Unfading Beauty – 2018 Phoenix Women’s Day
Arianda Martinez, just as she comes up from the watery grave! (Romans 6:1-4)
“Unfading Beauty” was this year’s theme for our 2018 annual Women’s Day event last Saturday. Sandy, Nadari and Sydney performed a powerful opening song, “This Is Me” to kick off the afternoon soiree! Lizzie was the first to share her testimony about “Unfading Faith.” She shared how God erased the “ugly” confusion about Him and salvation. She explained that God replaced this confusion with conviction in living out proper doctrine as a true disciple. Manuela represented the campus ministry in sharing about “Unfading Hope.” She shared how pride no longer had mastery over her as she learned to trust God’s control and plan for her life. Our very own Chandler house church leader, Kinji, shared about her journey out of selfish ambition into pursuing “Unfading Love” from God!
Therese Untanlan – Movement Shepherdess from our sister church in Los Angeles, and Amy Ciaramella, women’s ministry leader of the Phoenix Church.
Our dear sisters performing a moving dance for the women at the “Unfading Beauty” event!
Sydney Brown (piano), Sandy Lunde (center), and Nadari Hockenhull (right) singing powerfully during the special performance at women’s day!
Our featured speaker of the day was our incredible movement shepherdess from the City of Angels sister church, Therese Untalan! She poured out her heart reminding us to value what God cherishes, not the so-called “beauty” the world perceives. Therese shared a sad and recent statistic of how only 2% of American women believe they are beautiful. This is because women are inundated with commercials, magazine covers, diet fads, and ideals that are nearly impossible. Therefore—we too easily become women that are discontent with ourselves.
God Blessed The Women’s Ministry
Amanda Cotton being born again of the water and the Spirit! (Acts 2:38, John 3:3-7)
God blessed the 43 disciples of the Phoenix church with a total of 100 women attending “Unfading Beauty!” Nubian alone had 9 of her personal friends with her! One of Seannah’s professors from ASU also came and immensely enjoyed the event. Michelle Brown (our MERCYworldwide director) had two mature friends visit! One of Michelle’s friends is a program manager for our MERCYworldwide services location, Tumbleweed! Both of Michelle’s friends are doing bible studies with the sisters! Women from all walks of life were able to hear God’s message from his Word and testimonies of His impact!
Our dear sister Barbara (Myra’s mother) sharing her heartfelt testimony just before she is baptized for the forgiveness of her sins. (Acts 2:38)
I love how women at this event are able to connect intimately with the vulnerable speakers because they share about pains and sins of their past. I anticipate the good news about God bringing transformation and refreshment from this powerful event! Ultimately, we will see women’s souls saved! This is true “Unfading Beauty” that can only come about through the majesty of God!
– Amy Ciaramella, Women’s Ministry Leader, Phoenix
Be Strong And Courageous – 2018 Pacific Rim Conference
Good News From This Year’s Pacific Rim Conference In Manila: “Be Strong And Courageous!”
Kip and Elena McKean, the leaders of the SoldOut Movement, share good news about what God is doing all over the world!
“Strong and Courageous” opened with AMAZING performances by the disciples in Manila!
During the flag ceremony, flags are presented to represent every nation where the Soldout Movement has a congregation of disciples!
Our dear sister, Elizabeth McDonnell (The women’s ministry leader for the Metro-Manila International Christian Church), delivers a powerful address to the sisters!
I was very grateful to have the opportunity to attend the Pacific Rim Tribe World Sector Missions Conference this year. I had never been to the Philippines although I was somewhat familiar with the culture and food since a number of my staff were Filipino. When I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by the staff who were respectful, friendly, and very accommodating.
The first day of the conference I was met with the warmth of the disciples whom I have come to love deeply! Elizabeth and Richie looked fantastic and were excited! This was the first conference that they had hosted, although I would not have known that because all aspects of the conference were executed with excellence!
The first night Kip and Elena shared the good news from around the world. There was a special presentation introducing the flags of the countries of the Pac Rim Tribe. It was exciting seeing the flags from so many countries being waved down the aisle and across the stage!
I want to share my thoughts and some of my notes from the conference with you.
Strong And Courageous – The Book of Joshua
The conference title was “Strong and Courageous” and was based from the book of Joshua. Joshua begins after Moses’ death and 40 years of wandering in the desert. God has chosen Joshua to lead his people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land God is about to give to them. God said, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In the first chapter of Joshua, God tells his people to be strong and courageous five times and says, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Throughout the conference, speakers gave very impactful points on being strong and courageous in various situations. There are three speakers whose messages I would like to share.
Strong And Courageous Marriages, Prayers, and Discipleship
John and Emma Causey stated that to have a courageous marriage, you have to have an example of a godly marriage because an example is better than talk! In your marriage, Jesus has to be Lord. Remember that you are one in flesh. Let no man separate you! Gentlemen, Love your wife as you love your own body. Ladies, know that a husband can train you how to love him. Teach other women by example. Fear God! If you are single, don’t worry about marriage, have a personal relationship with God first! Always trust your husband. What defines your marriage? The courage to continue!!
Joel Parlour gave a stirring sermonette on Courageous Prayer. He reminded us that God doesn’t listen to unrepentant sinners (John 9:30, Isaiah 1:15, Proverbs 15:29 and James 5:16).
Tim Kernan’s topic was to “Be Strong and Courageous.” In brief, he said that Faithlessness and selfish ambition can hold us, and others back. When you disciple people or when you are raising someone up, do you teach them everything you know, having the desire for them to be better and stronger than you are, or do you think out of fear and ensure others are never able to take your position? People follow the example they’re given. If you talk and never do, others will imitate you and what result will that bring?
Strong And Courageous Impact – MERCYworldwide
On Saturday I was able to participate in the MERCY medical and dental clinic. Ronnie Gonzalez, Director of MERCY Worldwide – Manila, has a great heart for those who are less fortunate. He had a thought that he turned into a reality with the help of his team. That thought was to have children whose families could not afford medical or dental care, receive care at no cost.
The participants in the year’s Pacific Rim conference all gather in the courtyard for the MERCYworldwide event!
The MERCYworldwide ambassadors worked tirelessly to get the children organized and ensure their medical/dental needs were met!
MERCYworldwide ambassadors carefully take stock of the medial/dental supplies for the day!
An child waits for medical care at the Strong And Courageous “MERCYworldwide” event!
A child receives free dental care at the MERCYworldwide portion of the “Strong and Courageous” conference!
On Saturday April 7, 2018, the second medical and dental clinic was held at a local school!! I was so grateful to be a part of this event and use my administrative skills! We had approximately 4 medical doctors, 4 dentists, a pharmacist and 2 Nurses volunteering their day to serve the children.
There were approximately 150 to 200 children needing to be served. The numbers of those needing to be served is always much higher than the number of medical/dental volunteers wherever you go in the world. The children were so well behaved and despite seeing the large needle coming towards their mouths, I didn’t hear one complaint or hear any yelling! Although, we did have one runner!
Strong And Courageous Service
The most common medical problem was Upper respiratory track infections, a few were anemic, one case of scabies, and one case of mumps. Many of the children served in the dental clinic needed extractions. There were approximately 15 children who received care in total. When you have a volunteer team in a non-traditional environment and so many children needing to be served, you do the best that you can and plan ahead for the next year. Planning includes various areas, such as increasing the number of medical, dental, and nursing volunteers, improving infection control issues, organization of patient flow, documentation of the process and procedures, etc. In any MERCY program anywhere in the world, we always review what went well, what can be improved with the plan to improve all aspects of service in hopes of being a model for the rest of the city or country.
A child is served by the MERCYworldwide medical professionals that volunteers for this year’s MERCY event!
In summary of the conference: If you have faith, if you believe in God and follow His words, He will be with you when you share your faith, work hard, fight for your marriage, remain pure, are obedient to him, fight for your convictions, teach and preach his word, love one another and go to other lands with strength and courage!
I was very encouraged throughout my stay in the Philippines and look forward to returning there soon!
– Michelle Brown, MERCYworldwide Director, Phoenix.
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