Welcome to Rock Christian Centre’s third annual women’s conference. We are delighted to have a range of speakers including our first international speaker Yan who will address the conference via video link from China.
Highlights of this years conference to follow.
Highlights of 2024’s Conference
A reflection of the day.
Women’s Conference 2024 – The Spirit Filled Woman, the Fruit of the Spirit.
Waking up on Saturday 18th May I realised it was a lovely sunny morning, a replay of this day the year before. I thanked the Lord our lovely car park attendants, men from the church, would not be standing in the rain.
So, the day began, I got ready quickly and made sure my houseguest and my husband were up and about. Then went downstairs to make a cup coffee and to contemplate the day ahead. This was our second Conference and some changes had been made. It was exciting to think of so many ladies gathering to hear what the Lord had for them today.
We set off for the Church at 7.20am. Our houseguest was manning one of the many stalls giving information and encouraging women to get involved with or seek help from various charities and action groups, the stalls invited entirely complimented and were consistent with the ministry of the Rock Christian Centre.
My husband was one of the many wonderful men of the church serving the women on this day. He was on the ‘early morning team’ and along with another guy was making drinks and serving fruit and pastries to ladies as they arrived.
Sure, enough by 8.30am there was a buzz around the place as ladies familiar and guests began to arrive, register and pick up their Conference Packs, lovingly assembled on the 2 previous evenings by members of the planning group. Pastor Jon and his right-hand man, looking very smart, dutifully recorded the arrival of each lady and welcomed them to the Conference.
The beautifully arranged fruit and pastries began to disappear, and various drinks were gratefully accepted. Ladies were encouraged to book in for hand and neck massages, and great interest was shown in the good quality hand – made jewellery stand, and the millinery stall. The bookstall was browsed, and ladies began to enter the main hall, sign up for their choice of afternoon workshop, and take their seats.
What a sight, lovely flowers everywhere, crisp white tablecloths, red table runners. It looked gorgeous. Where to sit…. near a window, out of a draught, early arrivals bagged the best seats!
At 10.00am prompt Tricia Watts opened, welcoming us all and asking the Lord’s blessing.
Lucy Swift made us smile as she had us all pointing to the emergency exits to ensure we remembered them if needed and then some of the ladies of the Rock Christian Centre worship team led us into the presence of the Lord. What a wonderful atmosphere there was in the room for the rest of the day.
Sandie Keene the moderator competently and sensitively guided us through the morning, explaining what would happen and that prayer ministry was available if needed and identifying those on the team. She then introduced Mina Smallman as the first speaker. As Mina began to talk there was silence in the room and ladies listened attentively to her. Her honesty and conviction were humbling, and no-one could fail to be moved by her accounts of pain and her forgiveness of cruelty and murder. Within that testimony there was so much encouragement for us, so much affirmation of mothers, of women, of me and of you.
There were 140 women in the room, and yet it was just as if it was you and her over a coffee in the kitchen. Question time confirmed that, with people sharing how encouraged they felt, and feeling free to ask their questions.
Our next speaker was Vivianne, who was just as inspirational, recounting her journey of betrayal, to restoration of her marriage and then from disease to amputation and the fitting of a prosthesis. Displaying no bitterness no sense of unfairness just a joy of life and forgiveness of individuals and systems that had let her down.
During the morning, we were blessed to receive ministry from two wonderful soloists, whose gifting lifted us and allowed the Lord to minister to us after each speaker had shared. Thank you, Lydia and Patricia.
At lunch time Sandie explained ‘the system’, Grace was said by Chidera and lunch was served, it was delicious, the wonderful team in the kitchen, Ric’s amazing men had done us proud and although we had planned ‘just 2 alternatives’ it felt like we had feasted on much more than that. Paulette and Sandie kept things moving serving salads and encouraging people to return to their seats quite quickly to eat.
Browsing of the stalls was once again possible and serious purchases were made, I am sure!
The afternoon began with a couple of surprises, first Sandie explained there were several envelopes under the seats. These contained gift vouchers, which, if found should be given away! There was much scrambling under seats and laughter. Secondly, Patricia made sure we were not overtaken by the ‘post lunch slump’ by leading us in a short exercise programme, which did the trick and sent us laughing to our choice of workshop.
On return from workshops, which identified and encouraged the fruit of the spirit from the experience of the lives of the different leaders, ladies enjoyed afternoon tea of delicious home-made jam and cream scones and by popular request Jamaican Fruit Cake.
We were then once again, blessed by a solo from Patricia, leading us back into the Lord’s presence ready to listen to Mina who gave the final talk.
Sandie Keene gave a word of thanks and Paulette was given a bouquet of flowers, after which she promptly displayed her gift of kindness and gave it to her sister.
Mina prayed over us a commissioning prayer and the worship team led us in a final song of praise.
I went home – tired, happy and feeling very thankful to the Lord for a wonderful day.
The men and women of the Rock Christian Centre are indeed a wonderful bunch.
The speakers, workshop leaders and Sandie had been great. How blessed we are to have Paulette to inspire us and encourage us in this Conference. I am looking forward to next year already.
Highlights of 2023’s Conference
A reflection of the day.
“The 13th of May 2023 finally came and with it dawned a warm and sunny day, Rock Christian Centre’s first women’s conference was finally a reality. From its inception from the previous mid-October the planning team had a vision for women. Within a safe and desirable environment to facilitate, cultivate, supporting each other by networking to learn, to worship, to develop spiritually through workshops and have fun.
The women were about to go on a journey and by involving the men folk of the church in stewarding, providing practical help/support and food. All the ladies had to do was to come and enjoy everything that was being provided.
Rock Christian Centre is very much involved in community outreach programmes such as Burngreave Foodbank, Street Pastors, CAP, Word 4 Weapons, The Lighthouse Project and Amen shoeboxes.
The programme was carefully planned with pampering in mind and spoiling the women with an array that would be sure to catch their attention. There were various stalls such as Christian books and cards, jewelry, quality millinery, Women’s health, The Jericho Road Project, and the Freedom Project, two vital support groups for women that are disempowered. There was also a choice of relaxing therapists so that the ladies could experience feeling cherished and pampered.
To ensure that the ladies could network and snack on Danish pastries and fresh fruit registration was off to an early start. Been warmly welcomed and handed a goodie bag by the men on the welcoming/registration team was certainly a caring gesture. Every detail had been thought through with our brothers in Christ assisting even in the car park. Some ladies who were apprehensive or unsure soon relaxed and began to mingle and engage in conversation. Gentle background music played as the ladies filtered into the conference room.
The scene that met their eyes was a delight there was a beautiful stillness in the room that struck you. White tablecloths and fresh flowers arranged in glass posey vases adorned each table not to mention the red runners and corresponding red seats.
The conference opened with prayer by Tricia Watts. Paulette Forbes-Williams introduced Jon Watts senior pastor of RCC who warmly welcomed the delegates on behalf of the leadership team. Housekeeping was delivered succinctly by Paulette and Lucy Swift. The worship team led by Josephine Kobusingye set the tone which was just a taster of what was to come.
Sandie Keene a previous accomplished leader was an excellent conference facilitator for the day. She exuded warmth and a deep understanding by her words and body language. She was efficient and her humorous approach to timekeeping using traffic light cards was very well received as chuckles echoed around the room. No one got issued with a red card.
Clarissa Notice our first speaker gave women permission to find out who they are in Christ. By allowing transformation to take place one would behold the glory of God. Three young women from RCC read bible verses following each speaker namely Bethany Kibutu, Megan Hunt and Tiffany Kibutu. Their scriptures pertained to virtuous women.
Rev Lyn Weston our second speaker addressed the conference with her personal testimony of surviving domestic abuse and encouraged women to speak out. Lyn allowed the Lord to use her which connected beautifully with what Clarissa had shared.
Our ears were treated to a medley of songs played on the saxophone by Cynthia Palmer-Golding. The delegates sang along in particular to ‘’ How great thou art ‘’
Lunch was another highlight. The cuisine was mouth-wateringly presented with a plethora of choices, catering for all dietary requirements. A very firm favourite was Ricky Williams’s fried dumplings. After lunch the ladies dispersed to their chosen workshops of which there was a total of four. Within the workshops they allowed the women to be interactive and concentrate on sharing and praying which was so special and releasing.
Afternoon tea followed with Jamaican rum cake and further networking. The worship team led the women into a time of worshipping God. The presence of the Lord was palpable as voices sang out in unison in praise and adoration. The prayer team were invited to come alongside those that needed prayer.
The closing speaker was Nkechi Aniegboka-Okoh a formidable woman of God. She communicated the Word in her unique direct style.
Nkechi reminded us that as women we have the power of influence. We are influential and not to allow ourselves to be put down.
The conference closed with the words of thanks by the moderator and Paulette. Recognition was given to all the men that had made the day a very special one for the ladies to have had a transforming experience.”