Live from Synergy 2009
March 6, 2009 |
Here we are at Synergy 2009, and as in previous years, this promises to be a weekend of rich encouragement, challenge, and connection. This year's theme is "The Blessed Alliance," focused on the healthy, productive, God-ordained partnership relationships between men and women in his service. What a refreshing conversation!
In this evening's opening plenary session, we heard from featured speaker Dr. Alice Palmer Mathews. She discussed the biblical basis for the Blessed Alliance and challenged us to see partnership with our Christian brothers as a biblical mandate, necessary for body of Christ to function as it should.
Alice reminded us that the Blessed Alliance--this partnership between men and women, ordained by God--is not simply a horizontal relationship. It's not about men and women relating to one another effectively. Instead, it's about women and men working shoulder-to-shoulder in pursuit of God's vision, focused on doing what God has called them to do.
She ended with this statement: "When women are not using their gifts to the fullest extent, the Kingdom of God suffers." While many of us probably recognize this in context of just ourselves, this is even more powerful when you consider it in the larger context of the Blessed Alliance--of men and women working together. When women--and their gifts--are not present or a part of this relationship, it's not just we as women who suffer, but the Kingdom.
In case you haven't picked up on this yet, Synergy is a place where we speak frankly--and productively--about the issues women leaders face. Start now, making plans to join us here next year. I promise you'll be blessed!
More tomorrow!
Posted by Amy Simpson on March 6, 2009
Comments
I have been blessed and encouraged every time I hear Alice--about 12 times now. She always takes me to the Word, makes me think, digs deeper and calls me to make it real in my life!
Posted by: Judy D on March 8, 2009