Fourth Women's
International Conference:
Filled to Overflowing 

By Kenda Turner

COLLEGE CORNER, Ohio—One hundred and twenty-six women met at the Well Nov. 15 to 17, and spiritual cups were filled to overflowing.

The fourth WCG Women’s International Conference, "Women at the Well," sponsored by WCG women of Cincinnati, Ohio, took place at Hueston Woods. Women from nine states and three countries, including Ghana in West Africa and Brazil, attended. The conference opened Friday, Nov. 15, with dinner in a rustic dining room, flanked by a fire in the fireplace on one side and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a calm and peaceful lake on the other. The warmth and sense of peace gave only a hint of what the ensuing weekend would bring.

After opening remarks by conference coordinator Vicki Hart, Libby Walker set the stage for the weekend’s theme by singing a stirring rendition of "Drink From This Water." Keynote speaker Naomi Beard, a woman involved in ministries around the world, followed with a message on joy and the use of worship music—with a focus on gospel music—as a way to communicate God’s love.

The first evening concluded with the women gathering in friendship teams, small groups designed for the women to get to know each other better and to provide support, friendship and prayer.

Saturday morning began with worship music led by Sheila Lamb, followed by Murlean Robinson’s interpretive dance to "Mary’s Alabaster Box." Tammy Tkach, WCG Women’s Ministry Support coordinator, then spoke on "Sitting at the Feet of Jesus," in which she asked, "How do you keep your cup full, especially when the ‘suddenlies’ hit (physical cares, worries, stress)?"

She shared a message of the importance of such spiritual disciplines as silence, solitude, meditation and prayer, concluding with a profound experience of a period of contemplative prayer. Though in a room full of women, each was encouraged to participate in a half-hour of silence and prayer, centering their minds on Christ, and letting themselves be held by him and receive what he had to give them.

The next message, by Shari Campa, also had a profound effect as she shared her story of being a prodigal who returned to the loving arms of the Father—a story of God’s amazing grace, his forgiveness and his great power to redeem.

Naomi returned in the afternoon to speak on "The Strength of Being"—standing strong in the face of where God has each one now, and also on making time for God. It was noted how God tied the details of the conference together, as each message and various key scriptures dovetailed into the others, without the speakers consulting one another ahead of time.

Saturday’s activities concluded with hikes and personal time, a bonfire with hot chocolate, smores and camp-fire songs, a fun session of line-dancing and late-night talks.

Sunday, Sheila Graham, also with WCG Women’s Ministry Support, spoke on "Overcoming Fear With Closeness With Jesus," subtitled, "The Love Factor." The key scripture was 1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear." "Go forward," Sheila said, "in God’s love, release your fears to him."

Before taking communion, Ruth Baker spoke on God’s hand in her life, offering, along with Shari, an invitation to prayer, individually and in groups. Everyone was also asked to write down their personal burdens. Each then symbolically dropped those burdens into the well—a six-foot structure used as part of the stage decorations—on their way to the communion table, where the bread and wine picture forgiveness and new life in Christ.

The weekend touched hearts in special, personal ways. Barb Lainhart commented, "It was just so big—God didn’t leave anyone out." Melissa Ibarra said, "I needed this weekend so badly and didn’t even know it—it was great and truly filled my cup." One woman said: "I am a product of a miracle. I am not angry anymore!" Another said, "I had an intimate reminder of his love—that he fulfills the needs humans cannot."

Jesus extended the invitation to come to the Well, a weekend representative of spiritual cleansing and restoration, renewal and comfort—in him. May people everywhere return over and over again to the Well of Living Water.

FRIENDSHIP TEAM—From left: Levada
Bibbs, Yvonne Fenner, Leanne Wickey,
Paula Gay, Mary Young, Michelle Bosse,
Bonnie Winston and Sheila Lamb.
[Photo by Kenda Turner]

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002