Artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping the landscape of film, television and the arts. With over 100 women in attendance from across the nation, the Influence Women event at the 2026 NRB International Christian Media Convention was a powerful time of equipping members to navigate AI with confidence—and biblical truth.
Here’s the recap report from Kathleen Cooke, founder and global director of Influence Women:
Influence Women had an incredible gathering at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center during the National Religious Broadcasters 2026 Convention in Nashville! We are so grateful for our dynamic presenters:
Emma Sharma shared AI strategies for women in media, entertainment and the arts.
Each woman shared practical insights, creative production and AI strategies, along with encouragement for building a life and career anchored in Biblical truth.
My message to those gathered included a powerful reminder from the city of Ai mentioned in Joshua 6–7, that we cannot steal from God. We are to honor Him with our first fruits; to not take shortcuts or presume; and to not move forward without His guidance.
A special thank-you to our Influence Women Chapter Directors who attended: DeAnna Kane (Hollywood), Brandi McDaniel (Houston), Sue Detweiler (Dallas), and Cyndi Galley (Nashville) who encouraged and reminded us that Influence Women gatherings are essential. We are never alone in our artistic endeavors.
If you missed the NRB gathering, watch for the event recap coming soon on our IW YouTube channel! Stay connected by tuning in to the Influence Women Podcast and join a local or Online Chapter for more interaction with Influence Women
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Let’s continue to Connect. Collaborate. Create for Christ! —Kathleen Cooke
A mission of The Influence Lab, Influence Women creates a pathway for Christian influence in entertainment and media. Find out more and become a member at InfluenceWomen.org
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2025 has been a year of continued growth and impact, all made possible by our generous partners! Walking through God-given doors of opportunity is not always easy, but the end results are always amazing.
“Saying ‘yes’ to God leads to interesting places, but ultimately, they are places of joy and wonder.” —Kathleen Cooke, Co-Founder, The Influence Lab/Global Director, Influence Women
Here’s a very brief Impact Recap of 2025—but first, let’s look ahead to 2026!
“Remember the wonders he has done…” Psalm 105:5
“Wonder” is our word for the new year. We invite you to pray with us and look forward to God’s “wonder” in 2026 for The Influence Lab and Influence Women.
The digital age has placed an increased demand on ministries to elevate their media and digital strategies to share the gospel.The Influence Lab has stepped up to meet that need, going to places where strategic training is not readily available or accessible.
We’re looking ahead to the opportunities in 2026 to teach, train and encourage, but saying “yes” to these requests requires ramping up funding to meet the need. (Scroll below to look ahead with us to 2026.)
Your partnership is critical! Will you join us?
We invite you to give your best year-end gift here.
“To fully express the gratitude of people and the impact Phil Cooke has had on the Russian-speaking world would require writing an entire book of its own.” —Matts-Ola, Russia
“There are very few people with that caliber who come and pour their heart out just to help [creatives and media teams] out there in the field, maybe in India, maybe in Africa, maybe in some other parts of the world. Phil and Kathleen Cooke are impacting so many people and I am one of them.”—Ashvin, Managing Director, Good News, India
2025 Impact Recap
Phil and Kathleen met with influential pastors and marketplace leaders in Greece, 2025.
Long-term Relationships Fuel Ministry Growth in Russia
Phil’s books are used for training Russian pastors.
This year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our contact’s church in Russia and Phil was invited to send a congratulatory video to Moscow for the landmark event. Watch Phil’s video here.
One of our Russian contacts writes: “Phil Cooke’s books in Russian have become essential reading in many churches and non-profit organizations. I regularly see Maximize Your Influence on pastors’ desks when I visit influential churches. Ideas on Deadline became the most-read book of last year, providing vital support to entrepreneurs and creative individuals during a challenging period.” —Matts-Ola, Russia
Kathleen Cooke Awarded Woman of Distinction from She Leads Tennessee Kathleen Cooke received the She Leads America Tennessee “Woman of Distinction” award for her transformative leadership in media, entertainment, and faith-based initiatives for women. She was also invited to the 2025 She Leads America and UK Summit held at Windsor Castle. Read more here.
Women gather in at the Hollywood Influence Women event.
Kathleen attends White House Faith Office Meetings in DC Kathleen was invited to attend meetings of the White House Faith Office in Washington, D.C., advocating for women creatives in their artistic endeavors. Read more.
Influence Women Expands and Encourages Unshakeable Faith in Filmmakers 2025 has been a challenging year for the film and television industry in Hollywood, and many filmmakers have relocated to production hubs such as Atlanta and Nashville. With Influence Women chapter groups in these cities and more added this year in Houston, Baton Rouge, Dallas and Phoenix, we’re able to inspire female creatives to create God-honoring works. Read more.
“Influence Women is shifting and shaping the culture for women in media everywhere at any age. With a focus on empowering women, they’re building a vibrant community where support, encouragement, and networking thrive.” —Jaclyn Quisenberry, Producer/Entertainment Marketing, Biola University Alumni
On the Calendar—Upcoming Opportunities in 2026:
January 2026 – United Kingdom Phil and Kathleen will teach a series of masterclasses for Christian university students in Europe.
March 2026—Houston, TX An invitation-only global gathering of 300 pastors and high-profile marketplace leaders. Phil and Kathleen will have opportunity to interact, encourage, and teach some of the most innovative and pioneering pastors in the world.
May 2026—Franklin, TN Phil speaks to the Evangelical Publishers Association, the national organization for Christian writers, editors and publishers.
June 2026—Jordan Phil is invited to Jordan with Ron Harris of MediaAlliance International to conduct training sessions for ministry leaders through the Middle East. Details to follow!
September 2026—Australia Pending details… more to come!
“Far from fading with time, Phil and Kathleen’s relevance and influence continue to grow… Their leadership remains outstanding, and their voices are deeply valued within the Church and the Christian media landscape.” —Nathan Brown, CEO – Christian Media & Arts Australia
*New IRA Limits opens opportunities for charitable giving. Read more here.
Do you want to make a meaningful impact and steward your finances wisely? The new IRA charitable giving limits make it easier to support the causes you love.
New Limits for 2025 – Secure Act 2.0
The annual Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) limit, previously set at $100,000, has been increased to $108,000 per individual for 2025, according to the retirement provisions of the Secure Act 2.0 bill. A married couple with separate IRAs can contribute a combined total of up to $216,000 annually. In 2025, if you are 70 ½ years old or older, you may use a QCD to donate to qualified charities directly from an IRA.
This is good news for Influence Lab Partners who want to give a special year-end donation to our mission. The Influence Lab is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Established in 2014, we’ve earned Guidestar’s Silver Transparency Award with Candid.org, considered the most widely adopted symbol of transparency for nonprofit organizations in the U.S. This translates into heightened value for our partners, who can support the work of The Influence Lab and Influence Women with trust and confidence.
Why Your Partnership is Critical
Phil and Kathleen Cooke train the media team at the 60,000 member Christ’s Commission Fellowship church in Manila.
The digital age has placed an increased demand on ministries to elevate their media and digital strategies to share the gospel. The Influence Lab has stepped up to meet that need,thanks to the generous support of our partners, going to places where strategic training is not readily available or accessible.
Invitations from other countries requesting our help come in almost weekly. To say “yes” to these requests requires ramping up funding to meet the need.
Gain the Tax Benefits of Charitable Giving in 2025
If you would like to take advantage of the tax benefits of charitable giving through your IRA and partner with us in the mission, give your donation here.
Your partnership with The Influence Lab impacts nations, and through the branch of Influence Women, enables and inspires Christian filmmakers and creatives to produce content with a positive impact on culture.
See the Impact of Your Partnership with The Influence Lab
Here are just a few of the testimonies we’ve received:
“For more than 15 years, Phil and Kathleen Cooke have made a profound impact on media (and church) leaders across Australia and New Zealand… Their leadership remains outstanding, and their voices are deeply valued within the Church and the Christian media landscape.” —Nathan Brown, CEO – Christian Media & Arts Australia
Phil and Kathleen with Pastor Peter and Deonna Tan-Chi in Manila.
“Phil and Kathleen Cooke have made a significant impact on our pastors and media leaders at Christ’s Commission Fellowship. Phil opened our eyes to the power of media and communication in a world where attention spans grow shorter and clarity is more essential than ever. His teaching challenged us to steward every tool—technology, creativity, and skill—to present the unchanging message of the gospel clearly and compellingly. We are deeply grateful…” —Pastor Peter Tan-Chi, Christ’s Commission Fellowship, a 60,000-member church in Manila, Philippines
“As a singer/songwriter artist in the entertainment industry, Influence Women’s events has always been something I have looked forward to. It’s like iron sharpening iron where you meet others of your tribe: women of all generations in the entertainment industry and connect with new friends, possible future collaborators, or mentors. It’s great to know that we are not alone on this journey.” —Florence LaRue, Vocalist, The 5th Dimension/Actress-/Author of “Grace in Your Second Act”
“Influence Women is shifting and shaping the culture for women in media everywhere at any age. With a focus on empowering women, they’re building a vibrant community where support, encouragement, and networking thrive.” —Jaclyn Quisenberry, Producer/Entertainment Marketing Professional and Biola University Alumni
2025 has been a challenging year for the film and television industry in Hollywood. Below-average productions and layoffs at major studios, in part due to AI, have spurred many to relocate to other production hubs like Atlanta and Nashville.
Women gather in at the Hollywood Influence Women event.
But for those female filmmakers who choose to soldier through the tough times in LA, the recent Hollywood Influence Women event “Unshakeable: Trusting God’s Voice in Your Career and Life Decisions” gave inspiration and encouragement. The gathering was a poignant reminder of the mission of Influence Women and why we exist under the banner of The Influence Lab.
THANK YOU to our Influence Lab and Influence Women partners for making moments like this possible! In today’s cultural climate, your support is especially important in encouraging Christian filmmakers and media professionals in their work. Read on for a new opportunity!
Kathleen Cooke, the founder and global director of Influence Women, attended the Hollywood event. She reports:
“Beautifully hosted by IW Hollywood Chapter Director, DeAnna Kane, the event featured Wendy Griffith, 700 Club news anchor and journalism veteran, and Peyton Hoffman, Fortune 500 consultant and author. Despite the challenges in LA as industry work slows and AI changes the industry, the IW community is supporting one another while standing firm on God’s word and his promises.
Peyton Hoffman shares with DeAnna Kane in Hollywood.
Peyton Hoffman shared her inspiring journey of how God has brought her work, despite the industry slump, from unseen places as she leaned into Him. Wendy Griffith shared how she met her husband after many years of being single. She encouraged the women to believe that God fulfills the desires of our hearts as we seek Him first and consistently stay engaged with Him.”
Kathleen also spoke at the event, sharing how God continues to teach her obedience and uncompromising faith. She used her story to challenge the women to stay strong in their faith as they wait for the perfect job, career break, or the man God has for them.
She encouraged, “God sees you. He knows you. He is El-Roi, the God who sees.”
NEW CHAPTER GROUPS!
Phoenix launched on November 2nd!
You’ll find Influence Women groups in major production hubs across the nation like Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and more! On November 2nd, we launched Influence Women Phoenix… and Influence Women Miami, Florida launches January 2026!
With each new launch, comes added expenses. Even though our directors donate their time and energy, we still have hard costs that must be met.
Can you help? Will you help support these women in their endeavors to produce media – film, music, art – with a Christian worldview? Give your gift today!
Increasing influence! Founder and global director of Influence Women, Kathleen Cooke was invited to Washington DC this September to attend meetings of the White House Faith Office. She joined Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor of the White House Faith Office; Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, best-selling novelist Bodie Theone, Christian women’s writer and international leader Lisa Bevere, and other key leaders gathered to share faith initiatives for the nation.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary speaks at the White House Faith Office meetings.
“Those in the Faith Office are championing religious freedom for all,” shares Kathleen, “and they are especially working toward policies focused on a biblical worldview.”
Kathleen was honored to speak on behalf of Influence Women and advocate for the need to support women creatives in their artistic endeavors. She was joined by Influence Women Prayer Coordinator Peyton Hoffman and Influence Women board member Caltha Seymour. Kathleen emphasizes, “It’s so important to support women working in media. We can change what we are seeing on our screens.”
Coming up – Congressional Meetings and a Faith Briefing at the White House Kathleen travels to DC again this October for a series of meetings, including an invitation to a national Faith Briefing at the White House and a Congressional breakfast for Women on the Hill.
As a past Congressional Women of Distinction, she will also attend a She Leads America Women of Distinction Reception and an international luncheon with She Leads America/UK delegates for conversations on how to bring cultural change through biblical foundations and a renewed Christian worldview.
Why This Matters for Influence Lab Partners
Kathleen travels to DC again this October with an invitation to attend a national Faith Briefing at the White House.
God is growing the influence of Influence Women. That means that your partnership has increasing reach and impact. Thank you.
We can change what people are seeing on their TV and phone screens. Through the mission of The Influence Lab, we can change culture – in the U.S. and abroad.
Your partnership supports the media training and support we give to pastors in other nations AND the initiatives of Influence Women to support women in arts, media and entertainment. Give a gift and let’s keep the momentum going! Give your gift here.
Need a keynote speaker for your next event? Kathleen Cooke is an inspiring and thought-provoking speaker. Invite Kathleen to speak at your next conference or event here.
You can also help fuel the mission of Influence Women by shopping through +ShopWithPurpose and designating Influence Lab/Women as your nonprofit recipient when you register.
