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Facing the Future with Faith

By November 1, 2016No Comments

advance1_inlineJOHNSON CITY, N.Y.—Ladies in New York State had a wonderful time learning, praying, laughing, and fellowshipping at the Annual Ladies’ Advance, an event of the Northeast Fellowship. First Baptist Church hosted the conference.

Three women spoke on the theme “Facing the Uncertain Future with Faith. Their goal was to “lift [women’s] eyes to a sovereign God Who is in control of every situation.”

Debbie Scott, a pastor’s wife, “poured her heart out with love and humor concerning how to impact our hurting world with faith,” reports Jeannie Vogel, an award-winning Regular Baptist Press author whose husband, Jim, is executive director of the Northeast Fellowship.

Through the story of Rahab, Scott told of a faith that’s heroic. “I love how God uses everyday people and everyday circumstances to impact eternity,” Scott says. “I love that God remembers Rahab because of her faith, not her past! Yet, He loves us enough to share where Rahab came from to give us hope that He can even use us in the grand scheme of things!”

September McCarthy, founder and visionary behind Raising Generations Today, “challenged us all to be grace givers and widen our sphere of influence by leaving a faith-filled imprint on those whose lives we touch,” Vogel says. McCarthy fueled everyone “to follow well, lead well, and to leave a powerful faith imprint wherever we go.”

Vogel herself also spoke. She “reminded women that each problem, catastrophic event, or disappointment is not only an opportunity to have faith, but also a barometer of our faith in a sovereign God. We increase that faith each time we act in faith based on the character and promises of God revealed in His Word.

advance5_inline“These lessons have real life application for me,” Jeannie added, as at the time of the conference in late September when she was facing the illness of her mother, Mary Sue Harris, who would go Home to be with the Lord Oct. 1. “As I sit in the early hours of the morning watching my mom struggle for every breath,” she shared on Sept. 26, “I can declare anew faith in a sovereign God and know He is good and I can trust His plan. I know that even now our family can imprint those around us, be grace givers during our pain, and impact others who are hurting and don’t know our Savior by showing love and speaking truth.”

In addition to hearing from the three speakers, ladies chose three of nine workshops to attend, browsed displays of handmade craft items for sale, and had fun visiting a photo booth. The ladies also had the opportunity to give to an offering project that will benefit women in Rwanda. Donated funds will purchase Kinywanda Bibles, goats or treadle sewing machines (allowing widows and pastors’ wives to obtain a regular income), or tuition to attend Bible school classes.