In Memory of a Woman of Grace

We received word this morning Thena Graves, a faithful member of the Roberts Tabernacle church in Westmoreland, Tennessee went to Heaven.  She was a quiet, dedicated Child of God.

We often worshipped with her at women's events and her sweet smile was always a source of encouragement.  Her life modeled what a "Woman of Grace" is intended to be.

Our prayers are for the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen her family during this time.  Sister Thena now enjoys in reality what we all hope to attain!  Thank you, God, for a life well lived.

Special Ladies Meeting at Erin

October is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month".  Erin Church of God of Prophecy plans a special meeting with Guest Speaker, Lynn Woodson (Breast Cancer Survivor) sharing an amazing testimony on Monday, October 17th, from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Shlo Wyatt shares:  "If you are a mother, daughter, sister or aunt, please come for this very special evening!  This is a MUST ATTEND Ladies Meeting!"

If you live in the area, why not join them?

Heads up, Middle Tennessee!

We are pleased to announce "Tea, Me, & Thee" will come to Manchester Church of God of Prophecy on Saturday, October 29th from 10:00 - 12:00 noon.  This event is for pastor's wives, female pastors, women's ministry directors, and all ladies interested in reaching the women of their community for Christ.

The morning will be filled with food, fellowship, creative ideas and inspiration.  Free resources will be available plus a ton of surprises.

To assist us in preparation, please respond to londajoy@aol.com with your plans to attend.

Other upcoming locations include: 
Lawrence Chapel - October 1st  10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Jackson - October 15th 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Memphis, Southaven (Crown of Life) - October 15th - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

If you have not had opportunity to join us at another location, you are welcome to join us at any of these!

First Women's Meeting at Murfreesboro

(From Local Leader, Peggy Turpin)

Just wanted to let you know that we had our first Ladies meeting last night at Restoration Fellowship. There are so many wonderful Women who are eager to reach out to our community. We did an icebreaker and had questions from What is your favorite bible verse to What's the bravest thing you've ever done. The lesson was entitled "We are all his Diamonds" God is the master craftsman and he is still working on each of us. We had paired prayer time that was a blessing. We then talked about different way we can outreach to the community. We have 20 men and women going to the MTSU tailgating for Christ activity this next Saturday and everyone has been so great to want to go and help or to donate items so we can feed up to 200 people and share the love of Christ before the game. God is so good and He deserves all the Glory! Looking forward to what the Lord is going to continue to do in the Murfreesboro area.

Note:  Peggy and her husband, Todd, have just gone to Murfreesboro (Restoration Fellowship) to pastor beginning in August.  This is their first pastorate.  We believe great things are ahead!

Dyersburg Women's Ministry

We are always thrilled to hear of local church women's ministry activities.  Local leader, Clarissa Hendricks shared:  "Dyersburg Women's Ministry had a Mexican Fiesta Saturday, October 24th.  Our theme was "Life's Pinata".  We used Proverbs 4:23 about the issues of life and discovered we want sweet things (Fruits of the Spirit) spilling from our heart just as sweet candy spills from a pinata.  We had good food, fun, and sweet fellowship."

Clarissa is a new local leader and is full of excitement.  We look forward to hearing of a great year in women's ministry at Dyersburg!

Next Saturday (October 1st) Lawrence Chapel

All those in Crossville & the surrounding area, please remember "Tea, Me & Thee" at Lawrence Chapel from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon next Saturday, October 1st.

This is for pastor's wives, female pastors, women's ministry directors, and all ladies feeling a burden for the women in their community.  Expect two hours of fun, fellowship, inspiration, & resources to propel your ministry to the next level.

We look forward to seeing you there!  (If you have not yet responded, please do so today - londajoy@aol.com)

We will be at Jackson & Southaven (Crown of Life) in two weeks (October 15th).

What it's all about!

Women of Grace involves ALL generations.  We wanted to share a picture from Arrowhead's retreat going on this week-end in Townsend.  Do you think these ladies are having a good time???

This Week-end in Tennessee

Great things are planned in Women's Ministries in Tennessee this week-end.  Knoxville, Arrowhead plans their first ever Ladies Retreat to be held in Townsend.  Sharon Barnwell & Dorcas Gallimore have organized an event full of excitement and spiritual renewal.  We pray blessings and anointing on all those attending.  May it be the first of many future retreats.

Gallatin will have their annual Ladies Breakfast Saturday morning at the local church beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST   Leader, Shirley Lawrence has coordinated a morning fit for queens!  Pastor Veronica Watson, Red Hill Holiness Church, Tompkinsville, KY will be the featured speaker.  The Boyett Sisters of Alabama will share in powerful song! 

We expect to hear great reports from both these local women's groups!

Change or Die!

Sometimes I think wouldn't it be great if things could just stay the same.  But, within minutes, I realize how boring that would be.  For many, change is an ugly, dirty word.  We want what we are comfortable with and what we know.  When we remain the same, there is little effort required.  We simply plod along at the same pace doing the familiar.  How boring!

Ministry must change!  The moment we decide to remain as always, we start dying.  Enthusiasm fades and attendance dwindles.  It is not nearly as much fun to lead when you do the same routine each day.  Change requires we dig, prepare, and think!  It stretches our muscles, both physically and mentally.

As we minister to women, we must seek to move from the familiar to the unknown tomorrow.  It is imperative we seek the face of God to know His plan for the ladies within our world. 

Take a moment to reflect upon the last six months.  Have you done something different?  Have you moved beyond what people expect?  If not, you are dying!

Be willing to change; not for change sake, but for the life of ministry and souls around you.  It will bring new life to your motivation and you will be excited about the journey once more!  Try it and see.

Sharing Praise

Difficult times come into our lives we don't understand.  Especially, as Christians, people think we should have no problems.  That is not the case.  Often, very faithful Children of God go through hardships.  We can not explain why, but know God will walk with us through the journey.  Sister Hazel Guire has suffered two years from a severe break in her leg.  Doctors even said she would not walk again.  But Sister Hazel refused to give up.  She kept pressing forward and refused to QUIT.  It has not been easy, but we share praise with her and the entire family over God's goodness.  Here is a testimony from her daughter:

"Today we finally got to take down her hospital bed and moved her lift chair from the living room back to her bedroom.   It's good to be able to take Mom's house back to pre- femur break in Oct. 2009. It has taken almost 2 yrs but she is walking. Thank you Lord Jesus for seeing her thru this and allowing her to walk again and be well. We will praise you for you alone are worthy."

We are happy to share PRAISE with the Guire family!  Thank you God!!

Ending or Beginning?

Seasons come and go in our life.  On this day, we can share two thoughts:  Is this the end of summer or the beginning of fall?  Both are correct, but our attitute greatly affects our response to the future.  Are we winding down or winding up?

With each change of season, there are new opportunities.  True, some things are ending, but brand new experiences are opening before us.

Choose today to look with new, fresh, eyes.  Imagine what exciting things are coming in this season!

West Tennessee "Tea, Me & Thee"

For ladies in West Tennessee, we invite you to join us for "Tea, Me, & Thee" at one of the following locations on Saturday, October 15th:

Jackson Church of God of Prophecy   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

Southaven, (Crown of Life) church  (Memphis area)   5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

These gatherings are for pastor's wives, female pastors, women's ministry directors, and all ladies sensing a burden to minister to the women around them.  It will be two hours of fellowship, brain-storming, ministry ideas, & resources. 

We look forward to seeing YOU there.  To assist us in preparation, please respond to londajoy@aol.com

Come with expectation.  We believe it will be two hours well spent!

Mothers of the Faith

Yesterday, while visiting the Lakeside church in Westmoreland, Tennessee, I was greatly blessed during prayer time by several older ladies of the church who ministered effectively in the altar.  It was evident these "mothers of the faith" knew their God and could testify of His faithfulness.  They meant business in leading people through to spiritual victory.  How awesome it is to be surrounded by mature Christians who know how to get hold of God for themselves and for others.  May we never forget what a treasure they are to us!  God give us more "Mothers of the Faith" and instill in the hearts of younger women a desire to follow in their footsteps.  They are models of Women of Grace!

"Tea, Me, & Thee" coming to Crossville area

Saturday, October 1st, will be the third "Tea, Me & Thee" special event for women.  It will be at the Lawrence Chapel church in the Crossville area from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

This gathering is for pastor's wives, female pastors, women's ministry directors, and all ladies sensing a call and burden to minister to the women around them.  It will be two hours of fellowship, treats, surprises, and lots of great ministry ideas.  Free resources will be available.

We hope YOU will plan to join us!  To help us properly prepare, please respond to londajoy@aol.com

From the previous events, we received many positive comments.  Here are two:  "Thank you for holding this event.  It was a good reminder of how many other types of women we have in our churches that we may not be ministering to and gave us new energy to start refocusing how we might do our position better."   "This Tea was a lot of fun and I look forward to using what we were taught.  All of you gave me some food for thought to use in the new position I am stepping into."

Knoxville, Arrowhead Ladies Retreat

For those in the Knoxville area, you are invited to the Arrowhead Ladies Retreat scheduled for September 23-25, 2011 in Wears Valley, Tennessee.  The theme is:  "One in a Million".  For additional information, you may download an application (http://www.arrowheadchurch.org/) or phone 865-573-2000.

Tween Girls Do Make a Difference!

Girls are very important to "Women of Grace".  It is never too young to get involved.  If you want a pick me up for the day, take a look at this refreshing sight (http://www.noellejanae.com/) 

Noelle is the daughter of Glynis Varlack Allgood.  Both are active in women's ministries in Tennessee.

Watch out world!  There is an army of great young girls who love Jesus and are ready to share their love and testimony for Christ.  We are commited to encourage and support them on their journey!

Way to go, Noelle!  We are so proud of you.

Role Models

Yesterday, while preparing a newsletter, I came across a picture of two special ladies I have known all my life.  The picture was made during the Pastor & Companion Luncheon of the Tennessee State Convention this past July.  Norma Jean Coalter and Juanita Weakley are two women who have modeled Christian virtues before my eyes and that of others.  I have been blessed to know them both as family friends and have served on staff while their husbands were State Overseers.  They are full of love, fun, and virtue.  Who says you cannot be happy and be a Christian?  JOY is the center of serving Christ.  I wanted to share this picture to remind us all of these and many other great Christian women around us.  Thank God for "Women of Grace"!

Gallatin Ladies Prayer Breakfast

If you live in or near the Gallatin area, here is a special invitation:

LADIES PRAYER BREAKFAST Gallatin, TN COGOP, hosted by Women's Ministry Director, Shirley Lawrence, Saturday, Sept 24th; Breakfast begins at 10am, program will follow. Guest speaker: Veronica Watson (KY) Theme: Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh on Me. Please RSVP by responding to this post or calling (615) 452-0503. Looking forward to seeing you!

Relevant Women's Ministry

An important aspect of any ministry is keeping it current and relevant to where ladies are in their lives today.  In one local church, several of the ladies have been widowed within the past two years.  Just recently, the local leader lost her companion.

On September 6th, several of those who have become widows within the past 1-2 years are going to meet.  The leader does not know exactly what will come from the meeting, the feels strongly it will be the beginning of a new ministry within the local church.

Meeting with those who have experienced similar life's struggles creates a bond and special fellowship.  This can open doors not only within the church but outside the church walls.