National Conferences
Day Conference 2010
The next annual conference will be held on 20th November 2010.
Speaker: Julia Jones. More details to follow ...
Regional Events
Northern Area GBWA Conference 2010
Encounters with the King
Speaker: Mrs Jane McNabb
Radcliffe Road Baptist Church, Bury
20th March 2010 at 11.00 am
Details from GBWA's Northern secretary
East Anglia Area Rallies 2010
Annual Evening Rally at Horham Baptist Church
Monday 10th May 2010 at 7.30 pm
Speaker: Margaret Cooke
61st Annual Rally at Whitton Baptist Church, Ipswich
Thursday 9th September at 2.30 pm
Speaker: Christine Hart
Further details from GBWA's East Anglia secretary
South East Day Conference 2010
More Precious than Gold
Lessons from 1 Peter
Speaker: Ruth Williams
Bethersden Chapel on 15th May
Details from GBWA Administrator
Past Conferences
South East Seminar - February 2010
The seminar took place at Borough Green chapel on the 6th February. Over 100 women from seventeen local churches attended.
There were two sessions.The first session was entitled 'What the Bible teaches about the church and women's role in it.' The speaker, Andrea Trevenna, took us to Genesis and reminded us of the Biblical pattern we see recorded there. She pointed out that men and women were created equal but different. This pattern of equal but different is ultimately seen within the Trinity itself. God the Father is the the loving initiator while God the Son responds and submits to His Father's will.
We looked at some New Testament passages and saw how this pattern of equal but different was to be worked out in the life of the church.
The second session was entitled, 'How to make the most of Women's Ministry in the Church.' Andrea reminded us of the sort of things women can do in the church:
- Teach and train other women
- Teach children
- Contend for the cause of the Gospel
- Be involved in church service
- Model right patterns of leadership and submission
- Use our gifts in the service of others
We were also reminded that women's ministry is not just about meetings - but primarily about people and relationships. We should be helping one another to grow in godliness.
We were given a number of very practical suggestions as to how we should pray for each other and encourage one another to grow in godliness.
Andrea concluded the seminar by enouraging us to make the most of the opportunities we have to reach out with the Gospel. She reminded us of the importance of genuine friendship and love in all our dealings with others and how it can be a powerful witness to the world around.
A recording of the seminar will be available soon ....
National Weekend Conference 2009
Over 140 women gathered at Highleigh Christian Conference Centre in Hertfordshire for a weekend of excellent Bible teaching as well as good friendship, fellowship and food!
Ann Benton directed out thoughts to Psalm 27 on the Friday evening, and encouraged us to ‘recentre our lives on the Lord’ during the weekend.
Jane McNabb was the main speaker, and brought us valuable lessons from the lives of Michal, Abigail and Bathsheba on the Saturday and Sunday.
Lessons from Michal
We learnt about the nature of true worship from Michal’s life and marriage to David. We were challenged to think about what we are most passionate about, and what place in our hearts God really has.
Lessons from Abigail
Abigail held onto God’s promises despite her circumstances, and this enabled her to step forward in faith, rather than to hold back in fear at a time of domestic and personal danger. Abigail was able to ‘worship from the heart despite the ache in her heart’.
Lessons from Bathsheba
The final session about Bathsheba and David brought us face to face with the potential within all of us for sexual sin. We were helpfully reminded of a number of ways we can protect ourselves and others from falling into sin. We were also reminded of God’s ‘outrageous grace in the face of our spectacular sin’.
The seminars held on the Saturday included sessions on Submission run by Ann Benton, Through the Roof and Me run by Philippa Woodcraft, a singing seminar run by Wendy Fearnley and a seminar sharing thoughts and responses to Lydia Brownback‘s book Legacy of Faith run by Vicki Gardner.
We are very thankful to God for the conference and the blessings we received during the weekend.
Report by Vicki (Bethersden)
South-East Conference 2009
Over 150 women gathered at Union Chapel, in Bethersden, Kent on Saturday 15 May for the 5th annual Grace Baptist Women’s Association South East Women’s Day Conference.
Jane McNabb was the speaker, and her subject was ‘Daylight At Midnight’, lessons from Esther.
Session 1
Setting the scene Jane helpfully laid out the historical and political context to Esther’s life and experiences. Jane highlighted how faithfully Esther’s uncle, Mordecai had brought her up. Esther was able to respond to the frightening and alien world she had to enter at the command of King Xerxes with godliness, courage and flexibility.
Session 2
Rumours become reality Jane demonstrated how, although God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther, he was nevertheless very present and fulfilling his purposes through Esther and Mordecai. What an encouragement to know that no one and nothing can thwart God’s purposes! We were also challenged to be as brave and bold as Esther, and to ensure we speak out for God whenever we can.
Session 3
For such a time as this The final session reminded us how important prayer is for the Christian. God did so much more than Esther or Mordecai could have dreamt of, and he is the same God today, who loves to answer the prayers of his people, often in unexpected ways! The darkest time of the night is just before the dawn. God’s people need to cling to the promises of God always, but especially in times of darkness when it is not clear what God is doing.
Report by Vicki (Bethersden)
National Day Conference 2008
If you were to pick a book in the Bible to use to encourage and teach women, Jeremiah wouldn't perhaps be the first to spring to mind. However, at the Grace Baptist Women's Association's day conference, held at Tonbridge Baptist Church on November 22, Dotha Blackwood both encouraged and challenged all present [over 200 ladies of all ages].
Looking at chapter 1 and Jeremiah's call, those present were asked to consider what personal response is given to God when his call is heard. One frequent response is to fight with God, but when we fight with God and win, we lose! We were challenged to obey the call of God, knowing that God is with us.
From chapter 20, we saw that the very presence of the chapter shows that we can be honest with God in our prayers. If God already knows what's in our hearts, then why hide it from him? Trusting God is the key, even when we don't like the way he leads us. The cost of a call can be great; Jeremiah was torn apart inwardly, but called to be 'hard' on the outside.
Finally, our confidence, from chapter 32, is to be entirely placed in our great God, who is able to deliver us, even though he may not bring about our deliverance from our present trials, whatever they may be. When tests come our way, will we still obey God, will we still put our confidence in God? These difficult questions were posed, and the response has to be YES!
Four seminars were ably led by Fiona Spear, Sarah Clay, Gemma Nash and Telda Peskett. Telda brought a biblical and refreshing approach to beauty, calling women of God to be beautiful inwardly and outwardly! God created beauty, therefore it's dishonouring to God to make what is beautiful ugly. Our value, however, doesn't come from our appearance, but from the fact that God loves us, which is in total contrast to the values the world has with regard to physical beauty.
A marvellous day with something valuable to reflect on for all the women of all ages who attended.
This report by Ruth Woodcraft was first printed in Evangelicals Now and is reprinted with permission.
Dotha Blackwood, who was born in Jamaica, has been a believer for 16 years and now teaches at Moorlands Bible College.
Tapes or CDs of Dotha's talks can be obtained from Grace Baptist Mission in Abingdon - email helen@gbm.org.uk.
