The Woman's Conference That Changed my Life

Crown Center Hotel area (Kansas City, MO)

 

When I was 18 I went through one of the darkest parts of my life. I'm not sure how good I was at hiding it, but I at least put on a good show. January of 2000 a couple came to my church at the time (Word of Grace Christian Center) in Lompoc, CA. They were from World Revival Church out of Kansas City, MO, and I couldn't believe anyone could be as happy as they were. I thought, "Oh, they're just from the Mid-West, that happiness is fake." However, I was completely wrong, and by the third service I was ready to jump in their luggage. Not only was their happiness genuine, but I had been so impacted by their ministry I was ready to leave California for good. I stayed in Lompoc, went to community college, and in May of 2000, I heard of a women's conference in Kansas City. A lot of people, including the leadership of the church had visited the ministry of Steve and Kathy Gray in Smithton, MO. 

At the time the church (Smithton Community Church), which had quarter of million people visit, was moving to Kansas City, MO. They had been in revival since 1996, and lives around the world were being changed. I was so excited to make this trip back east I could hardly contain myself. I had gone to revivals in California, and had even be part of one as a teenager. I was familiar with the move of God, yet I had a strong relationship with the spirit of the world. Because I had lived a double life for so long, that was the main reason my life was so dark. It was taking its toll on me, and a spiritual band-aid was not going to be enough to handle the problem. When my mother and I finally reached Kansas City, I didn't know what to expect. I just knew that these people from Smithton had something I wanted, the presence of God. The women's conference was held at the Crown Center Hotel complex in Downtown Kansas City, MO. When our group went to the sessions, we were all amazed at the teachings by Pastor Kathy, and Adonica Howard-Brown. At one point Pastor Kathy went around praying for the ladies in the room. I noticed people responding, and being touched mightily by God. When she came to me...nothing. Nothing happened, and that got my attention. 

I didn't know what to do, because I was used to God touching me. It bothered me so much, I went to my hotel room alone. I didn't really know how to pray at the time, or how to pray prayers God recognized as prayer. I just knew something wasn't right, and the problem was me. I got down on my face, with my bible open, and asked God, "why aren't you touching me?" I didn't hear a response from God; I just cried. I cried and told God, "what have I done? Something is wrong with me." I had no clue that God was really hearing me, and I was saying the right thing to God. I didn't approach him like, "what's the matter with you God, I'm here, come on?" That night I came to the service hoping for a second chance with God. When prayer time came, I responded. A prayer warrior came in front of me, and began to pray. For the first time all weekend, I could feel God's presence seeping into my heart. It was like He hammered a little crack through the wall that was built over my heart, and he broke in. That little touch changed the course of my life forever. Our group was only able to stay through worship on Sunday, and we were flying back to California. So I was only in Kansas City for less than 72 hours, but it was the weekend that changed my life. I don't know what would have happened if I had refused to attend this women's conference. I do know though that God was up to some good in the lives of many women that May of 2000. He was putting the pieces together behind the scenes to touch and transform lives. I'm just one testimony, think of the other women who had dramatic touches that year.

So this week is the start of the Arise Women's conference in Kansas City, MO. It's not in a hotel, but on the property of World Revival Church. WRC is a place that continues to change lives, and rescue people. We have a group of women from the church in Ciesyzn, Poland attending the conference, and a group from Warsaw, Poland as well. My heart is overflowing with joy, because they get to stand in a place that is so precious to me. Just the other day I got some pictures of the ladies from Ciesyzn standing in the House of Hope and Healing. Our church prayed for the nations to come to that place years ago, and look...it's happening. This weekend God is drawing women from around the world to strengthen, encourage, convict, transform, set free, and equip. Who knows that there is a girl or a woman in the same condition as I was, and this is her weekend to get a crack of salvation in her heart. She might only have 72 hours or less, but I believe this weekend's Arise conference is going to be the weekend of changed lives. 

When I was 18, you would not have looked at me and said, "that girl with the Billabong sweatshirt...yeah that girl, she's going to be a missionary to Poland." My family and I would have looked right back and said, "no way." I was not missionary material, but God had a wonderful plan all along. He is a savior, and his mercy goes deeper than we deserve. I had a wonderful opportunity to attend the World Revival School of Ministry and get trained in how to be a carrier of revival. I went through deep character building, refinement of my personality and priorities, and I broke up with the spirit of the world. I made a commitment to Jesus, and gave my heart to him alone. That in itself was the best thing I had ever done for myself, and for Jesus. He deserved to have a heart that was truly all his. I thank Jesus from the bottom of my heart for the women's conference of 2000, because it was the conference that changed my life. The women's conference of 2015 is going to be extraordinary, and for those who were able to attend they will leave transformed. This is not just a good idea, I know from personal experience, and my faith says so

There is still time to make an effort to get to Kansas City to attend this conference, but there's also another one coming next year if you can't make it this time. We don't know who we could become, if we never step out into God's mercy. Our view of ourselves is completely different from what God sees. He sees us doing great things, and always talks better about us than we deserve. Sometimes we must get out of our comfort zones, and step into the God zone. It's not comfortable, but it is life changing. Do you need a change in your life? What are you doing to make that happen? I would suggest that if you need something bigger than a band-aid you might consider going to a spiritual hospital, and getting truly restored. On the other side is the destiny that has been prepared for you since before time began. Why wait another moment, make plans to step into God's plan for you life this year. You won't regret it!


Inside view of the sanctuary at the View High Campus of World Revival Church, Kansas City, MO
@2015 World Revival Church, used with permission.