by Kathy Foor
CGWM Director
One of my favorite things about being the director of Women’s Ministries for the Churches of God General Conference is that I get to travel to lots of places and meet lots of new people. While travel in itself can be exhausting, I find it invigorating to find out what God is doing in other parts of the country and around the world. I love hearing testimonies of His grace and mercy in the lives of brothers and sisters I have the opportunity to meet along the way.
God is at work. Lives are being transformed. God is moving mightily.
Last weekend was no exception! While attending the Sisters of Strength Retreat at Camp Sonrise Mountain on the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland, it was such a blessing to hear what was shared during our closing prayer time! One woman shared how blessed she was the night before as the women in her cabin shared their testimonies. She noted how blown away she was by the testimony of a woman God had rescued from a cult and brought to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Suddenly several women were chiming in about how others had blessed them throughout the weekend. The theme for the weekend was being Re-born into the Kingdom of God with birthday cake and presents for all! Ashley McDonald, our speaker for the weekend, shared about the importance of understanding your identity in Christ and walking in the life He has called you to. Each of us, she said, has unique gifts and abilities that God wants to use to build up the body of Christ. She shared many practical ways to pursue God’s calling in our lives as she wove together her own personal stories of the faithfulness of God in her life. Ashley serves alongside her husband Greg who pastors the Goodridge Church of God in Cambria, Pa.
The weekend before that I had the pleasure of participating in the ERC Fall Retreat at Camp Yolijwa in Doubling Gap, Pennsylvania. What a joy it was to see the auditorium filled with women of all ages and stages of life! Our guest speaker for the weekend was Kay DeKalb Smith, also known as the Carol Burnett of Christian comedy. Kay masterfully wove together songs and stories with both humor and tears to touch our hearts and encourage us to be kind to others. She shared personal stories of how reaching out to neighbors can be life-changing, though not always easy. She invited us to join her Saturday evening to watch Unsung Hero, a movie based on the life of the Smallbone family from which we would recognize Rebecca St. James and For King and Country. Kay is portrayed in the movie by Candice Cameron Bure’, a neighbor whose simple acts of kindness impacted this struggling young family when they first arrived in the United States from Australia. It is such a powerful testimony of how lives can be impacted by the kindness of a neighbor!
Mt. Tabor Church of God in Celina, Ohio hosted the Believe Conference on Saturday, November 2, 2024. This year’s theme, Foundation ~ A Focus On Prayer, featured Wendy Bender. I was blessed with the opportunity to lead a couple of breakout sessions at this event. What a joy to learn what God has been up to in the lives of these precious women! The 5+ hour drive is always well worth it because of the ladies I get to spend the day with! This year was especially fun for me as I brought along a sister in Christ from my home church and had the opportunity to stop on the way home to encourage a dear friend of ours! Fellowship is so sweet!
The Flourish Conference 2025
As we talk about Fall retreats, I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for this year’s Flourish Conference brochure which will be mailed early in November. You will want to pay close attention to the details of the conference this year, since there are a few significant changes in our event as we look forward to celebrating the 200th birthday of the CGGC at the 2025 Triennial. CGWM will have its Triennial meeting during the Flourish Conference. This means it is time to prepare for election of CGWM officers for 2025-2028. If you would like to nominate someone for a position on the CGWM National Leadership Team, first make sure that person is willing to serve, and then email their contact information to Kathy Foor at cgwmdirector@gmail.com before January 31, 2024. These candidates will be interviewed prior to being added to the ballot for a vote at Flourish 2025.
The Flourish Conference will be held at Grand Point Church in Chambersburg this year in celebration of the 2025 Triennial and John Winebrenner’s Pennsylvania roots. We welcome Georgina Verzal as the featured speaker for this year’s conference which will be held March 7-9, 2024.
About Georgina Verzal
Georgina Verzal is a captivating and transformative speaker whose powerful life story resonates with audiences across the globe. As an ordained minister, she shares her journey from deep personal pain to spiritual triumph, demonstrating the life-changing impact of unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. At 21, Georgina’s life was shattered by the tragic death of her brother, leading to a decade marked by emotional, physical, and spiritual turmoil. She endured multiple failed marriages, single parenting, miscarriage, bankruptcy, eating disorders, and abusive relationships. Yet, at her lowest point, Georgina made a life-altering decision to recommit her life to Christ. This decision ignited a profound spiritual renewal, transforming her life and fueling her passion for helping others find healing and purpose through faith. Today, Georgina stands as a testament to resilience, redemption, and hope. As a sought-after speaker, she inspires audiences worldwide with her compelling testimony, encouraging people to overcome adversity and embrace God’s redemptive power. Her influence spans across the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and Europe, where she speaks at conferences, retreats, church events, and evangelistic outreaches.
Complimentary Registration
We are also excited to announce that as part of a grant from the CGGC, we will be offering complimentary registration to this year’s conference for pastor’s wives and/or female pastors of the CGGC. These will be given on a first come first served basis up to the amount of the grant, so we advise registering early. Pastor’s wives/female pastors should fill out a paper registration form, being certain to indicate your request for complimentary registration, and mail to Nancy Scott as instructed on the registration form. Registration forms will also be available to download and print from our website. https://www.cggcwomen.org/
Whether you never miss a Flourish Conference or have never had the opportunity to attend, we are certain that you will not want to miss out on this opportunity to discover the tools needed to live a victorious Christian life as we advance His Kingdom on this earth! See you there!
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