“FEEL: Fully Experiencing and Engaging in God’s Love” will use biblical teachings from Isaiah to strengthen relationships among women and girls from diverse backgrounds

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 5/4/18)—American Baptist Women’s Ministries is collaborating with American Baptist Women in Ministry and American Baptist Home Mission Societies Intercultural Ministries to host a conference in July for women and girls in the Chicago metro area. The three organizations hope to attract women from culturally diverse backgrounds into a weekend of learning, dialogue, and strengthening relationships with one another. The FEEL Conference will use passages from Isaiah 11 to help women focus on “Fully Exploring and Engaging in God’s Love.”

About the Conference:
Through the FEEL Conference, AB Women’s Ministries hopes to inspire a deeper sense of community and support among women of faith across denominations, welcoming and affirming a tapestry of diversity of all types. The leaders of AB Women’s Ministries, AB Women in Ministry, and AB Home Mission Societies believe diversity plays a key role in the Christian community. Rev. Gina Jacobs-Strain, Executive Director of American Baptist Women’s Ministries, says, “It is our hope that as women of God we will connect through our common faith journeys and the generosity of the Holy Spirit.”
The conference will feature a series of conversation groups, workshops, interactive worship, and Bible study which will help women understand their unique calling and blessings in ministry.

Conference Guests:
Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque, the lead pastor of the Community Church of Barrington, will lead the Bible study and Sunday morning service. She was responsible for founding the Pastoral Counseling Center of Trinity Church in Boston, and has served in senior positions at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, Mills College, and the University of California. She has served on several influential boards of faith-based organizations and has been in her senior pastor role at Community Church of Barrington for over a decade.
Hornrette Washington, the senior musician and director of the Corona-East Elmhurst Clergy Association in Corona, New York, will lead worship music throughout the conference. She served as the Minister of Music for Antioch Baptist Church in Corona for 33 years, recently retiring in 2013. She also founded the interdenominational children’s choir “The Starlets of Corona,” has ministered with the International Christian Consultation on Prostitution, and has played with many gospel musicians throughout her career.

Young Women:
The FEEL Conference will include a special opportunity for younger women (between the ages of 18-39) to discuss relevant issues in their journey as Christians. Additionally, the Young Adult Women’s Ministry advisory team will lead a collection of donations for a local homeless shelter to facilitate deeper engagement in the surrounding community.

Concurrent Event for Girls:
As a parallel to the FEEL Conference, AB Women’s Ministries will also be hosting the National Gathering for Girls. This event focuses on the concept of “Transitions,” which allows girls between sixth grade and high school (including recent high school graduates) to explore topics relevant to their age group, such as friendship and graduation. The girls will take part in worship, praise, and Bible study together through the gathering.

Registration:
Women and girls can register for the FEEL Conference by visiting abwomensministries.org. Registrants are invited to stay at the newly renovated dormitory on the Judson campus or at one of several hotels adjacent to campus. Some of these hotels offer free shuttle services. Commuters are also welcome.

American Baptist Women’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry with a commitment to encourage and empower women and girls to serve God. For more information about American Baptist Women’s Ministries, visit www.abwministries.org.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.