 |
It
was a time of getting to know each other, loving, caring, learning,
sharing, praying and worshipping – a special time of just being
together as a community of God‘s people, and being so blessed because
we were in His presence. There was a real sense of family and unity
over the weekend and it would be right to say that God was at work in
the lives of everyone who attended. |
|
|
|
The
main speakers were Rev. Dr. Karen Smith, Wales; Didi Oprenova,
Bulgaria; Anna Nemeshegyi-Horvath, Hungary; Jaap Dijkstra, the
Netherlands. Each brought their own personalities into the various
topics they dealt with, yet all worked well together and blended into
the theme. Our times of praise in music were led by Amy Oprenova and
Steffi Georgieva, both of Bulgaria.
|
|
|
|
Anna
Nemeshegyi-Horvath spoke about the Holy Spirit, the various words and
symbols used to describe Him, His role in the Old and New Testaments,
and His role today in the Church, His gifts and fruit.
|
|
|
|
Didi
firstly encouraged us to think about "Identity". Who am I? Created by a
loving, mighty God in His image, redeemed by a merciful, able God,
gifted with the presence of a faithful, caring God. Why am I?
Contentment is the result of us finding our identity – the virtue and
value of contentment, the key to contentment is God, Himself; the
daring of contentment in trusting God‘s providential care. Secondly
Didi spoke on Servanthood-Leadership from the life of Mary, the mother
of the Lord Jesus – God‘s calling; Mary‘s response; God gives guidance
in His Word, the Holy Spirit and circumstances; Mary follows in
sacrifice, obedience and confidence.
|
|
|
|
Karen
shared about Fellowship & Worship – we are called into a
relationship with God, to worship and fellowship; we respond. As the
Church, we share life together with Christ. We have communion with God
and with one another – all different with many gifts, but one in the
Spirit, abiding in the Vine, the Lord Jesus. Worship is the whole of
life with Christ at the centre of our worship, the Spirit calling us,
drawing us, called to give and receive, called not as consumers but as
a whole life offering, single-minded, companions on the way, willing
only one thing – God in everything.
|
|
|
|
Jaap
reminded us that we are called to Mission which involves our mind and
our heart – basic strategies for Christian Mission, love being the
factor which drives us forward. He covered four topics in our lives
which relate to us being involved in mission; science, God has the
whole world in His hands so we do not need to fear; social life, in a
busy world where people are often only looking out for themselves it
can be difficult to interact with and give time to others; religion,
where many believe that all roads lead to heaven – not so, only in
Christ can people have redemption from death, from judgement, from sin,
from slavery; the future, many are afraid, without hope. Christians
have a message of hope! Love is the over-riding force which drives us
forward.
|
|
|
|
We
were delighted to hear reports from most of the countries of how the
women are motivated in encouraging and training the younger women, and
of reaching out to children and teenagers, to trafficked people, to
Roma communities, to the poor, the elderly and the unwell, seeking to
share the love of Jesus and the good news of the gospel in the hope
that many will come to know Him as Lord and Saviour. The Committee also
shared memories of the Leadership Conference held in Hawaii earlier in
the year while Jaap showed the pictures taken there.
On Saturday afternoon we had the opportunity to see a little of
Budapest when we were taken into the town centre to visit two markets
and to see some of the sights. Even though time was short we were given
a flavour of this beautiful old city with its rich culture and history.
In the evening back at the hotel we experienced a wonderful Hungarian
evening of fashion, song, music and dance. It was very colourful,
entertaining, and enjoyable. |
|
|
|
On
Sunday morning Karen led us in our very moving and meaningful Communion
Service. Each woman was invited to take a scrap of cloth from the table
and place it on the floor making the shape of the cross (after the
service we were permitted to take "our‘ piece of cloth as a memento),
reminding us that Christ died for all. Some pieces of cloth were plain,
others patterned and intricate; some were ragged, others were straight
and neat; some were pastel coloured, others bright; some were flimsy,
others were strong: the Church is made up of all sorts of different
people but all have a place in God‘s plan and are of value to Him.
Karen‘s meditation came from Zechariah 4:6, "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty."
God‘s Spirit is creative and is at work comforting, guiding, healing,
pleading. Risks need to be taken to walk in step with Him. We know we
do not have the might, nor the power, nor the ability, to change
things, to forgive, to love etc. We cannot, but God can! God gives us
His Spirit and He gives us new ways of being. God is at work in us. We
are renewed by the Spirit as we give ourselves to Him. We celebrated
the Lord‘s Supper by serving one another, and again there was real
sense that the Lord was in our midst.
Following the Communion Service, the women stood under a large open
umbrella. Blessings from God‘s Word were read out and each woman was
invited to take a drop of blessing which hung on ribbons from the
spokes of the open umbrella. Again this was a precious, meaningful
moment.
Afterwards a short time was given for participants to respond to the
Conference if they wished. This was an emotional time for some as they
gave testimony of the Spirit‘s work in their lives over the few days we
had been together.
There is so much more which could be included in this report, but space
forbids it. Over the four days of the Conference we renewed friendships
and made new ones in the loving atmosphere of being in God‘s presence,
sitting at the Lord‘s feet, learning from Him. None of us went home the
same as we had come; all, I‘m sure were changed in some way having met
with the Lord. As we left we left "in Step with the Spirit". Praise His
wonderful name!
Margaret Brown
|
|
