Regional conference is ROAR-ing success!

Shirene Agbelusi explains how God put on her heart the desire for women of all generations to join together

It was back in 2013 that I felt God place the desire in my heart that Coventry Elim would be a place where women from different churches, backgrounds and generations would gather to join hearts and voices to declare the goodness of God.

He gave me the desire to see hundreds of women in our church building learning from key influencers, encouraging, praying with and for each other. But as it was said of Mary in Luke 2:19, I treasured up all these things and pondered them in my heart, trusting that if it were God’s plan, he would pave the way.

Fast forward nearly a decade, and the ROAR Women’s Ministry team here at Coventry Elim had the pleasure of hosting an Aspire regional conference for the Midlands and North East Regions, where nearly 200 women from different generations, backgrounds and churches gathered to join hearts and voices to declare that the Lord is our rock: our firm foundation!

Like many other events, our annual conference had been on ‘pause’ because of Covid restrictions and uncertain times, so by the time the regional conference took place in Coventry, it had been two years since we had met in person, and we were more than ready.

We had all experienced such troubling times, where there had been so much uncertainty and so much around us had been shaken, so the conference theme, ‘Firm Foundation’, resonated with all who attended. It was an opportunity to stand on the truth together that God is our firm foundation, resolutely looking to the one who is faithful and trustworthy.

In the weeks running up to the event each woman was prayed for by name and a dedicated team took time out to hear from heaven on their behalf. It was a joy to give each woman a prophetic card and share with them what we felt Father God had been saying. After reading her card one woman wrote to the team saying, “The prophetic word we were each given on arrival really built faith and expectancy for the day.”

Without a doubt that there was such a hunger in the room, we had a powerful time of worship together followed by captivating teaching from Rev Dr Kate Coleman that flowed into beautiful moments of prayer ministry.

Pastor Trudy Makepeace shared her inspiring story of how God had freed her from addiction and led us beautifully into a time of affirming our identity in Christ.

As the ROAR team shared their highlights with each other in the weeks that followed, it was clear that there was a tangible sense of the presence of God, who was moving in hearts, mind, and bodies that day. We reflected on the buzz in the room, the laughter that filled the air and the undeniable sense of sisterhood and solidarity. We may have waited two years, but it was well worth the wait!

We’re already excited about the next regional conference that will be taking place on Saturday 18 March 2023 at Coventry Elim for the Midlands and Northeast Regions. We can’t wait to see what God will do.

Shirene Agbelusi is the Associate Pastor at Coventry Elim, where she and her husband Sope started attending as students 20 years ago. They have two teenage children. Shirene is also part of the National Aspire Team.

First published in the February 2023 issue of Direction Elim’s monthly magazine.

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