By Sharon Mager
WESTMINSTER, Md. —The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware will sponsor “Breathless: A Gathering for Women,” at Westminster Baptist Church on Sept. 20-21. The conference will include plenary sessions, breakouts, opportunities to purchase Worldcraft products, and a chance to relax and meet new friends.
Grace Thornton
The popular gathering brings Maryland and Delaware women of all ages and ethnicities together for a time of refreshment, praise and worship, and challenge. Melody Knox, BCM/D church strengthening specialist for women, said the purpose of “Breathless” is to bring a holistic approach to women’s work in churches and to assist women in becoming more effective in various ministries in their churches.
This year’s speakers are Grace Thornton and Gayla Parker. Thornton is an award-winning journalist, author, former International Mission Board missionary, and blogger at gracefortheroad.com. She is the author of “Unshakable Pursuit: Chasing the God Who Chases Us” and regularly shares with various groups across the nation.
Gayla Parker has ministered for over 35 years, serving internationally as a missionary with her husband Freddy, and as a pastor’s wife, speaker, and teacher. Additionally, she authored “Active Compassion: A Calling to Care.”
Women in Maryland and Delaware especially know and love Parker. She and Freddy served with the BCM/D for seven years, she as a missions education missionary and as the Women’s Missionary Union executive director, and Freddy as a missionary for Acts 1:8 and church ministry relations.
Gayla Parker
Currently, Parker is as an adjunct professor at Ouachita Baptist University and a hospice chaplain. She also serves as a women’s ministry leader at her church. She enjoys running, “hanging out with her friends and family over coffee,” and playing the violin. She is pursuing a doctorate in systematic theology.
Both speakers will sell and sign their books at the conference.
The cost for the conference is $30 through August 30, or $40 afterward, and includes a dessert bar on Friday, and a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Register online.
For those staying the night, a block of rooms has been reserved at Days Inn by Wyndham Westminster. The group rate is $144.30. Use the code word “Breathless.”
For more information, contact Demetra Bennett, 1.800.466.5290, ext. 218.