The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

CELEBRATING their annual conference for the 13th time, the Daughters of Abraham ministry at Mt Pleasant Green Baptist Church is recognising this year’s observance as their best yet.

Doing things a little differently this year, the conference was held a little over a week in October when members - and Bahamian women on the whole - attended several events. Organisers said every year the excitement for the conference grows greater.

Highlights of the festivities included a church service where Pastor Roslyn Astwood, of St Stephen’s Full Gospel Baptist Church, was the speaker, a one-day retreat at SuperClubs Breezes Resort and Spa under the theme “Faith, Family, Finances and Fitness” and a six-day overseas retreat in Chicago, Illinois, to where 31 women travelled on October 20, representing 14 different churches.

The churches included St Anne’s Anglican Church, St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Holy Trinity Church, Five Porches Of Deliverance Centre Apostolic Tabernacle Church, Feeding The Whole Man Ministry, St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Living Waters Outreach Ministries, Kemp Road Ministries, Annex Baptist Cathedral, Agape Full Gospel Baptist Church, Church of Latter Day Saints, Robinson Morris Chapel AME Church, Southwest Cathedral Church and Mt Pleasant Green Baptist Church, International Ministries.

Leading the group since its inception, Minister Marsha Thompson said the Lord laid it on her heart to host something different this year, activities where women can set aside their daily life schedule and spend a week to themselves.

“Initially it was only hosted for our church but now it was opened up to the public. When the Lord gave it to me, it wasn’t for our ministry only, it was for women on the whole. Eventually it grew beyond just our members because people heard about it and jumped on it,” said Minister Thompson.

Apart from the annual conference, she said the Daughters of Abraham organisation helps with spiritual growth and is also a good avenue for women to get together and share personal stories. Members encourage each other and become each other’s support system.

“As women we go through things and sometimes you feel better sharing it with a woman rather than with someone else. Anyone that is going through something, we all get together to assist that person. When you consider things like that, it is beneficial in that way,” said Minister Thompson.

She said the fellowship on their travels abroad was extraordinary and people’s faith was rejuvenated and rebuilt. She connected with people who shared their difficult life stories, and they all prayed together as one for strengthening.

“We realise the importance of women gathering in fellowship from different churches, as one body, to pray, praise the Lord, share, shop and rest a while. In Chicago, we visited Mars Hill Baptist Church on Friday October 23 with Senior Pastor Clarence E Stowers Jr. Their Women of Worth Ministry hosted us in an evening of prayer, praise, worship and eats. They all dressed in the colours of our Bahamian flag. They also decorated the room and a cake in our flag colours,” said Minister Thompson.

She said God indeed showed Himself as a strong force on the trip, as every woman made a breakthrough.