Worship at the conference.
Arise and Shine, was the theme of the ninth ANA Women’s Conference, held on 11th–13th October in Struga, Macedonia.
Everything from the worship, testimonies, preaching, prayers and fellowship, was beautifully led by the Spirit of God. The harmony of different gifts, creativity, and the blessed unity of women from different churches, backgrounds and ages permeated every aspect of the conference.
Many of the ladies looked forward to returning. Some came from abroad, while others took unpaid leave from work just to be there. There were also many women who came for the first time and they were impressed by the welcome and the programme. Their unanimous comment was, “It won’t be our last time”.
The presence of many young women was the highlight. They are the present and the future of God’s kingdom in our country! They are our bright and shining stars! How blessed we are to have them!
I considered it as a huge privilege to speak at the conference. My message focused on ‘Arise’ and ‘Shine’.
Rise
Arise from all the things that kept you down for so long: fear and anxiety, guilt and shame, insecurity and negativity, despair and pain, demonstrated by the biblical examples of women and my personal life experiences.
Shine
Be the Samaritan woman; a lighthouse of hope, a beacon that points to the only one that can save. Be Tabitha; bring out the God-colours in the world. Be Phoebe, who’s name means ‘radiant one’; share the gospel and be a light in this world lost in darkness.
We all arrived overwhelmed and a bit hardened with life. But we left feeling heard, seen, softened, nurtured, renewed, empowered and encouraged to take the next step on our personal paths. I look forward to watching all these women soar, to rise and shine and to create profound waves of change in Macedonia!
Vesna Puzderlieva speaking at the conference; worship at the conference.
