FL Women's Retreat

2009 Church of God
Women's Retreat
FFA Leardership Training Center, Haines City FL
March 13-15, 2009

Theme: "Once Upon a Time" The Greatest Story Ever Told - "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" Hebrews 12:2

I shared about my missions assignment and the expanding ministry in West Africa on Saturday morning, March 15 and had a display up the entire weekend. Several ladies told me they would contact me to come speak at their church.

It was an uplifting weekend with guest speaker Ginger Kolbaba, editor of "Today's Christian Woman" and "Marriage Partnership online."

Orlando / Bithlo FL

Church: New Covenant Church of God of Central FL
Pastor: Rev. Charles Baxter
Date: March 8, 2009

For this presentation I was asked to include children of West Africa, so I added additional children's photos from my 2007 trip. I concluded my part with leading the congregation in singing "Let Us Pray for All the Children" (tune: "Jesus Loves the Little Children"). That led to a calling the children to the front and the the singing of "I Am a Promise." Teens stood where they were, congregation lifted our hands toward both groups for a prayer "Blessing of Children". What a beautiful act of worship and affirmation!

I thank God for this church's outreach to community via "Harvest of Hope" food distribution and for annual missions trips by several members to Jamaica.

Pastor Baxter announced that I would be included in their missions giving. PTL! In pic above, I'm giving a Cote d'Ivoire flag to folks as a prayer reminder. (Flags & all stands finally arrived.)

Zehyrhills, FL

Church: Community Chapel Church of God
Pastor: Rev. Keith Reiley
Date: February 22, 2009.


I was impressed with the youth sitting on the front row during morning worship. (When I was a teenager, we usually sat on the back rows.) Some of the youth were fascinated with my display props: wooden Africa shaped plaque, miniature drum, and straw broom.

I praise God for the witness in the community that Community Chapel Church is as they permit use of their facilities to meet human needs via several social service programs and as they support a recovery program. Bless you for "Blooming where you are planted!"

In Acts 1:8 we read: “...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“ Jerusalem in this verse is the equivalent of our community - where God wants each of us to start being witnesses to His love.