14TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise... Ephesians 5:15 NIV
Friday 7:00pm Welcome: Jodi & Laura-Lynn “Wild Thing” Mary Kassian
8:00 Concert: Point of Grace
9:15 Closing
Saturday 9:00am Welcome/Worship: Point of Grace “The Genesis of Gender” Mary Kassian
10:30 Break 11:00 Wisdom to Share the Journey: Jodi Kozan & Speaker Team “Weak Willed Woman” Mary Kassian
“On behalf of the Women’s Journey of Faith team, I want to welcome you to our 14th annual conference Wisdom! We believe wholeheartedly that you were created with a purpose to be a world changer in your home, churches and communities. In order to step into that purpose, it takes great wisdom to discern how to live as wise women in a “world gone wild”! Our theme verse for this year is taken from Ephesians 5:15 which says: “Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise.” (NIV) We are thrilled to have our first Canadian keynote speaker grace our stage this year- Mary Kassian! She has been like a mentor to me, simply by going through her books and studies as a team. Her teaching strengthens and supports our vison of restoration with such incredible depth, insight and clarity of why God created us as women. She gently encourages us to embrace his divine design for our lives...we know you are going to love her! Equally exciting is hosting Point of Grace! They were instrumental in my re-formative years as a follower of Jesus Christ in the 90’s. It is absolutely thrilling to have them here in Saskatoon with a new sound, same focus and 12 albums later as they continue impacting lives for God. May you be blessed abundantly as they perform engaging music and join with them in grace filled worship throughout the weekend! There are other special guests I am pumped for you to meet (along with fabulous sponsors joining us this weekend), partnering with us to share the journey of restoration! No matter where you are at on your faith journey, you are so welcome here!”
Loving the journey,
12:15 Lunch Break 1:30 Point of Grace Special Guests
2:35 Break 3:30 Point of Grace “Radical Womanhood” Mary Kassian Door Prizes / Announcements (Must be in attendance to win)
4:45 Closing Women’s Journey of Faith (WJOF) utilizes photography and video cameras at all events. By attending this event, your photo could potentially be used in any format for the sole purpose of WJOF promotion.
Jodi Kozan
WJOF Founder & President
Our Vision : The Restoration of Women Our Mission : Gathering, Nurturing, Discovering, Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ! Our Core Values : Live by Faith, Walk in Love, Affirm the Call
Seeks complete dependence on God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She is committed to honor Him through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Embraces her identity in Christ knowing she is loved, accepted, secure and significant in Him. Honors God, spouse (if married) and respects authority seeking to restore honor in her home, church and community. Establishes warm and loving relationships with family and friends in her home, workplace and social environments. Committed to practicing integrity in all areas: spiritually, morally, ethically and sexually. Prioritizes her life to reflect a healthy balanced life engaging principles affecting her whole being: mind, body, spirit. Values church involvement and is committed to supporting the mission of her church by honoring and praying for her pastor and by actively giving her time and resources. Desires interdependence in the Body of Christ and is committed to reaching beyond racial, social, economic, gender, generational and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity and reconciliation. Practices healthy whole life stewardship including the testimony of Jesus Christ within and is prepared to share His name at any given moment in a hurting world. Prays regularly for discernment and wisdom. She refuses to seek worldly pursuits of a “counterfeit restoration�. Open to correction when needed and leads a life of confession and repentance. Nurtures the next generation through spiritual mothering, mentoring and spiritual friendships. Seeks justice for the poor and oppressed and is committed to influencing the world by her fervent love for God while loving her neighbor and making disciples of Jesus Christ! WISDOM 3
Keynote Speaker: Mary Kassian Mary Kassian is an award winning author, popular speaker, and a distinguished professor of women’s studies at Southern Baptist Seminary. She has published several books, Bible studies and videos, including: Girls Gone Wise, In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home, Conversation Peace, Vertically Inclined, and The Feminist Mistake. Mary graduated from the faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine from the University of Alberta, and has studied systematic theology at the doctoral level. She has taught courses at seminaries across North America. She is a popular conference speaker and has ministered to women’s groups internationally. Mary has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Marriage Uncensored. Mary was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She and her husband, Brent, have three adult sons and one daughter-in-law. Mary has mastered the art of cheering after spending countless hours in rinks, arenas, and gyms: her husband is chaplain for a professional football team, her two older sons play ice hockey, and her youngest, volleyball. The Kassians enjoy biking, hiking, snorkeling (when they can find some warm water!), music, board games, mountains, campfires, and their family pets: Miss Kitty and black lab, General Beau.
www.girlsgonewise.com www.truewoman.com
The women of Point of Grace are celebrating 20 years together, and with this celebration they offer A Thousand Little Things, their 12th record. Brimming with the beautiful harmonies, encouraging lyrics, and graceful melodies that Shelley Breen, Denise Jones and Leigh Cappillino are known for, A Thousand Little Things reminds us to be mindful of the multitude of blessings God has given us. And what the world needs now - more than ever - is to remember how important gratitude is, each and every day. “In all of those little moments in life, little and big, we’re reminded that there is a creator that loves us and wants us to have a good life while we’re here,” Shelley says. “And we’re grateful for that.” Leigh chimes in, “Every single day, there are a thousand little things we can truly be thankful for, so I sing that little song all the time.” The ladies of Point of Grace remind us all to be grateful for the thousand little things we’ll experience today, from a warm cup of coffee in the morning to a bedtime novel at night.
www.pointofgrace.net WISDOM 5
Bruce Pringle
HEALING FOR THE
HEART & THE SPIRIT
A Christian Counselor Responds to People in Pain Abandonment. Abuse. Anger. Depression. Grief. How does one work through these and other emotional topics and feelings? Healing for the Heart and the Spirit offers advice, guidance, and perspective firmly grounded in Christian thought and scripture. Drawing from a well of experience in his own personal life and his years as a counselor, Bruce Pringle MEd, PhD tenders spiritual solutions to Christians, with comfort in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Healer. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“I believe that God’s ways for all of us are so much greater and higher and deeper than we are willing to face. We go “safe” and we settle. God dares us to go and be and feel something new, something different, something bold. We hold ourselves back and talk ourselves out of so many dreams that he has for us.”
- Robyn Friesen
www.robynfriesen.com
WISDOM 6
SONS OF MONARCHY The talk I was listening to on pornography was tragic and overwhelming. The stats on this addictive industry are hard to comprehend. However, the toll that it takes in the minds of boys and men, as well as marriages and families, is truly devastating. As the talk continued, I found myself evaluating my own response to the information. As the stories of devastation were shared, as the horrific stats continued to pile up, I was on the edge of my seat. As the talk turned a corner to speak of freedom and victory, principles and truth, I went to an “I’ve heard this before” zone in my brain. Net affect? “I’m bored now…” Why is it that as men we are drawn
(For Men Only)
We can do better. As sons and soldiers of the King, we must do better. Now, Jesus of Nazareth – He was a real hero. Here’s a man who could get burly fishermen to stop fishing. Tax collectors left their lucrative businesses. Doctors pushed the pause button on their Hippocratic oaths, and soldiers came to Him when they were desperate! Here’s a man who wasn’t lured by the promise of fame, didn’t cave in to temptation and wasn’t thrown off course by the invitation to go sky diving! (See Luke 4:9) At His word the dead came back to life, storms were stilled and His skills as a farmer stopped trees from growing and sent pigs running! And yet, do you see Him in John 8, coming to the aid of a woman who was clearly exploited? He doesn’t give in to the status quo or societal pressures. He
watching porn, when we see women as real people, made in the image of God. We do it by stopping inappropriate conversations at work, in the fishing boat or the locker room. We do it by actively defending the rights of victims across our nation. Men, we need to call each other to defend the dignity of every woman. In his excellent TED talk – “Violence against women – it’s a men’s issue”, Jason Katz asks the question “How do we not stay silent in the face of abuse?” Katz talks about the “bystander approach”, where in a normal, everyday situation, men interrupt the dialogue of exploitation, by speaking up, instead of remaining silent. He quotes Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Will we remain silent for the voiceless victims in our city and throughout the world? Men, let’s look to our true hero, the True Good
TOGETHER WE CAN END PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
DEFENDDIGNITY.CA to the dark and graphic scenes? Why are we more likely to tune into the fight scenes, the gun battles? Is it that blackness in our hearts – a result of sin, or could it also be our wiring from God to be protectors and defenders at all costs? Listen to the words of Nehemiah. As he was building the wall for his country, they began to face opposition, distraction and death threats. Nehemiah gives weapons to each clan, gets in their faces and says “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Like Nehemiah, I believe God is calling men to remember the Lord and fight for our families and our nation. Surely this is where our protector instincts come from! Surely this is a call to fight against the threats of pornography, prostitution, human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Surely our generation can do better than fight virtual battles on our gaming consoles!
stands up for this oppressed woman and puts those in power to shame AND to flight. Unlike the upstanding religious leader or the community law keeper, Jesus doesn’t “pass by on the other side”. Instead, he bends down, writes in the dirt and offers words of hope and healing instead of condemnation. Jesus truly fought for the powerless.
Samaritan, who, as a bystander, interrupts the dialogue of abuse and defends the dignity of women who are victims of oppression. That’s true leadership. And that, brothers, is what we are called to uphold for “our brothers, our sons, our daughters, our wives, our homes.” May God grant us courage as sons of the monarchy, in this fight for justice
So, when it comes to our sex-crazed culture, why do we as men find it difficult to step up? Why is it that we find it hard to stand up for those who are victims of psychological, physical and sexual violence? Is it because we are afraid of getting caught in the very traps we’ve spent so much energy trying to escape? Are we worried we might get dragged into the temptation, or are we nervous about facing our defeats – whether they be 20 years ago or last night? Men, can we all agree on one thing? We’ve been affected by this issue. Many of us personally and deeply. But, even if we haven’t, we probably know a man – a father, brother, uncle, friend or son who has been scarred, or could be. So, instead of running, hiding or sticking our heads in the sand, we need to step up and protect the victims of abuse in our city. We do that when we stop
- Tyrone McKenzie
Pastor & Advocate for Defend Dignity WISDOM 7
Session 1 : Wild Thing Proverbs 7
Proverbs 5:5-6 NIV says of the Wild Thing: “Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.” 1. Wildness warps Ways the Proverbs wild thing was affected:
2. There’s a powerful pull on women Satan is in the business of making wildness look: a.
b. Harmless
c.
3. True womanhood requires
WISDOM 8
from wild to wise.
Session 2 : The Genesis of Gender
“Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness. . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2 ESV
12 Markers of Complementarity Creation of the MALE: 1. The male was . (2:7) 2. The male was
in the garden. (2:15)
3. The male was commissioned to
. (2:15)
4. The male was commissioned to
. (2:15)
5. The male received spiritual
. (2:16-17)
6. The male learned how to exercise
. (2:19-20)
Creation of the FEMALE: 7. The female was created
the male. (2:21-22)
8. The female was made
the male. (2:18)
9. The female was created to
the male. (2:18)
10. The female
to the male. (2:23)
11. The female was the male’s perfect
. (2:23)
12. The female was created in the
. (2:24)
WISDOM 9
Session 3 : Weak Willed Woman 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ESV “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak (willed) women, burdened with sins and led astray by various (evil) passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” “Weak” literally means .
Ten Characteristics of a WWW
1. She tolerates
. (“those who creep”)
2. She lets . (“into households”) 3. She is by . (“capture”/captivate)
4. She lets things
. (“burdened with sins”)
5. She has . (“passions”) 6. Her longings are . (“various”)
7. She is governed by her
. (“led”)
8. She makes . (“evil”) 9. She thinks she has . (“always learning”) 10. She . (“never able to acknowledge truth”)
WISDOM 10
Session 4 : Radical Womanhood
Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise...
Ephesians 5:15 NIV WISDOM 11
The triune God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The divine inspiration and infallibility of God’s Word, and its authori
The sovereignty of God as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Righteo
We believe in
The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, his sinless life, his and his return in power and glory for all true believers.
The justification of the sinner through no merit on his own but by the
The indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of all
The mercy and grace of God, and his desire for all to come to the kno The resurrection of all believers in Christ to eternal life.
Accomplishing the will of God concerning the Great Commission and The spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
Left to right: Jennifer Pfeifer, Kim Bitner, Deb Macready, Gerlie Feraro, Coralee Pringle-Nelson, Sarah Schroeder, Rhonda Schindel, Barb Rudoski, Ezna Groenewald, Sharon Knutson, Jodi Kozan, WISDOM 12
ity and benefit for all matters of faith and life.
ous Judge.
s sacrificial and atoning death for fallen mankind. His resurrection to the right hand of the Father
e grace of God and through faith alone.
l believers, sanctifying them to live a godly life in example and service.
owledge of his will.
d the Great Commandment, giving all the glory to him.
Maureen Brown, Kirsten Knutson, Lisa Braun, Jayna Snider, Joyelle Gagnon, Sherri Brophy, Danielle Ford, Melissa Buhler, Catherine Randall, Alicia Groenewald, Crystal Klassen, Shaun Salen, Bailey Rudoski WISDOM 13
Join us on the journey as we share the good news! We hope to encourage women at events and online through our personal testimonies of the restoration at work in our lives.
Ways to engage with us throughout the year:
Share a “cardboard testimony” photo Create a short video message Submit a written Faith Story (see examples in this magazine) Attend our Sharing the Journey seminar, spring 2014 Invite one of our speakers to your community Host a Faith Stories workshop in your church
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Dicovering His Story Through Your Story
WJOF would love to bring a workshop to your community! Stop by the Faith Stories table for more information or visit www.wjof.com/faithstories.
WISDOM 15
Revealed: Comprehending the Gospel Testimony by Kim Bitner
I grew up believing I was a pretty good girl. Not perfect, obviously, but better than many. I did the right things, I said the right things: I didn’t rock the boat. I said I loved and trusted Jesus, I went to church, prayed, read my Bible, was baptized, and stayed pure (enough) before marriage, but it wasn’t until my early twenties that I really heard the gospel for the first time. I remember moments in my growing up years where I was bothered by the fact that I couldn’t articulate what the gospel was. Was it being saved? What from? Was it being good? Not WISDOM 16
being as bad as the sinners I knew? Trusting Jesus? Trusting him for what? I didn’t know. I did a year of discipleship school, hoping I would have a truer understanding of my identity as a Christian and what I believed, but instead I came out of that year more unsettled than ever, subscribing to the ridiculous belief that everyone is saved, there’s no need to preach Jesus, just live a good life and be nice because grace covers everyone in the end. Everything changed when I started listening to podcasts where I heard the Bible being taught in a way I had never heard before. The pastor was preaching with authority, and every sermon was filled with the gospel. This was new to me, since up until this point I still wasn’t sure what the gospel was. Gone were the sermons I was familiar with: the “5 Steps to a Better Me”. The Bible became alive to me as I learned that it is entirely about Jesus, and his redemption of sinful men and women. I learned the Bible was not about me, and what I was supposed to do but is about God: what he has done and is continuing to do. My life was turned upside down. Previously, I had found the Old Testament confusing and irrelevant, and the New Testament was where I went to find verses that would encourage me. I had been putting the emphasis on the wrong person: myself. I would read verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, and put the emphasis on me and what I could do with a little bit of help from Jesus, not on what Christ has done and what he could do through me. I had been my own hero, and a lousy one at that. I would read stories like David and Goliath and put myself in the position of David, slaying my enemies with my small stone of faith, not realizing I was actually a member of the Israelite army quaking with
fear as Jesus my hero stood in the face of the enemy and conquered him fearlessly. I finally learned that the gospel is the incredible news that Jesus, God himself, left heaven to live the perfect life I could not live, died the death I should have died, and rose to life to give me life! He released me from my enemies of Satan, sin, death, and hell, and has done everything for me because I can do nothing for myself. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33 ESV) I have no wisdom in myself, but Jesus Christ freely shares his infinite wisdom with us as we grow in our love for him. I finally realized my great need for Jesus. I know I’m not the good girl I always thought I was - that ‘good girl’ was filled with pride and self- righteousness; sin that separated me from God. I fight that sinfulness everyday. Apart from Jesus, I am a desperate sinner in need of a rescuer. I am so thankful that he looked at me in my absolute weakness, dead in my sin, and chose me to be covered by the blood of Jesus. He breathed life into my dead soul, and I now stand holy and blameless before God because Jesus gave his record of perfection to me and he took my record of sin with him to the cross! All wisdom belongs to him!
Freedom from Bitterness: Relationships Restored Testimony by Monique Chabot
As a child, seeds of
gossip and contention were sown into my heart
causing me to grow hard and withdraw from relationships. I vowed never to have a relationship with a woman. This vow controlled my life and kept me in a prison of hate and offence until I was able to experience the freedom of Jesus Christ. My family was an extremely hospitable family, always having company over. I learned at a very young age how to serve others with warm hospitality and great food. When the visitors were over, we were kind, warm and hospitable, but when they left cutting words were spoken about them. As a child I knew this behavior was wrong and the harsh words spoken penetrated my heart and hurt me. In order to combat the wrong behavior and to protect myself from such hateful words, I vowed never to develop relationships with women. This vow shaped the rest of my life, filling it with hardness, hatred and offence. Growing up I pulled away from people and began to isolate myself. My inability to have a healthy relationship began to grow and take over all areas of my life. I constantly felt isolated and lonely, utterly helpless, unable to get out of my prison. The vow I made as a child was ruling my life. In response to what was going on inside of me I became an absolute perfectionist, always having to be in control. It became so extreme, and got to the point where I would not allow my kids to do projects or
have friends over because the house would become dirty. This put an enormous amount of strain onto my marriage and family. My need for control was affecting the people I loved. The Holy Spirit began to work on my heart and the direction of my life began to shift as a result of being invited to a church service. There was such a sense of peace, never before had I experienced anything like it. In March I was baptized and made a commitment to follow Jesus. I wanted to jump in right away and get involved with people and relationships, but the patterns of my life and the condition of my heart continued to hold me back from experiencing true freedom. I remained fearful, timid and very wary of women. Slowly the Holy Spirit began to peel away layer after layer until I reached the point where I could not remain the same. At the past year’s Women’s Journey of Faith conference I cried out to God, “Change me!”
and revelation, I welcome your work. Open my eyes so I can see, my ears so I can hear. I choose truth over comfort, challenge over complacency. Lord, make me forever yours. And most of all make me like you! Amen. I prayed this prayer and meant every word! On my way home from the conference I stopped to use the bathroom. As I sat there, I saw three very powerful words. The words said: DO NOT HATE! It was a God moment! God used this moment in the bathroom to bring wisdom and revelation to me! I rushed out of the bathroom full of joy! I felt an overwhelming sense of repentance come upon me, I was ready and willing to let go of all the anger, resentment, offense and darkness that I had been holding onto for years. Suddenly I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders. Freedom at last!
I began to read, Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. There I learned that I was a Martha: full of control, arrogance and continually looking for acceptance. I deeply wanted a heart like Mary, I cried out to the Father as I prayed this prayer from “I prayed to the LORD, and he the book: answered me. He freed me from all my Lord Jesus, I give you my life. I fears. Those who look to him for help invite you to have your way in me. will be radiant with joy; no shadow of Take me and break me. Shake me shame will darken their faces. In my and make me. Fill me and spill me. desperation I prayed, and the LORD Change me and rearrange me. But listened; he saved me from all my whatever you do Lord, don’t leave troubles.” Psalm 34:4-6 NLT me the same. Spirit of wisdom
WISDOM 17
Relinquishing Control: Submitting to God’s Will Testimony by Susana Trew
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. “ Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Like everyone around me, I was made in the image of God. God
could not love me more than he did the day that I was knit in my mother’s womb. Despite God’s love for me, I searched many other paths to find meaning. I embraced different philosophies and tried filling my life with relationships to find peace. In the end I began to believe that imperfect broken affection was all that I could hope for. After many failed relationships I reconciled myself to the wisdom that I always knew deep down inside: another person will never make me whole or complete. God began to speak to me and restore
me back to his original plan at the skirt of a volcano. I was taken with the enormity of the universe and my own size in relationship to the cosmos. My heart was broken; I was tired and weighed down by so many responsibilities. I was worn out by the lies and broken promises. I longed to belong to someone and have someone belong to me. The wisdom of the world had left me lifeless. Right there in the midst of a volcano, God began to speak to my heart. From the very first word I could see how well he knew me. “Susana, do you want a child?” I heard in my heart. It was one of my dreams to get married and have a baby. “Yes.” I replied. “And if you would have a baby, would you love it with all your heart?” God questioned. “Yes, of course!” “If you had this baby would you give it away to anyone?” God continued. “No, never!” “Then why are you asking for one of my children if you are not mine?”
WISDOM 18
I was reminded in that moment that I had recently prayed for one of God’s sons to become my husband. What was hard to accept was not that I would not have a son of God, but that I was not yet a child of God. After that, the long journey of restoration to God’s original intention for my life was tangible and real for me. One evening I promised God that I
would spend my time and attention pursuing him instead of a husband. It was time for me to relinquish control and rely upon his wisdom and timing for a husband. For two years God slowly guided me towards key people from whom I received the wisdom and guidance that I needed to grow in my relationship with God. I made him a list of everything that I was looking for in a husband, the list was extensive but I still handed it over to God believing that either he would answer my prayer or change my heart about what I really should be looking for. I became very involved in my church and began to serve God in every area I could find. I committed myself not to date while I was waiting for God’s will. I wanted to be able to focus my attention on God and not have any distractions. Three years later when my husband came into my life, he was everything I had asked for and more. I am so happy that I chose to submit my life to God’s will and listen to his wisdom and direction for my life. “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 NLT
Transformed: Set Free to Live for Him!
Testimony by Joyelle Gagnon
security and my identity. It was a dangerous dependency. Where I should have been filling that void with a relationship with Jesus, I continued to fill it with an unhealthy relationship.
I was blessed to grow up in a loving Christian family,
where I was taught the word of God and accepted Jesus into my life at a young age. I followed Jesus throughout my youth and up until high school graduation. After graduation I moved from a small town in Saskatchewan into the big city of Saskatoon. Everything was so exciting and new. The pull of the world began to draw me away from my devotion to Jesus. Soon enough I was going to the bars and meeting new friends, all who were older and more experienced at this “worldly life” than I was. The ways of the world began to crowd and overtake the will of God in my life and I was enticed away from him. During my first year at university I met a boy. He was my first boyfriend and I had never experienced all of this attention. We began to enjoy the university lifestyle together, of partying, drinking and all that encompasses that way of life. There was this deep void inside of me that reached out and clung onto him, he became my
At twenty years old we were married. It did not take long for cracks to begin to surface in our marriage. Many hurtful things were said and done. To deal with the pain I began to lash out and I became involved with an online adult community in order to fill the ever-increasing need I had for attention and value. After hiding this alternative lifestyle for many months, my husband found out and left me. The moment he said he was leaving, my world shattered into thousands of broken pieces. I did not want to live, for everything I knew; my identity, my security and all that I thought I was, was wrapped up in him. In one single moment the life that I had chosen to build came crashing down. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Mathew 7:24-27 NLT
pursue the ways of the world. What looked so appealing and exciting only left me lifeless, broken and consumed by darkness. In the midst of the darkness, God in his mercy spoke to my heart, calling me to return to him. I immediately responded to his call, and began to seek after Jesus once again. I repented of my former way of life and began to cut off all my worldly attachments. I cried out to Jesus to save me from the life I had created and he came in power and set me free from all darkness, torment, and addictions. “… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 NIV My life has been completely transformed by the power of God. My identity, security and worth are found in Jesus alone. He is the one who brings freedom and restoration. He has truly restored my soul. Jesus set me free from the world that I may now live passionately for him!
I had preferred to walk away from the wisdom of God and his word to WISDOM 19
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Forest Grove Community Church
(Optional Intensive Workshop: Friday, April 4)
Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ! Restoring women by calling leaders, speakers, and women with a passion to serve! We invite you to come along with us on a faith adventure!
Featuring the Women’s Journey of Faith Speaker Team Register at our booth today or visit www.wjof.com for more details!
Speakers Ministry Let us bring the message to you.
Our Women’s Journey of Faith Speakers are excited to partner with you and your group to share the message of restoration in your community! Visit www.wjof.com for more information!
Maureen Brown
Wilna van Beek
Malynda Zacharias
Donna Carter
Donna Mitchell
Lorie Hartshorn
Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson
Yvonne StGermaine
Jodi Kozan
WISDOM 20
G REECE/TURKE Y
M AY 1 3 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 4
Visit us online to consider joining us on a faith adventure!
w j o f .co m / t o u r s Stops include:
LI SA B R AU N WJOF 2014 Tour Coordinator
306-955-7199 lisa.wjof@gmail.com
Istanbul, Sardis, Smyrna, Laodicea, Ephesus, Patmos, Thodes, Crete, Santorini, Thessonoloniki, Philippi, Athens, Corinth and more!
REACHING CANADA WITH GOD’S LOVE
Please join hosts Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson (Co-MC of the 2013 WJOF Wisdom Conference) and Brian Warren every weekday on The 700 Club Canada. See how there is no darkness that the light does not penetrate.
700 Club Canada: Weekdays
Vision TV - nationwide - 11 am ET Hope TV - nationwide - 9 am & 9 pm CT Joy TV10 - Vancouver - 1 pm PT www.700Club.ca
Check your TV guide for channel and time in your area.
Hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, and Gordon Robertson, The 700 Club is an uplifting mix of news and commentary, interviews, feature stories, and Christian ministry.
700 Club US: Weekdays
Hope TV - nationwide - 11 am CT Joy TV10 - Vancouver - 11 am PT WUTV Buffalo - 9 am ET - Rogers Cable, Ontario WMYD Detroit - 9 am ET- Southwestern Ontario
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wjof.com Stay connected with us online as we share the journey with women in various ways – WJOF’s Speakers Ministry, Tours, Newsletters, Recommended Bible Studies and more!
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Bringing restoration to your community.
Women's Journey of Faith has a wide array of women's ministry opportunities and resources for the local church to connect to including our annual conference, our Speakers Ministry, Faith Stories, WJOF Tours, and various other resources. By coming alongside us as Journey Wings, you can be the connection point and help support growing women's ministries in your church and community. For more information on becoming a Journey Wing, please visit www.wjof.com.