Women of Faith Conferences Keep Messages of Hope Alive

May 21, 2004 01:25 AM EDT

Nothing can beat having hope in God is the message speakers at the “Women of Faith: Irrepressible Hope” conferences drawing thousands of women every weekend it’s scheduled. The theme was based on Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

One of the conference’s speakers, Shiela Walsh, shared her story at the May14-15 conference in Nashville, Tenn., and told the crowd how God rescued her from her struggle with clinical depression that lead her to stand at the edge of bridge, ready to jump. Since then, God has enabled her to bring the hope of Christ to others who also suffer from lonliness and heartache. "God doesn't just talk on Sundays," she said. "This is His world, and He is passionately involved."

Patsy Clairmont, Thelma Wells, Marilyn Meberg, Luci Swindoll, among others, also shared their testimonies to the 8,000 women gathered in the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Wells told about the miracle birth of her daughter who faced risk of death during her pregnancy. Her doctors told her that either she or the baby would die but she held onto God and believed He would see that they both survived. She was not disappointed. Her daughter from the pregnancy also performed an interpretive dance just before Wells spoke.

"Keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking because hope does not disappoint," Wells said, drawing from Matthew 7:7-8 and Romans 5:5.

The event also featured musical guests such as Natalie Grant and a five-person Women of Faith Worship Team.

May 21-22 will be the date for the ninth Women of Faith conference held in Charleston, S.C., of the total 28 scheduled cities. Nearly 2.5 million women have attended Women of Faith conferences during the past nine years.

Women of Faith is a ministry division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., a long-time established Bible publisher and distributor.

For more information on conference dates and locations, visit: www.womenoffaith.com.