Introduction 

 
About forty years ago, five years into the life of the Boston church of Christ (https://www.bostonchurch.org) and its many mission plantings in our fellowship of the International Churches of Christ, Pat Gempel created a women's anthology, written by women on the front lines of faith, entitled The Upward Call.  

Last year, Pat and her friend Amanda Frumin were inspired to republish this volume, with two main goals in mind: to issue once again an Upward Call for women to be actively engaged in teaching one another the principles of Biblical discipleship to Jesus and spiritual formation, and to raise money for the Philadelphia-based youth camp, Camp Hope for Kids, (https://www.hopeforkids.org/programs)  which has been a life-changing place of miracles for young people for decades. In this video, (https://youtu.be/jqzAuOQ8V-U)  Irene Gifford, who wrote the first chapter of the original Upward Call, shares a little bit about how she became a disciple and why it was on her heart to join the mission team to Paris in the 1980’s. On the 15th of each month in 2023 on www.womentoday.international we will publish a refreshed chapter of The Upward Call, updated with a response from a contemporary woman author from around the world in the ICOC. 

If you would like to contribute now to support the Philadelphia youth camp, please know your gift, no matter how small, will be life-changing and faith-building. You may donate securely anytime at this link: https://hopeforkids.kindful.com/?campaign=1232807