excited, got fearless, and we dreamt big (even though we were all sitting one metre apart because of Covid rulings). The outcome - RISE was birthed.
In March 2021 we held our first RISE Conference – which had to be streamed online (Covid) with over 200 women joining us – from all across the UK.
We knew this was a significant moment – in the morning before the conference two of my children were separately taken to hospital - the enemy didn’t want this starting! Some of the men from church prayed around the building as we led the conference, listened to truth and worshipped, women were set free and Jesus was glorified.
READ MORE: ‘Gals’ that brunch
In November 2021 – the first monthly RISEconnect email went out, which included encouraging stories, blogs and preaches. We also started our Facebook and Instagram pages.
In 2022 we held our ‘Armed & Dangerous’ conference, in 2023 our conference ‘The Wonder’ and 2024 our conference all about knowing your purpose called ‘NOW’.
Since 2020 - the stories we have heard from women have been ones of, mindset changes, women knowing they have a place and a purpose, healings
Since 2020 - the stories we have heard from women have been ones of, mindset changes, women knowing they have a place and a purpose, healings (emotional and physical), freedom, understanding more of Gods character and the radical impact this has on them, seeing women free from shame and fear, the list goes on… I am so thankful to Jesus for these and they leave me humbled and blown away!
Since the summer of 2024 after many prophetic words, so much has changed for me. After being made redundant from many years working in the charity sector, I have given my time to RISE. We now have a 6-session online course called RISEstrengthen, to see women rise up and know that their voices are significant and they are called for purpose. It is so exciting, check it out!
READ MORE: Women usually bear the burden at Christmas - from cooking to gifts - here’s how to navigate this time while actually enjoying it
We have just launched our YouTube and also will find us on Facebook and Instagram, and later this year we will be open to partner with other churches and take RISEonTOUR starting 2026 delivering conferences across the UK.
We are believing that when women get positioned to receive from God, they will bring glory to him as they reflect who God has created them to be. We are believing for nations to be changed, families restored, communities impacted, workplaces transformed – I’m talking BIG STUFF HERE, we are not about playing small!
Before I go…some truth for you:- You were born for this day. You are significant. You have a part to play. Whatever your age and stage - your time is NOW. God doesn’t make mistakes!
And….if you’re breathing (I’m guessing this includes all of you reading this!) then you have been designed with purpose for purpose!
Sign up to hear to connect with us and be first to know about our up-and-coming events: risebetransformed.org including our next conference on 7th June 2025 - ‘Limitless’.
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