The heart and spirit of God permeated throughout the Los Angeles Family Church where an ACLC Women in Ministry conference was held on August 12, 2017. With the theme, “Women Stay United in the Heart and Spirit of God Uplifting Marriage and Family,” around 40 people attended the conference to gain a deeper understanding of family and the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony.

Dr. Eva Benson, from the First Summit Evangelical Church, delivered a comprehensive and moving presentation called “The Family is School of Love.” She emphasized that brokenness in the family puts one in a unique position to understand God’s heart and quoted Genesis 6:6 that states: “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart.”

She explained that God had an original purpose for the family. He created the family for all individuals to develop their sensitivity to love and to grow their capacity to love, as the Lord declared in Ezekiel 36:26-28:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.  Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”

Rev. Courtina Reid from Christ Community Truth Church, along with First Lady Peggy Briggs from Christian Light MBC delivered a clear and informative presentation on the “Restoration of Marriage and Family” and the significance of the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony.

Following their presentation, Rev. Dr. Tanya Edwards, Senior Pastor of the New York City Family Church, conveyed a rousing, spirit-filled keynote address on the importance of parents passing on God’s heart and lineage through the family. Then her husband, Bishop Jesse Edwards joined her to conduct the Holy Wine Ceremony and the Blessing of Marriage.

Upon reflection, Jennifer Pierce, an active member of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), said: “I was grateful to receive so much loving guidance from so many clergy who wanted to give so much love and guidance so that, as young people, we might inherit their foundation.” She specifically appreciated how Dr. Tanya Edwards emphasized the importance of family, saying, “Sometimes I think we forget how much the family needs church.”

Evangelist Yvonne Mullings from Plain Truth Ministries received the Blessing with her husband and said: “How wonderful it is to see men and women coming together in unity for the family! We have had such a heartfelt and rewarding experience.”

The program concluded with a delicious lunch served by volunteers from the Los Angeles Family Church. During lunch, four young people, representing CARP and the Greater Los Angeles Family Church community were given Ambassador for Peace appointments. The overall event was a very positive and illuminating experience which drew everyone in attendance together as family.

Prepared by FFWPU USA