Every Saturday, you’ll find Renata da Silva Sousa in prison. No, she isn’t an inmate, but she goes to spend time with the women there who are. Her goal is to be a listener and an encourager for those women. Renata always has a word of comfort to share with the people in her life—and whenever possible, she introduces them to Jesus. In the prison, that is through planting seeds of hope and renewal, where otherwise it would be hard to find.

“My personal mission is to reach this generation of women, equipping them to grow and reach their full potential, so that others in that community will join our churches,” said Renata, an accountant and financial analyst for a large company by day. “I want to grow with them as we devote our time and talents to ending Gospel poverty. I plan to continue empowering women so that we can together evangelize our community, using our God-given talents, gifts, and abilities in favor of others.”

A few years ago, Renata joined the leadership team of Projeto Bellas, a group of women who travel to the prison every weekend to disciple the women there. They pray for them, pray with them, and distribute Bibles. Currently, they’re ministering to approximately 50 women, with plans to baptize 19 of them as soon as they’re granted permission by the prison board to release these women for the duration of the ceremony. Today, they are working on expanding to include recovery houses and shelter homes for abandoned children or those who have been abused.

“We are praying that God will open new doors in other prisons and our group will be able to split up and serve a greater number of people,” she said. “With the grace of God, in my current role as a women’s regional leader, there are now three states where I will be able to travel and help thousands of women find answers and hope for their problems.”

As a regional women’s leader for Haggai, she accompanies and guides other local leaders regarding their work with the tools and knowledge she gained from Haggai. Renata is also very active in her church, Igreja Metodista Wesleyana, where she serves as a deaconess applying her expertise in the area of finance, and working with both youth and the church’s small groups. In addition, she has created a counseling program where women in the church can come to her and talk about problems in their marriages or with strained family dynamics. Renata revels in being that consistent listener, encourager.

Truly it is women who have her heart, and she shares what’s in it with them — Jesus.

“My personal vision is to empower women, so that we can reach our communities with the Good News of Jesus, together.”

That’s true girl power.

Written by Jennifer Colosimo