Third Annual Metro-East Women’s

Conference Set for October 5-6

By Jim Day

For the third year, Christian women of all ages and affiliations will gather from Southern and Central Illinois and Missouri for the annual Regional Women’s Conference.  The event is being hosted and sponsored by the Women’s Ministry of Glad Tidings Church in Swansea-Fairview Heights Illinois and will be held in the beautiful New Horizon Life Center next to the church at 4180 Smelting Works Rd. in Swansea, IL.

The conference will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 5th, and begin again with a fellowship breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 6th. Tickets for the conference are $15, which includes breakfast. Those interested in attending should register by calling Beanie Keck at (618) 277-6325 or Paula Goessman at (618) 588-4286.

With the theme of this year’s conference being “A Servant’s Heart,” the vision is to see area Christian women be refreshed and restored to be used by the Lord. The Metro-East, named as the “Golden Corridor” by commercial developers, is one of the fastest growing areas of the United States.  Subsequently, there are also growing opportunities for God’s people to put their faith into action in creative and effective ways. The hope behind this conference is for this region to see the church become ‘THE CHURCH’ – able to walk in love and service because of changed hearts. The region is growing rapidly and the opportunities to serve God are here NOW. Getting to know other ‘ordinary’ Christians from the area who are making a difference in their churches and communities is a refreshing result of this type of conference.

Each year a speaker is selected who is actively working in local and regional ministry with the objectives of encouraging area Christian women, promoting fellowship with others, and putting forth a vision to serve others. The result of this approach has been that the conference attracts women cross-denominationally and cross-culturally which truly represents the Christian community in our region.

This year’s featured speaker will be Shameca Black who is a highly motivated ‘hidden gem of the Metro-East area’.  As a member of the pastoral team at Urban Outreach Worship Center, her ministry there includes street ministry, evangelism, discipleship training, workshops, seminars, group fellowships and women’s ministry. Her hope for the future is to see rehabilitation for hurting women, a youth center, and a Christian based crisis pregnancy center for the City of East St. Louis. Her true passion is winning souls and her motto in life is, “As long as Jesus is alive, there is hope.” Along with Shameca, worship during the conference will include a regional praise team and solos by Sheri Owens and Mary Thurman.

Again, the conference will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 5th, and reconvene with a fellowship breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 6th. Tickets for the conference are $15, which includes breakfast. Those interested in attending should register by calling Beanie Keck at (618) 277-6325 or Paula Goessman at (618) 588-4286.