Turning hearts back to home

Turning hearts back to home:
Connecting & Bonding 2004

By Marge Friddle

LOS ANGELES—The seventh annual Connecting & Bonding conference took place Sept. 3 to 6 at the Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles.

The purpose and goal of this conference is to equip and enable those attending to serve their congregations in a more effective way.

Jannice May, founder and president, welcomed the guests at the opening session Friday evening, Sept. 3.

Bettye Oakley and Helen Jackson

Naomi Beard was worship leader. She has served as an adjunct professor at The King’s College & Seminary in Van Nuys, California, and has served on the pastoral staff of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys for more than 20 years, including 13 years as the director of women’s ministries. She has also served on the board of directors for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, and is a minister-at-large in the United States and abroad.

Sharon Hart May presented the Friday evening session. Sharon has a doctorate in marriage and family therapy and was interviewed on Focus on the Family. She co-authored the book Safe Haven Marriage: Building a Relationship You Want to Come Home To with her father, Archibald Hart, professor emeritus of psychology at Fuller Seminary. She spoke on making our home a safe haven for those living there.

Saturday morning’s first speaker was Dr. Hart, who spoke on the personal life of a minister. Dr. Hart and his wife, Kathleen, present seminars in marriage enrichment, sex education and parenting.

Dr. Hart addressed dealing with and resolving resentment and anger by forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a choice we have. Rather, it is commanded by God. He said forgiveness is an act of the will, and it is necessary in our walk with Jesus.

Then Kathleen Hart spoke on using your time wisely. Kathleen told us it is important not to waste a minute of our life as we don’t know how much time each one of us has left. We are to give hope to other people and love other people with the love of Jesus.

Cheryl Walters and Sally Parker

After the morning speakers, a presentation was made to retired elders’ wives and widows of elders. The women were presented with gifts as Naomi Beard sang “To God Be the Glory.”

Pat Guthrie from Long Beach, California, opened the afternoon session with a faith story of being healed of malignant melanoma.

She introduced Naomi Beard, who spoke about joy and explained that happiness is situational, but joy goes beyond that. It is constant and abiding. Jesus wants to bear our loads. She assured us that Jesus will never shoo us away, and we can have true joy because we know him.

Following this was a session for the friendship team leaders to get acquainted with the women who will be in their group next year. Each woman who attends the conference is put in a group with five to seven other women. This group is led by a team leader, and throughout the year the members of each group stay in touch with each other.

Nancy Stafford led Sunday morning’s sessions. Nancy is a speaker, author and actress. She is the author of Beauty by the Book and The Wonder of His Love. Nancy has starred in numerous television movies and series, including five years as Andy Griffith’s law partner, Michele, on Matlock.

Nancy believes that everyone has beauty and value, and her topics focused on our value in Jesus and our true identity.

Sunday afternoon, Jan Parrish presented helpful hints about entertaining. Her heart’s desire is to see others benefit from what God can do when they lean entirely on him for everything, but most specifically in the home.

The final speaker was Candace Chambers-Belida. She spoke on secret treasures within. Candace gave us the confidence and faith to believe that nothing is impossible with God. This includes forgiving someone you never could think of forgiving for the pain the person caused in your life. She is the author of two books, The Secret Codes of Conduct for Marriage and Dare to Stand.

During the conference the women heard music sung by Gizelle Martin, Vera Gibbs, Marilyn Talison, Lorraine Pelley and Marge Friddle.

The conference closed with communion. Marge Friddle gave a tribute to Tamara Moore, who died this year from breast cancer. Tamara was the wife of Gary Moore, Canadian regional director. As the women came to the table, Marge sang, “Leave It There,” which says, “take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

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