The setting was lovely, and the atmosphere so welcoming, as hosts greeted us with a smile, and showed us through to foyer where coffee and tea were served, and Christian resource stands set up.
The morning began with a time of prayer, as a few us gathered beforehand to invite the presence of the Holy Spirit, and to ask that His purposes for each of the women taking part would be fulfilled.
And the conference began. Kalbi Massey, who had done an amazing job of arranging the day, greeted us, sharing the vision God had given her for Flourish. She spoke from Psalm 52:8, “but I am like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever,” and of the heart God had given her to see God’s daughters prosper and thrive in this way, and to flourish in what He has called each of us to.
A small gift had been laid on each of our seats in the church, including these lovely, red organza pouches holding inside a small white stone. A verse from Revelation 2:17 was included as well, saying “I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Sheila Fry then shared about how this promise speaks of a special intimacy with the Father, and also the way that in ancient times a white stone signified ‘acquittal,’ a reminder of how each of us has been ‘acquitted’ before God by receiving what Jesus did for us on the Cross, the gift of His salvation.
The worship was a very special and anointed part of the morning, led by Elizabeth Pitt and the worship team from Majesty Christian Centre in Uxbridge , as we were encouraged to focus our hearts on God.
Together with Kalbi, Tina Russell Mott, Sarah Griggs and I were then invited to share our stories, and to encourage the women there in the ways that we have grown in intimacy with God. Our experiences were very varied as Tina shared about her search for love and fulfilment through relationships with men, and how ultimately, it was a revelation of God and of His immeasurable love for her that fulfilled her and brought her into the ultimate relationship, with God Himself.
Sarah spoke about the grace of God in her life and the lives of her family. How she had experienced God in a real way as an adult after some painful experiences and family strains from her past. She shared about the way God had also touched her husband’s life; and the deep peace and joy they have found in Him.
I had a dramatic conversion experience at the age of twenty, where God revealed Himself to me at a time when I had been deeply involved in the occult. I spoke about this experience, and the power of God to free us, and restore the broken areas of our lives. I spoke about how I’ve found that intimacy with Him is maintained as we “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb.4:16) in times we are tempted to hide away, knowing that that He is “gracious and full of compassion” and “tender mercies” towards us (Psalm 145:8,9).
Kalbi has a powerful testimony of God’s grace in her life, coming from a devout Sikh upbringing in Malaysia. She spoke about how God touched her heart when the gospel was shared with her many years later when she was living in the UK. She spoke about the hunger she had always had for intimacy with God, and how this was realised as she received Jesus into her life. She also shared powerful examples of God healing her from pulmonary tuberculosis and infertility.
After the testimonies were shared and we came to the end of our worship and prayer, we were all invited to share lunch together in the dining area beside the church. Lesley Ball and a group of generous volunteers worked so hard to provide this gift of a meal for all of us, and it was wonderful! It also gave the women taking part a chance to meet, and talk, and to pray together afterwards.
It was this time at the end, talking with, and praying with some of the women there, that it became so clear to me that God had had such purpose for this conference. These ladies shared about how they would leave Flourish touched by God; encouraged in some way. That was our prayer for each of the women there. That each of us would leave having encountered more of God and strengthened in our pursuit of intimacy with Him.
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