...there was a thought...

In the Beginning.....(Nathalie told us about)....there was just a thought.....

I still remember the moment...the AHA! moment.

 There we were at the Women of Faith Conference, seated on the floor near the stage with the speakers and singers and special guests.  We watched up close.  We watched their comings and goings. They were beautiful and extremely talented.  They had written books and recorded songs, but they were still just women.  Just like us.  Kathy Trocolli's feet hurt, Nicole C. Mullen had sewn her own clothes, Nicole Johnson appeared to be 8 3/4 months pregnant, Chonda Pierce was still raw from a breakdown, and Sandy Patti looked tired.  God used them all mightily, because they were willing servants.

As we sat taking it all in, I remember thinking and saying and discussing all weekend, "We can do this.  WE can DO this! We have everything they have." And we did.  And we do.  And not just us who were together for that event, but all of us on this team.  We have it all - speakers, and singers, and comedians, and dancers, and servants, and moms, and wives, and ....women whose hearts are HIS.

Having years and years of various retreat and conference ministry experience doesn't particularly make us good, but it does make us experienced.  We've seen the need for women to get away, to be together, and to be with God.  We've seen what a difference it makes.  And we love the whole retreat concept.

So that seed that was planted in some hearts that weekend in 2007, has been watered, and sprouted, and grown, and weeded, and pruned, and now it's matured and is ready to bear fruit.

Girlfriends ~ get ready for the harvest!

In The Beginning...

It was Spring of 2007. 

 I was teaching at ECHO Academy of Worship Arts 

at Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene. 

An invitation was extended to us: the signers at Beltway, 

my dance group (the Doorkeepers of His Glory) 

and anyone else that was interested in learning to sign

as part of the Concert of Praise at the 

Women of Faith National Convention. 

I invited some of my Godly Girlfriends and the practice began.

Julie, Lovida, Renee, Melissa, Jeran, Davina, and yours truly!

 

 We were going to San Antonio and we were part of the 

Women of Faith team. 

Me with Nicole C. Mullen after rehearsal.

We signed to "Redeemer"

And a few of us got to be on stage with Sandi Patty

signing while she sang "Majesty".

I cannot even begin to convey to you the excitement

and the honor to be included in such an event. 

 

It was not the first time for some of us to be part 

of WOF Concert of Praise. 

The first time was in 2004 with my dance team.

July, George Anne, Jo Ditt, Rachel, Shelby, Davina, Karen and me!

But, during this trip in '07 was when the seeds 

for the vision of Godly Girlfriends was planted...

...in conversation over dinner and...

...while shopping...

 ...and doing what girlfriends do!

Probably, in all reality the roots for this ministry go back 

a whole lot further than either of these two events.

Stay tuned and see what emerges!