Women's Ministry

Fifth annual
Connecting and Bonding
conference

By Marge Friddle

LOS ANGELES, California—The fifth annual Connecting and Bonding conference took place at the Renaissance Hotel and Resort in Los Angeles, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.

Connecting and Bonding is a conference begun by Jannice May, wife of Curtis May, district superintendent and director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, after a pastor’s wife came to her and expressed her need for help.

God has used Jannice, who, at the beginning, planned only one conference, to continue this conference that has spread to other parts of the world—South Africa, England and the Philippines. The purpose of the conference is to give elders’ wives a support system and bring us together for encouragement, mentoring, caring, loving and connecting and bonding.

Friendship teams have been established. Before the conference the friendship team leaders met Aug. 28 and 29. Each leader has a group of women she stays in touch with during the year so that no one will feel isolated. Each person who attends the conference knows there is someone she can contact at any time. This furthers the connecting and bonding process.

I have attended all five conferences and each conference builds on the previous one. This year the love of God was prevalent in the meetings, and lasting friendships have been established by the women spending time with one other. During these conferences we are learning to let the walls come down and become transparent with each other without judgment or fear of rejection. We worship, laugh and cry together. It is a time of comforting, helping, healing and sharing our joys and woes. It is a great highlight in our year.

This year our guest speakers were Kathleen Hart, chaplain to student wives at Fuller Seminary; Tammy Tkach, wife of President Joseph Tkach; Ruth Tucker, an associate professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and author of 14 books; Marilyn Hontz, a pastor’s wife from Holland, Michigan, and featured speaker on Focus on the Family; Catherine Weber, a licensed marriage and family therapist; Carrie McClure, a pastor’s wife and grant writer from Erie, Colorado; and Naomi Beard, adjunct professor at The King’s College & Seminary, who was on Jack Hayford’s pastoral staff at Church on the Way for more than 20 years.

Kathleen Hart is our cheerleader and is supportive of this ministry. She spoke on "Leaving a Lasting Impression" and "Where Have All the Mentors Gone?" She had us consider: "What would our home and church be like if everyone was just like me?"

Her second presentation showed the joy that comes with mentoring and how mentoring teaches us tolerance, flexibility, patience, perspective and unconditional love for another person.

Tammy Tkach spoke on "No Substitutions, Please," showing how there is no substitute for Jesus and how we must love him with all of our being.

Ruth Tucker came to the forefront at the beginning of our doctrinal changes and has been a great friend to the WCG. Dr. Tucker spoke on "God in the Hands of an Angry Sinner," concerning the trials of Job and "Learning to Love the Silence and Mystery of God."

Naomi Beard gave a workshop on worship. This was to help worship leaders in leading people to worship.

Marilyn Hontz spoke on "Dealing With Difficult People" and "Listening to God." Dr. Weber gave us much-needed information on diet and health. Carrie McClure gave helpful information on obtaining grants and funds for churches.

Susan Dick of Church Administration chaired a question and answer session. Susan asked questions concerning things such as physical abuse in the home and addiction to pornography through the Internet. Our guest speakers were on a panel. The friendship groups were together and discussed answers to the questions. Then our guest speakers gave helpful answers. The conclusion was that in cases like this the people involved have to get help.

The conference ended Sunday evening, Sept. 1, with sharing and a meaningful communion service, highlighted with praise dances performed by Shirley Henderson from South Africa and Barbara Edwards from Pasadena.

Marge Friddle and her husband, Jim, live in Concord, North Carolina, where they retired after 39 years working for the church.

FRIENDSHIP TEAM—From left: Charlesetta Willis,
Gwen DeShong, Zora Houston (standing), Myrtle
Tate, Grace Stokes and Marilyn Talison.
[Photo by Mary Allgood]

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002