There are experiences in life we just want to savor forever; such was the weekend of November 7th-November 9th.  Actually, the experience began months before.  After helping my friend Susan call and promote the Beth Moore event to area churches, we and several women from our church (Edgewater Alliance) attended the LPL rally in April put on by LifeWay.

The rally was held at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach.  Betsy Langmade from LifeWay was there to lead the event.  She heads up event planning for LifeWay (hope I have your job description correct Betsy!), a very beautiful and godly woman.  The entire room was filled that day with women excited about what God would do in Daytona Beach. We were thrilled to welcome Beth Moore to the Ocean Center in November.  Many of us have felt like a part of her family for years; we’ve done her Bible studies, attended live events and simulcasts, and follow her on Twitter.  We know she loves her husband Keith, her daughters, grandkids, and most of all Jesus.  She teaches God’s truth, the same truth that brought her up from the pit.  I read her book “Get Out of that Pit” at a time I felt I was in it.  I can’t tell you what those words meant to me during a time in my life when I realized I was not in control of my circumstances (thanks for your prayers too mom!).  Then dark turned to light as He worked all things together for my good.

So back to the rally.  It was a fun event and designed to bless us and pump us up to tell others about the Living Proof Live event, as well as the YOULead leadership conference for Women’s Ministry leaders.  Our Women’s Ministry Director (who happens to be my friend Lisa), and I decided we would attend YOULead. Then a most amazing and unexpected opportunity was presented at the rally.  We were given cards listing volunteer positions available at the LPL event.  One of these opportunities was to sign-up to be an “Encourager” which I had to read over twice to be sure I was reading it correctly.  It was amazing to me that I could sign-up to be down on the floor, able to pray with women who would come forward when Beth gave the altar call.  Say what?  I was all over that!  I signed up.

Several weeks prior to the event, I received two major blessings of which I must give God the glory.  Months before the event, Susan encouraged me to enter my information as a Ministry Assistant since LifeWay would be giving away free tickets to some of us who serve in that role.  We both entered our info, and we both received a free ticket to the Beth Moore LPL event.  Woot!! And not only that, but we would be sitting in a special section close to the stage, especially reserved for Ministry Assistants.  Thank you Tammy Slayton, LifeWay Event Project Coordinator, what a major blessing!  Great seats 🙂 It was wonderful sitting with you and spending time with you Susan Parry!

A short time later, I received the confirmation email that I would be serving as an Encourager.  I was so ready for this event to happen!  I must say awesome job to Dana Baggett who I’m sure was blessed to hear two words: SOLD OUT.  She rallied her teams to achieve the goal of filling every seat with women hungry for God.  Mission Accomplished.  One step closer to the Great Commission accomplished.

On November 7th, Lisa and I attended the educational YOULead conference, Day 1.  We registered, then had a delicious shrimp and pear salad at Bubba Gumps prior to returning for the first general session at 1pm.  Here is a pic of our lunch (and me. I wish Lisa was in it!):

Day 1 of YOULead was wonderful.  After the general session including worship, we attended break-out sessions learning about personalities and ways each type could best be utilized in ministry. That was “Embracing the Real You…Empowering Others” led by Sheila West; she’s great!  I’m a Retriever-Otter by the way.  There were many break-out sessions to choose from; the other I chose on Day 1 was “Ministering to Women in Crisis” led by Rachel Lovingood. I loved her and she was good!  Very funny; she reminded me of my current supervisor Cheryl, our Church Administrator, love her too!

Day 2 began early.  Worship & devotional with Kaye Hurta (awesome) and again we were off to another session. A favorite was a study of “Generations…The Unbroken Chain: Ministry Through the Ages” very interesting. Thank you Chris Adams!  I can see why you are a leader equipping leaders.

The conference ended around 2pm. (Again, a big THANK YOU to Chris Adams and her wonderful teaching team who blessed us big-time).

After conference #1 ended, Lisa and I sat and chatted with some friends from Church at the Beach. So great spending time with all of them, as they painted their nails “Lincoln Park After Dark.”  Had a blast spending time with you Lisa Engel!

Then I was off to check-in at a hotel around 3:15pm, since conference #2,  LPL, was to begin that Friday evening.  It would end late, then resume early on Saturday morning so staying in the area was a smart move.  Friday afternoon at 4:15pm, I was back at the Ocean Center in the Encourager training session.  The very sweet trainer (I believe her name was Susan), “encouraged” the “Encouragers” as she laid out the expectations for the role.  Doors opened at 5:30pm, and the excitement continued into the night with Travis Cottrell and his worship team, and an anointed teaching from Beth Moore.

Back to the hotel Friday night to stay with friend Betty.   We had a lovely chat, mostly about our beautiful grandchildren.  Then bed, sleep, up at 6:00am to be back at the Ocean Center by 6:55am.  Our role as Encourager also included greeting women warmly and helping them find their church’s reserved seating.

As the morning went on, the time drew near for the main role of the Encouragers.  Beth called women forward to accept Christ, recommit their lives to Christ, and any who were in need of prayer.
Praying with those women meant more than I could even describe in words.  Since I sat in the Ministry Assistants seating area (and not the area designated for Encouragers), I was on the side of the stage where the stairs were situated.  So while going to that end of the stage in the middle of the arena, I was smack dab in the center of where the women came to pray with Beth.  The prayer time was awesome, and I was in the midst of it all with Jesus and Beth Moore (she would want me to note that I am not in any way putting them on the same level.  Jesus is Jesus and He is the One and Only). 

I forgot to mention CHRISTINE CAINE was in attendance.  Love her!  I read her book “Undaunted” and it was an amazing read, very inspiring.  I must say, another highlight for me was when I walked up to her and told her how I loved her book, and how amazing it is, what God is doing through the A21 Campaign.  I’m sure she thought me crazy, but I seemed to have been a little braver wearing that pink LifeWay Women apron.  I also follow Proverbs 31 and there was a call to prayer for the A21 Campaign.  So many captives being freed from bondage, praise God!

Speaking of prayer, all those prayers at the conference:  Beth praying over us; Angela Cottrell’s praying over mothers still raising children; Christine Caine’s praying over women 25 and under, the next generation being raised up to serve a Might God; Holy Spirit Powerful prayers.  Then the precious chaplain who came down from the stands to pray; a man to pray over the women, many of which have been battling with issues regarding relationships with men and who have suffered abuse by men.  Very powerful, very compassionate, very heartfelt, very anointed. 

27 Bones; we learned that the hand of God clothed in flesh on the person of Jesus Christ has 27 bones, we have 27 bones in each hand too.  No more “high 5’s”, it’s now known as “high 27’s”!  So many gifts from that hand of Jesus.  Ten major points made (almost left with only nine till the crowd began chanting “ten, ten, ten,…”).  I’m sure LifeWay will turn the teaching into a Bible study like they did with Sacred Secrets.  If they don’t, they should. I’d buy it.

Sorry to ramble, and I realize that this post is different than some of my others.  I want to give Glory to God for all He had done that weekend; I want to thank Him for allowing me to be used by Him to minister to hurting women.  I want to thank Him for allowing me to humbly serve sisters-in-Christ and serve beside sisters-in-Christ.  AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!

I wanted to record this experience on my blog, well,  because I can.  I wanted to record it so when I do the next revised edition of blog2print, I’ll have this record, along with the pics in book form.  Yes, so mainly it’s for me and my Lord, but thanks for taking a moment to read it.  I’m not sure I’ll even proof this one, which is a major stretch for me!  Not sure anyone is out there reading it anyway besides the eight lovleys who follow me.  This will auto-feed to FaithVillage as well, so shout out to anyone who might see it there!  

Here are some pics for the record.  The first one is of Dana Baggett (in orange) and her team with Beth:

That’s me on the left, Jenny Kenerly(Pastor’s wife Church at the Beach) center, and Christine Baird 🙂

 This beautiful gal is Betsy from LifeWay.  What a lovely person and she did an amazing job!!

The Ocean Center will never be the same, and neither will the women who attended Beth Moore Living Proof Live.  So many lives changed forever during this very divine appointment.  To God Be The Glory 🙂  May you know Him, love Him, serve Him, share Him with the world, Jesus the One and Only.

You make all things work together for my good…..  Thank you Lord.