Two of the top needs for ministry wives is friendship and prayer support according to Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Women’s Specialist Kelly King. In an effort to bridge those gaps, the 2016 Ministry Wives Weekend will offer opportunities for wives to connect and learn from others who share a similar calling.
The weekend event is scheduled Oct. 7-8, and will be held at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills. The keynote speaker will be popular author and speaker, Esther Burroughs. Burroughs authored the book, A Garden Path to Mentoring, which is the theme of this year’s conference.
“If I could sit at the feet of one woman and soak in her wisdom, it would be Esther Burroughs,” said King. “She just exudes Jesus, and is a precious mentor to many women across the country.”
Elizabeth Muzljakovich, ministry wife from Tulsa, View Acres, will lead worship.
“I love that our main sessions will feature two opposite ends of the generational spectrum,” said King. “Our desire is not only to discuss the importance of blending generations and encourage relationships, but also to model it from the stage.”
Special guests, Nick and Jaime Parker, will be featured on Friday evening. The Parkers are owners of the Restore House in Broken Arrow, and founders of Born Again Restored. They are members of Broken Arrow, The Church at Battlecreek.
“If women are fans of the television show ‘Fixer Upper’, then Nick and Jamie are the Chip and Joanna Gaines of Oklahoma,” said King. “Their love for restoring houses and sharing the Gospel are infectious, and I’m very excited to have them at our event.”
In addition to the Parkers speaking Friday evening, Nick Parker has constructed a family farm table that will be given away to one lucky ministry wife.
“We believe mentoring and relationships begin around the table, and we want to encourage those conversations by providing this special gift to one ministry family,” explained King.
During the event, ministry wives will be placed in small groups that will offer intentional ongoing relationships that are designed to continue past the weekend event.
“Many times, women come to our event and leave without taking the next step of application. We want to intentionally help women find friendships and prayer support with other wives that will continue through the next year,” King shared.
Ministry wife Heather Duncan will also offer a pre-conference on Friday afternoon. Duncan will teach some practical helps on urban gardening.
King added, “Many women would love to learn more about gardening, and this session will give them some practical helps they can use at home.”
The cost of the weekend is $59 per person, and registration ends on Sept. 19. The Ministry Wives Weekend is supported through gifts by Oklahoma Baptists to the Cooperative Program.
For more information, a detailed schedule and online registration, visit www.bgcowomen.org.
