United Church of God

Women’s Enrichment Weekend in Southwest Missouri

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Women’s Enrichment Weekend in Southwest Missouri

Single, married, young or older, messages delved into how every woman can strive toward the character traits of the Proverbs 31 woman.

Keynote speaker Debbie McNeely took it a step further in her presentation and talked about how we can be a Proverbs 31 Church, caring for each and every member as part of the family of God and being a blanket of calm over not only our physical families but our Church as well. It was a theme carried throughout the entire course of the weekend.

Other speakers delved into the various ways in which women can be more like a Proverbs 31 woman, some giving personal examples of their struggle and journey in that pursuit. 

This weekend served as not only several ladies’ first visit to the Southwest Missouri Women’s Enrichment Weekend, but also their first ever Women’s Enrichment Weekend in general.

It seemed the general consensus was that the weekend provided a setting to not only learn about a Proverbs 31 woman but to put it into practice as well.

Women attendees, as well as women who couldn’t actually make it to the weekend, donated two cars full of much-needed items to Freedom’s Rest, a local domestic abuse shelter for women and children.

The donation drive helped each individual fulfill Proverbs 31:20: “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy.”

The annual silent auction, consisting of the many handmade items and gifts each woman provided, raised $1,500 to help fund a Women’s Enrichment Weekend for our sisters in Zambia.

Roundtable discussions got everyone involved in digging deeper into understanding just what a Proverbs 31 woman looks like and how to be more like this precious scriptural example of what a godly woman is like.

Throughout the weekend great meals were shared—meals provided by several different congregations—laughs and tears let out, and sisterly bonds grew around the biblically-centered theme of Proverbs 31.

One guest commented in her survey that the weekend aided her in future study and growth.

“[I’m] more spiritually aware, more connected to several sisters in Christ, and aware of areas for additional growth,” she wrote. “I have taken away several resources for study and reflection.”

While the women enjoyed the weekend festivities in growing closer as sisters, the men shared an evening at a local member’s farm, fellowshipping around a campfire and having a warm meal. The following day they enjoyed a late-morning brunch before both men and women wrapped up the weekend with a warm hug before departing back to each of their respective homes.