Candace McIntosh said she can still hear the sound of brokenhearted women crying as they prayed for Rohingya refugees, a “people without a country” facing extreme persecution in South Asia.
That guided prayer time, held during the Renew conference Feb. 24, was one of the more powerful moments of the day, said McIntosh, executive director of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU).
It also underscored the conference’s emphasis on missions, she said.
“One of the things that sets Renew apart from other wonderful women’s gatherings is our focus not only on renewing the hearts of women but leaving them challenged with how God desires to use them to reach others with the gospel of Christ,” McIntosh said.
“Renew will always have a missions focus. In today’s culture, I think our younger women are drawn in by learning of tangible ways they can reach the world.”
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Renew, held at Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery, featured Bible study led by Kelly King, women’s ministry specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources. Recording artist Shelly E. Johnson led worship.
Teresa Foster, WMU director for Alabama-Crenshaw Baptist Association, said there was a “sweet, sweet spirit” at the conference. “The presence of our Father was truly in this place,” she said.
During the event, many who were present donated restaurant gift cards and wrote notes of encouragement for Alabama Baptist church planters and their families.
“We had a great response and are very pleased that we can encourage them and give them an opportunity to enjoy a meal out with their families,” said Pat Ingram, missions and ministry consultant for Alabama WMU.
A store featuring WorldCrafts products also sold more than $13,000 worth of goods, which in turn helps to support fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world.
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