Empowered to Serve in Changing Times
More than 1,600 women from several different states, Bahamas, Canada, and a representative from Kenya, Africa, gathered in San Francisco during the weekend of October 16-18, 2009, for Renewal ’09 sponsored by the International Women’s Ministries Department.
Rather than leaving their hearts in San Francisco, they brought their hearts to be refreshed and empowered by the Holy Spirit for greater service. What a witness to a city that has more than seven million people, the 12th most populous city in the United States. The conference reflected one of the cultural characteristics of San Francisco in that an estimated 45 percent of the population was made up of non-Hispanic whites.
Delegates worship at Renewal 09
“We may live in changing times,” stated David Griffis, executive committee liaison to the Women’s Ministries Department, “but it’s a blessing to know that we serve a God who changes not!”
The regional presidents, Percy Morán from the Northwestern Hispanic region; Janice Darnell from California/Nevada region, and Yvette Santana from the Southwestern Hispanic region greeted the audience. Then Jan Timmerman, coordinator of the International Women’s Ministries welcomed everyone and introduced Dr. Raymond Culpepper and his wife, Peggy, international Women’s Ministries president. The other executive committee members’ wives―Paula Hill, Sandra Kay Williams, Judy Griffis, and Dorothy Sibley―also greeted the congregation.
The Friday evening service featured Joni Lamb and members of the Daystar Singers. Their dynamic music was power-filled and inspirational. During her message, Joni presented clips from a video of babies being aborted―including a partial-birth abortion and segments of interviews with individuals who had been delivered from homosexuality. During the videos, groans of tearful compassion could be heard throughout the audience. Joni asked her husband, Marcus Lamb, to conclude the service with an invitation to pray for those who needed special prayer.
Other featured speakers included Rosalind Thompkins Lynch from the National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland; and Anita Gutschick, a member of the National Speakers Association, Christians in Theatre Arts, and the Religious Conference Management Association, shared the dramatic messages of three biblical women and her own testimony.
Breakout sessions were led by Delta Schrade from the Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama, who ministered to pastors’ wives; Lori Lewis, Girls Ministries Assistant for the Women’s Ministries Department; Kathy Isaacs, Northern Ohio State President; Donna Higgins, Arkansas State President shared with the Girls Ministries coordinators and counselors.
The Saturday evening Hispanic service featured a Hispanic praise team and guest speaker Ana Ruth Díaz, senior pastor of the largest Church of God in Honduras. The service was translated in English via headphones for those who did not speak or understand Spanish. The Hour of Prayer, which followed the Hispanic service, was led by Pamela Brewer, Oklahoma State President and credentialed minister who is passionate about her assignment from God to raise up intercessors and strengthen “the cords of prayer.”
The Sunday morning speaker was Rae Casteel Orozco, an ordained minister of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Pastor Rae and her husband Obed serve as senior pastors of Grace to the Nations in Tucson, Arizona. Special music was presented by the Patten University Singers, directed by Sandi Hitte King.
The International Women’s Ministries Board―Percy Morán, chairperson, Laverne Ramsey, Annette Massey, Sonja Kemp, Mary Campbell, Lorna Gosnell and Pamela Brewer―would like to thank the speakers, the praise and worship singers led by Kathy Isaacs, the prayer force team led by Pamela Brewer, the greeters, and all the committees who worked so diligently to make the Renewal ’09 women’s conference a success.
The participants were eager to express their appreciation. Following the Friday evening service, Rhonda Brown from the Rocky Mountain Region commented: “Tonight was an impacting and dynamic night that will forever be embossed on my mind and filled with relevant information that I will definitely use in my ministry.”
As the conference concluded, Charlotte Music from Southern Ohio said, “What a privilege it is when God’s people come together; we always have such an exciting time. The energy that the women of the Church of God bring to a meeting is just amazing.”
Lorinda Roberts, a pastor’s wife from Beulah, North Dakota, had these comments: “The conference is exactly what I need at this time in my life. I’m so glad to be here. It’s good to be in warm weather. This is actually the town I was born in, and I’m here on my birthday.”
From San Jose, California, Tatiana Guadamuz said, “I love the diversity of all these women coming together to worship God. The information and the anointing that has been in this place truly blessed my life.”
Pat Miller from Orlando, Florida, said, “This has been a great conference and I do feel renewed in my spirit to go back and be a better servant leader for the Lord.”
Rosalind Lynch from National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland, commented: “This has been more than I expected. It has been powerful! The presence of the Lord has filled this place. From the time we walked in, we knew that the Lord was here. May God continue to bless the leaders of this conference and give them the vision and empowerment to do the things that they need to do for the women of this denomination all across the world.”
The desire of Jan Timmerman’s heart, which she expressed in the opening service, was: “I pray that you will not leave here like you came.” And no one did!
For more information about Women’s Ministries or to order DVD’s of the services, please visit the Web site: www.womensministries.cc.
By Wanda Griffith, Cleveland, Tennessee
