Nearly 300 women from across Alabama gathered at First Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association Feb. 17 for a first-time event called Renew…one-day.
The event, sponsored by Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), was a day of renewal through worship, prayer, ministry projects and a community gathering conference time.
During worship times, those who attended Renew had opportunities to hear from missionaries serving in the United States and internationally and from worship leaders Gracefull.
During the conference time, women selected from a variety of session topics centered around renewal including Renewal for the 9 to 5 Woman, Finding Renewal in Singleness and Global Renewal.
A coffee and chocolate prayer event for west Africa, a directed time of private prayer and a hands-on ministry project also were offered.
Bible study leader Cindy Townsend encouraged the women to let God permeate every aspect of their lives. "We need to have seen Jesus so closely and know Him so personally that we can’t help but have Him spill out of us," said Townsend.
Townsend also challenged the crowd to never underestimate the power of one person’s life in light of "God’s arithmetic."
"Our math is different from God’s," she said. "With God, five loaves plus two fish equals 5,000 with a remainder of 12. One thirsty woman plus five husbands plus the living water of God equals an entire community impacted for Christ."
During the final worship session, those in attendance were asked to write a prayer to the Lord expressing a personal commitment they were challenged to make during Renew.
Those letters will be mailed to attendees in six months, reminding them of the commitment they made and the renewal they experienced on that day.
In 2008, Renew will be held at First Baptist Church, Trussville, in Birmingham Baptist Association March 7–8, in conjunction with Complete, Alabama WMU’s gathering for teen girls. (Alabama WMU)
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