By Baptist Message staff
PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Christ’s hope, peace and power can carry believers through difficult circumstances, keynote speaker Andrea Lennon said during the 2021 Embrace women’s conference, March 20.
“God loves you and God has a plan for your life,” Lennon told just under 100 women at First Baptist Church, Pineville, and others tuning in online. “We can walk in faith and hope and confidence, even in the unknown situations and circumstances of life.”
Lennon, a Little Rock, Arkansas-based, writer and speaker, said in her message, focused on Romans 15:13, that Christ’s followers can remain hopeful because Jesus overcame the grave; the Holy Spirit lives inside them; God’s Word tells them how to live; they are members of God’s family; and He has a plan for each person.
“We serve the God of hope,” Lennon said. “It positions us to see all of the ways He is present, active and providing.”
Lennon stressed that when trouble comes, believers can remain confident because God will walk beside them.
“Joy and peace are not the absence of problems, but rather the assurance that God is with us,” she said.
“Embrace” was an event for women of all cultures and generations to realize their God-given value and purpose, organizers said. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the conference was a hybrid experience that allowed participants to attend in-person or via livestream.
“Embrace” featured Lennon’s messages; prayer; music led Alayasia White, the worship leader from Grace Community Church in Baton Rouge; a panel of missionaries; testimonies; and Bible study. The women also heard reports from the Woman’s Missionary Union scholarship committee and the Week of Prayer Planning Committee.
“It was important that women gather in person for Embrace; it was just as important that we provide the live-steam feature,” Louisiana Baptists women’s missions and ministry strategist Janie Wise told the Baptist Message.
“It has been a long year of uncertainties, apprehension and loss. Embrace 2021 marks for us a turning point and a fresh start. The Embrace experience includes pre-recorded breakout sessions that go live on Monday. Making good use of technology is one thing we carry out of the COVID experience.”
Women who pre-registered for Embrace (March 20 in-person and livestream event) may use the emailed link they received to view the recorded breakout conferences through April 30. Others may access the videos, starting March 24, via a link on LouisianaBaptists.org/Women for a cost of $20 (an amount equal to the registration fee paid by the original participants).
