Women of Canyon Springs – A Recap of our Kristi McLelland Conference – 2026

“Mustard Seed Moments: Women of Canyon Springs with Kristi McLelland”

What a joyful Saturday morning! Over 30 women from Women of Canyon Springs joined more than 1,100 sisters in Christ at Maranatha Chapel for a refreshing half-day event with Christian author, speaker, and biblical culturalist Kristi McLelland.

The room buzzed with laughter, heartfelt worship, sweet connections, and the delight of making new friends. Everyone left feeling uplifted, inspired, and reminded that God delights in using the smallest seeds to grow His Kingdom in powerful ways.

Kristi, known for her books like Jesus and Women and The Gospel on the Ground, shared her passion for seeing Scripture through its original Middle Eastern lens. She focused on Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32 (NLT):

“Jesus said, ‘How can I describe the Kingdom of God? … It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.’”

She beautifully connected this to the broader story in Mark—linking the parable to Jesus’ healing of the demon-possessed man (Mark 5) and the stunning return visit in Mark 8. By then, that once-tormented man had spread the gospel like wildfire in Jesus’ absence, leading to 4,000 new believers!

In the cultural view Kristi unpacked, the mustard plant was a humble, persistent “weed”—small and overlooked at first, yet unstoppable in growth, offering shade and shelter to many.

Her challenge resonated deeply: Be a beautiful little “weed” for the Kingdom of God! You don’t need to be grand or noticeable. Start small—with faithfulness, a shared story, a kind act, authentic worship—and trust God for the exponential growth. One seed planted today can ripple out to touch thousands.

We worshiped together, laughed over shared moments, prayed for one another, and left energized for how God is moving right here in San Diego.

If you joined us, share your favorite takeaway in the comments! If you missed it, watch for our next gathering—we can’t wait!

Thank you, Kristi, for pouring into us. Thank you, Maranatha Chapel, for hosting. And thank you, Women of Canyon Springs, for showing up with open hearts.

The Kingdom grows—one faithful, beautiful “weed” at a time.

Enjoy a few pics from the event!