Dear Sisters in Christ,
As I write this morning, there is snow on the ground, and it is a mere 13° outside! It feels like we went from summer to winter in a blink, and if it were not for the leaves changing color and falling off the trees, we might not have realized Fall had happened this year.
One of my favorite things about Fall is that I get to attend some Regional Fall Retreats. Last week at this time, I was on my way to Findlay, Ohio for the CGWM National Leadership team meeting, followed by the Align Retreat in Celina at the Mt. Tabor Church of God. Michele Giletto instructed us on how to align our hearts to the will of God and how essential this to surviving and thriving during life’s unexpected trials.
One thing was clear through both of these events: God is on the move! What a joy to see him working in so many wonderful ways as women gather in his name!
I also had the joy of sharing in the ERC Fall Retreat at Doubling Gap Center in Newville, PA. Wow! What God did there as Sue Duffield shared with us how to stay anchored in Christ was more than amazing!
Though I didn’t have the opportunity to attend the Taste & See Women’s Conference at the Mt. Pleasant Church of God in Dillsburg or the Women’s Gathering at Center Bethel Church of God, I am looking forward to hearing about how God used those events to draw women closer to himself and to one another. I was reminded about the great blessings of experiencing God together at these types of events. We can be so busy in our daily lives and ministries that it is difficult to connect with other women. We can feel isolated and alone, and therefore, easy prey as the enemy seeks to discourage us. God designed us to need one another, and when we gather to meet with him together, he is able to strengthen us and encourage us in powerful ways.
Connecting with other women, hearing their stories or sharing ours, can renew our faith in ways that cannot happen otherwise. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to other women and be encouraged by how God is working in their lives. This year, I was particularly blessed as a woman came by the CGWM table to learn more about what Women’s Ministries is and does and we discovered that we have a lot in common. We exchanged contact information, and I knew when she walked away that I had gained a new friend and sister in Christ. If you were someone who was encouraged or blessed by your time at one of these Fall events, we would love to hear about it! If you were not able to attend any Fall events, we hope you’ll have the opportunity to get away with us in March for our annual Flourish Conference. You’ll be hearing more about the Regional Fall events in the coming articles, so I know you’ll want to make sure you’re signed up to receive our email updates. To do that, simply head over to our website at www.womenforgod.org and join our mailing list.
Living Boldly for God,
Kathy Foor CGWM Director
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