Reviving Women’s Devotionals: How a student-professor team is bringing women’s stories to light

Nearly 25 years after the last edition, Bethel’s Women’s Devotionals are being revitalized through a collaboration between history professor Chris Gehrz and Ellie Heebsh ’25, a history and digital humanities major with a minor in biblical and theological studies. Originally published annually during March—Women’s History Month—from 2000 to 2003, this collection of reflections is being brought back to life.

The reviving initiative began in fall 2024 with Gehrz’s sabbatical research focused on documenting the history of women at Bethel. As part of his research, he set out to create a digital history project, which he plans to complete by Homecoming 2025. Prior to his sabbatical, he collected oral histories from women who played key roles in Bethel’s history. Recognizing the importance of a woman’s perspective, Gehrz invited Heebsh to join him.

“This project really fulfills something in me—it’s about listening to the women who came before me,” Heebsh says. “It also opened a new avenue of interest in something I’m really passionate about.”

Building connections: How oral histories shape the devotional series

This collaboration led to an Edgren Scholar project, where Gehrz, Heebsh, and assistant professor of history Sam Mulberry conducted interviews with women across Bethel’s community.

“We ended up talking to 34 women—staff, faculty, coaches, administrators, and one president’s wife—who played key roles in Bethel’s history. We sat down with them and recorded their memories about what it was like to be a woman in those positions at different times,” Gehrz says.

Now, the team is transcribing and archiving these interviews, which will be featured in Bethel’s Digital Library after spring break and showcased in a Prime Time presentation in the Bethel Library on March 18.

During one interview, Barb Martin, a longtime student life dean at Bethel, mentioned her role in compiling the original Women’s Devotionals. This piqued Heebsh and Gehrz’s interest, leading them to revisit the original Women’s History Month devotional series. These booklets, written by Bethel faculty, staff, and students, celebrated women’s contributions, encouraged spiritual reflection, and fostered a greater understanding of women’s experiences in the church and the world.

Inspired, Gehrz and Heebsh decided to revive the series. The new collection will be published in March 2025 via Substack, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

Empowering voices: Celebrating women’s impact on Bethel’s community

When selecting new contributors, the team started with women they had already interviewed, knowing what these individuals might want to share. They also invited current students, recent alumni, and employees who had not been interviewed and suggested a wide range of topics, from what it was like to be a woman at Bethel to reflections on women in Scripture.

“It could be the story of a woman who mentored you at Bethel. It could be about a woman from Scripture or church history who stands out to you. It didn’t even have to be about women necessarily, except that it reflects the authentic voice of women at Bethel—what matters to them, how they’ve grown in faith, or what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” Gehrz says. Some had written about biblical stories that resonated with their own journeys, while others shared personal reflections.

Reflecting on her role, Heebsh shared that hearing from current students and professors—whom they hadn’t previously interviewed—added a new layer of meaning for her.

“I feel like there are so many connections between the women of the past, the legacy they left, and how that affects the women who are here now,” she says. “When asking these women for contributions, it almost felt like they didn’t think their stories were important enough.”

She believes this project gives these women the recognition they deserve.

“I don’t know if, for so long, women have felt like their stories aren’t important. But this project gives them a moment to realize their worth and the contributions they’ve made to others’ lives. It’s a gift to say, ‘You’re really important. You’ve made a profound impact on my life,’” Heebsh says.

Heebsh contributed both an introduction and a devotional of her own, reflecting on her journey as a transfer student, drawing connections to how women throughout Bethel’s history had created their own communities.

“When I came here, I didn’t feel like I had a place,” she says. “I had come out of a difficult college situation and was still trying to figure things out. Now, I’ve really found my people and a place in the community. I didn’t realize this until I started reflecting on our project and hearing women talk about their own relationships here.”

Her devotional focuses on the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5:25-34, tying her story to Heebsh’s own experience with endometriosis, a condition she has dealt with since childhood.

“I’ve always been told that women in the Old Testament were viewed as sinful or unclean, especially if they were bleeding or had an illness,” she says. “But Jesus said, ‘You are saved by your faith, not by your cleanliness or status.’ Women often feel overlooked, and I want to call attention to the fact that Jesus came for all people. Faith is not just for men—it’s for everyone.”

Recognizing women’s leadership at Bethel

Gehrz says women have always been central to Bethel’s story, even if they haven’t always been recognized. Today, women make up the majority of students across all of Bethel’s schools. “Women are leaders in our community,” Gehrz says. “We have our provost, our associate provost, multiple deans, program directors, and others who offer direction in this community.”

He hopes that by emphasizing this, men at Bethel will become more aware of women’s leadership.

“As a man involved in this project, I think it’s important that we not just listen to these voices but understand their role in our community’s story,” he says. “I want men to become more comfortable with women’s leadership, both in Bethel’s history and today.”

Throughout the project, Heebsh observed that many women they interviewed mentioned the support they had received from men in their fields. She sees this work as part of continuing that legacy. “It’s about building relationships and making sure that support continues,” she says.

The impact of student-faculty collaboration

To Gehrz, faculty-student collaboration is essential to Bethel’s academic environment. He sees opportunities like the Edgren Scholars program as vital to deepening students’ engagement beyond the classroom. Heebsh also values the new connections made during the project. “Meeting all these women who were really encouraging to me personally—they were excited to hear that I was part of this project,” Heebsh says.

Reflecting on how the experience shaped her professional goals, Heebsh notes that it deepened her understanding of historical research and the value of collaboration. “I want to be on the community and relational side of it. I want to build on stories that matter to people,” she says. She hopes to continue pursuing work that builds relationships—whether through museum work, writing stories, or creating impactful projects.

Gehrz relates to Heebsh’s perspective on community. His work on Bethel’s history allows him to engage in traditional historical writing, but it also involves event planning, organizing devotionals, and helping foster community connections. “History can feel kind of musty and dusty sometimes, but it always feels like it’s alive when I do it at Bethel,” he says. He views his role not just as a scholar but as someone who helps the community understand and share its diverse stories. "It’s really powerful to be committed to your past and to telling that story, but also trusting that it helps build community in the present,” he says. “You’re bringing people into the storytelling at Bethel.” 

By publishing their research in Bethel’s archives, they’ve created a resource that can be used in classrooms, incorporated into curriculum, and expanded upon by future scholars. The Women’s Devotional will be published digitally via Substack, offering daily devotionals throughout March. Each will include reflections, images, a prayer or meditation, and background on the writer.

By highlighting these women’s stories, Heebsh and Gehrz have helped ensure that future generations at Bethel recognize and appreciate the vital role women have played in shaping the university’s history.

Join the conversation celebrating women’s voices at Bethel. 

Stay connected with the project by subscribing to the Women’s History Month devotional series on Substack. Look for updates in March 2025 and join the conversation celebrating women’s voices at Bethel. 

Learn more