Torrential rain and an occasional tornado siren did not dampen the spirits of more than 350 women at Renew … one day, a conference sponsored by Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). The Feb. 28 conference — with the theme “Grace Flows Down” — was held at Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association.
“These women truly demonstrated their desire to gather in His name by braving such horrible weather conditions,” said Candace McIntosh, executive director of Alabama WMU.
The conference offered two plenary sessions as well as breakout workshops on divorce, prison ministry, parenting, personal witnessing, missions and a variety of spiritual enrichment topics.
“We hoped the conference would refresh and renew women in the reality of the truth that as believers, we live and breathe in God’s grace,” said Lucretia Mobbs, missions and ministry consultant for Alabama WMU. “The overwhelming response was just that. Women gave themselves again to the love and grace of God to heal their brokenness and free them from self-imposed bondage.”
According to Mobbs, 20 women indicated they made a spiritual decision that day.
The women were led in worship by Heather Rowell, of Pensacola, Fla., and encouraged by keynote speaker Kim Davis to stand individually in God’s grace and show His grace to others.
“How do we stand in God’s grace? We pursue Him,” said Davis, compiling editor of “Voices of the Faithful” by Beth Moore. Then using the parable of the good Samaritan, she asked, “Are you creating burdens for others, or are you carrying others’ burdens?”
A Southern Baptist representative and church planter in East Asia speaking at the conference said, “Stories of God’s grace abound in [East Asia].”
To illustrate that fact, the representative recounted the story of Mr. G., whom she met as she and her husband were working with a volunteer medical missions team from America. His family brought him to the medical clinic in a wheelchair, and he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“When Mr. G. heard the gospel, his facial expression immediately changed to joy,” said the representative. Through a translator, Mr. G. said he had dreamed he would meet someone from America who would not be able to heal his body but would heal his soul. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was a faithful witness to many family members and friends before he died, the representative explained.
In a hands-on missions project, women attending one breakout session packed 100 Easter baskets. Half of the baskets will be distributed by the Community of Hope in Montgomery, a multihousing church-planting ministry, and the other half by Yarbrough Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Association.
“Holistic ministry was another theme that ran throughout the day,” Mobbs added. “Renew expressed a balance of missions, prayer, worship, evangelism, spiritual enrichment and fellowship.
“The beauty of women ministering to women was evident throughout the day.”
For more information on future events sponsored by Alabama WMU, call 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 228, or e-mail lmobbs@alsbom.org.
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