Tammy Tkach and Tania McKinney [Photos by Sheila Graham]
By Sharon Fearon and Maxcine Nesbitt
NASSAU, Bahamas--Pastor General Joseph Tkach and his wife, Tammy, Women's Ministry Support coordinator, were in Nassau, June 4 to 6, as the congregation was host for a women's conference.
Women attended from the Bahamas; Hamilton, Bermuda; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The conference began Friday evening with an interpretive dance routine by Heavenly Gems, teenage girls from the Nassau congregation.
Then Mrs. Tkach and motivational speaker Thelma Wells made presentations.
The next day Sheila Graham, editor of Christian Women in Touch, joined Mrs. Tkach and Mrs. Wells in giving presentations.
In a talk titled "Peace, Be Still," Mrs. Wells encouraged all to see that in the midst of life's storms, Jesus Christ is there and is in control.
Mrs. Graham then shared her personal journey. Starting with her introduction to the church, she took the women through her journey from legalism to grace.
Tammy spoke next, asking the question, "Who Are You?" She outlined how Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah to the woman at the well and offered her forgiveness, salvation and wholeness, a new identity rooted in Christ.
She spoke of our individual characteristics--some are bold and bright, while others are timid and pale--which Satan can use to negatively influence us. As she told how the Bible shows that we are chosen, loved, redeemed, forgiven, saved, sanctified, justified and valued, she encouraged us not to listen to Satan's lies.
While the women were at their conference Saturday morning in the church hall, Mr. Tkach met with the men and children for a worship service in a tent on the church compound.
In his sermon, Mr. Tkach urged the men to aspire to Christ's standard concerning loving their spouses. Mr. Tkach showed how men and women are equal before God, and that the biblical standard given the man for loving his wife is that of Christ loving the church.
Women, Mr. Tkach said, need to be treated with respect and loving care. He also showed that it is not a light matter in Jesus' eyes when men put down or do not esteem the worth of women.
Lunch was prepared and served by members of the Nassau congregation, after which the men again gathered under the tent--this time for a four-hour question and answer session with Mr. Tkach.
In the afternoon session of the women's conference, Mrs. Tkach spoke on the topic "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know," showing the necessity of love for a balanced life, and the availability of the love of God to all of us no matter what we may have gone through.
Mrs. Graham then encouraged us to celebrate God's love, showing that God loves us in spite of ourselves. She also encouraged us to see that God wants to spend time with us and desires us to be his friends.
The final speaker for the day was Mrs. Wells, with the topic "BEE the Best for Christ," using the formula B+E+E+S. Be Aware of who we are; Eliminate the negative; Excellence must be our pursuit; Success in Christ is ours.
That evening, Robert and Tania McKinney, who pastor the Nassau congregation, were hosts for a dinner for the Tkaches, other guests, and 30 deacons, elders and their spouses.
Sunday morning, Mr. Tkach addressed the women on the topic he covered with the men the day before. He encouraged the women to strive for relationships reflective of the loving, sacrificial friendship Jesus extends to the church.
Then, regional director Charles Fleming and Mr. Tkach led a communion service to conclude the weekend.
Tammy Tkach and Tania McKinney [Photos by Sheila Graham]
WORSHIP SERVICE--Men and children meet in tent with Mr. Tkach for
services on Saturday.
[Photo by Patrick Fearon]
HEAVENLY GEMS--Teenage girls from the Nassau church perform
at conference with an interpretive dance routine.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999