Recap:  Renewed Vision - Orlando’s World Discipleship Summit 2022 

Our worldwide fellowship of the International Churches of Christ began a pattern in the 2000’s of hosting a large international gathering of our members every 4 years.  After a two-year wait, thanks to a Covid delay,  the long-awaited and much-prayed-for Renewed Vision World Discipleship Summit (www.worlddiscipleshipsummit.com) kicked off on Wednesday, July 27^th and ran through several exciting tracks of classes, lessons, and events, up to the climactic Sunday worship service on August 7^th at the Orlando Convention Center in Florida, USA. Approximately 11,000 attended in person with 3000 participating online.

If you registered for the conference, you automatically have virtual access to recorded lessons. If you didn’t register and would like virtual access, you can click here to purchase or for more information. (https://wds2022.virtualrunway.co/opener/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwds2022.virtualrunway.co%2F)

Your sisters who volunteer at www.womentoday.international, wanted to take the opportunity to share some highlights with you from the women’s perspective.

For us, this conference was a landmark – nearly three years ago, God planted the seed of the idea to create a website “by and for ICOC women” in our minds at a women’s luncheon at the International Leadership Conference of 2021 in San Diego.  Since then, we’ve been praying together and working together almost weekly to create www.womentoday.international for our sisters around the world. In Orlando met one another face to face for the first time! 

At a similar luncheon in Orlando on July 30^th, Bola Sowoolu of London, UK, who has recently assumed the women’s chair role for the UK and Nordic family of churches and joined the Women’s Service Team, urged us from the Scriptures to have our spiritual eyes open, so God can give us His vision and we can see possibilities in spite of all the difficulties that surround us. To God’s glory she met two women who became disciples even during the very strict UK Covid lockdowns. We loved seeing the many powerful mother-daughter teams that were visible at this event: Bola’s daughter Temi, who’s a new mother, and serves as Teen Minister with her husband in London, was there with her family; Saraí Serra, chair of the Women’s Service Team and her daughter Cami, who emceed the luncheon and kept all the tech running smoothly are another example; and Sharon Gauthier (Elders’ Service Team and Women’s Service Team) and her daughter Camille partner to help keep womentoday.international up to date! 

Caption: l-r: Cami Serra, Buenos Aires, Argentina (her mom Saraí is at far right), Temi Sowoolu, London, UK (her mom Bola is the tallest, 4th from left) with Gillianne Brisebois from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and Erica Fortina who just moved from Milan, Italy to the USA this summer

We want to express our gratitude to the churches and individuals  who generously donated to allow us to host a booth in the exhibition center.

Thanks to the talents and generosity of Jennifer Crandall   who designed the booth, we think our booth turned out to be THE most attractive in the entire hall! Our aim to create greater brand awareness was realized as we handed out thousands of postcards, stickers and tote bags to many women in our churches who had no idea that we have a women’s website dedicated to the voice of ICOC women. Dozens of women every day stopped by to chat and over 80 signed up to share their stories or their gifts and their time in support of our website’s aim to inspire, train, grow together spiritually and connect with one another for our mutual strengthening in our women’s ministries around the world. Click here to view our Booth Highlights

You might be interested to know about the groups, individuals, services and businesses who exhibited at Vision. We discovered so many great ideas and resources there which we might never otherwise have known about. You can find them on the new ICOC Events app, downloadable from the Apple Store or Google Play. 

We thought you’d be encouraged to see a list of the roughly 140 women who spoke at this event (below). Some listed here shared their class with their husbands or others, some spoke on their own. (If you notice a mistake or an omission, please use the response form at the very bottom of the home page here on our site to let us know! We used the ICOC Events app to compile this list.)

Many speakers acknowledged in their classes that the world and the culture in various places pressing in on our churches feels a little crazy and out of control, perhaps to a degree we’ve never experienced before. Many attendees commented that it felt strange, a little scary and wonderful (all at the same time!) to be meeting back together in such a large group, post-pandemic. One of the most-quoted rallying cries we heard was a triumphant, “We’re back!” from both young and old.

After this experience, we are full of vision, inspiration and ideas. Please feel free to share yours with us, as many of you do, by filling out the response form at the bottom of the home page. We love hearing from you. We’ll do our best to respond appropriately to your thoughts and ideas.

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (ILC) entitled, “Cruciform”

Robin Hawkins, Gateway City Church, St. Louis The Emotionally and Spiritually Healthy Leader

Megan Bliley, Auckland, New Zealand, The Supremacy of Christ in our Evangelism

Duchana Gille, New York, USA,  Testimonial -  women’s general session (several other amazing women shared testimonies in this session)

Elena Wooten, Chisinau, Moldova, Women’s general session

Listiana Hartono, SEA Region, Indonesia, Built up and Strengthened

Suliana Sibuea, SEA Region, Indonesia, Built up and Strengthened (How to facilitate inter-generational collaborative leadership with respect and humility)

Carie Lounsbury, Los Angeles, California, USA,  Mysteries Revealed (How to draw inspiration and understanding from God’s word to teach with vision and passion)

Fatima Jimenez, Mexico, Bearing Much Fruit

Melissa Miller, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Bearing Much Fruit (How to grow a dynamic ministry that honors Christ)

Arlene Markowski, New York,  USA, Staying Connected

Irene Renton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Staying Connected

Cathy Marutzky, Antelope Valley California, USA, Letting Peace Rule, How to take care of our emotional, mental and spiritual health

Deb de Flores, Austin Texas, USA, Christ Online

Alexandra Ghoman, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, Christ Online

Dulce Cruz, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Alive in Christ, Spiritual Disciplines

Sherie Gayle, Baltimore, Maryland USA, Women as Image-bearers

Anne-Brigitte Taliaferro, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Women as Image-bearers

Rolayo Ogbonnaya, Lagos, Nigeria, Leading with a Limp

Tammy Fleming, East London, UK, Leading with a Limp

Dr. Jennifer Konzen, San Diego, California, USA, Christ-centered Intimacy, for your marriage

Stacy Fridley, New York City, NY, Parenting while Pastoring

Angelia Phua, Singapore, Parenting while Pastoring

Susan Wedin, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, Children’s Ministry session, Partnering with the Next Generation for a Better Tomorrow

OPENING GENERAL SESSION (All Conferences)

Amelia Quintanilla, Los Angeles, California, USA,

CAMPUS (ICMC)

Cortney McGuirk Paris, France, World Missions

Tiffany Ardron, Los Angeles, California, USA, Prayer

Melina Hutchins, New River Valley Church, Virginia, USA, Family

Alexandra Ghoman, Charleston South Carolina, USA, Useful to the Master, Campus ministry workshop, reliable people

Hannah Persing, New York, USA, Vision

Patty Mata, Washington, DC, USA Church planting

Josie Ziegler, Texas, USA, Love for God

Alexandria Ackerman, Denver, USA, Reliance on God, Women After God’s Own Heart

Charley Stevenson, Orange County, California USA, Useful to the Master, Campus Minister workshop, Season One: Teaching and Calling

Ryane Adeniran, Los Angeles, California, USA, Campus women’s general session

Ally Saxton, Triangle church of Christ, North Carolina, USA, Holiness

Megan Day, Alberquerque, New Mexico, USA, One Another

Marielos Lewu, Miami, Florida, USA, Navigating Culture

Melissa Miller, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Useful to th Master, Campus Ministry workshop, Season Two: Training and Sending

Melissa Abello, Columbia, Missouri, USA, Sacrifice

Lindsay Heigerick, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Updating Dating

Kelli Smith, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, USA, How to Train and be trained in an ever-changing world

Yung Gore, San Diego, California USA, Seasoned with Salt: Setting the framework for how to have difficult conversations

SINGLES

Jyllyann Samuel, Los Angeles, California, USA, Renewing The Single Life – Yo Pro

Melissa Abello  Columbia, Missouri, USA The Goodness of Sexuality

Rachel Deleault, Austin Texas, USA, A Renewed View of Relationships

Sara Saltos, Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, USA, Renewing the Heart of Jesus, Leadership track

Markieta Marks, South Sound,  Washington State,  USA,  Victorious

Nicole Padilla, Los Angeles, California, USA, Renewed Approach

Joelecia King, New York, USA, Renewing your Ministry – Leadership track

Mary Mains, Los Angeles, California, USA, From the fields to the Family – Mature Singles

Alanna Lund, Gainesville, Florida, USA, The Mission Beyond the Campus – YoPro

Joelecia King, New York, USA, Renewing your Mission

Jyllyann Samuel, Los Angeles, California, USA Renewed HOPE

Meagan Ziegler, HOPE Worldwide, Renewed Hope

Ryan Kwasniewski, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Singles General Session: Renewed Sisterhood

STRONGER (mental health and wellbeing)

Cresenda Jones, Space Coast Church, Florida, USA, Mindpowered Vision: How to Create Life to the Full

Julie Landi, North River, Georgia, USA, Without Vision Women Perish: How to Discover and Live Out Your Unique God-Given Dream

Cathy Marutzky, Antelope Valley, California, USA, Negative Thinking, Getting Rid of Negative Thoughts that Lead to Stress and Anxiety

Jennifer Lopez, Los Angeles, California, USA, Relational Recovery, Making Sense of Church Hurts

Christina Charley, Jacksonville, Florida USA, Get FIT (Focused Inner Transformation) and take back your health!

Socorro Carranza, Los Angeles, California, USA, Conquer Diabetes

Dr. Jennifer Konzen, San Diego, California, USA, Helping Couples Recover from Addiction

Lin Ottenweller, North River, Georgia, USA, How to Discover and Live Out your Unique God-given Dream

FOREVER FAITHFUL (empty nesters)

Tammy Fleming, East London, UK, General session, Living Faithful when the Unthinkable Happens

Kim Evans, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, So You Want to Be an Elder Couple

Melissa Bump, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Christian Yoga (Full Body Prayer)

Maria Rogers, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, Let’s Get Real about Parenting Adult Children

Saun Galang, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, Keeping Your Marriage Intimate through the Later Years

Meekyoung Yi, Northern Virginia, USA, Keeping Your Marriage Intimate through the Later Years

Michelle Carrillo, Los Angeles, California, USA, The Light and Easy Yoke – Learning Unburdened, Healthy Christianity

Kay McKean, Maui, Hawaii, USA, Still Discovering Your Spiritual Journey

Melissa Bump, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Becoming a Priscilla and Aquila Power Couple

Sharisse Lucas, Guam Christian Church, How to Effectively Train/Disciple/Mentor Younger Women in Today’s World

Nadine Temper, Kathmandu, Nepal, How to Effectively Train/Disciple/Mentor Younger Women in Today’s World

Lapatic Francis, Orlando, Florida, USA, Women’s General Session, Life Lessons We’ve Learned to Remain Forever Faithful

Sally Hooper, Dallas, Texas, USA, Successful and Spiritual Grandparenting

Marcia Lamb, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, The Grief Journey – Recovery through the Eyes of Jesus

Lilian Hislop, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, It’s Not Too Late to Embrace Unified Diversity

Peggy Malutinok, North River, Georgia, USA, Opportunities to Make a World Impact through HOPE Worldwide

Libby Rock, Orlando, Florida, USA, Parenting Adult Children Through Hardships and Addiction

Terry Axe, Orlando, Florida, USA, Living Faithful through Childhood Trauma

Ruby Mitchell, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Living Faithful through Disappointments

Jeanie Shaw, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, Living Faithful through Sickness

YOUTH AND FAMILY

Nancy Jensen, Central Florida, USA, Exceptional Families, Unity in Marriage, Children with Special Needs

Courtney Montgomery, Denver, Colorado, USA, HOPE Worldwide, Service at Home and Abroad

Nadine Templer, Nepal, Katmandu, HOPE Worldwide, Service at Home and Abroad; Transformed through Service

Laura Hicks, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Bring on the Change!

Melissa Tulloch, North River, Georgia, USA, Children’s Ministry, Taking it to the Next Level

Kathy Boger, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Embracing Adoption

Lila Harris, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Middle School General Session: Now Run!

Susan Wedin, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, Best Practices to Keep your Children’s Ministry Safe

Vicky Bergem, San Diego, California, USA, Having a Great Children’s Ministry

Nadine Templer, Kathmandu, Nepal, Adoption and Parenting

Sharon Gauthier, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Heroic Parenting: Raising Families in the Multiverse of Madness

Arlene Markowski, New York, USA, Heroic Parenting: Raising Families in the Multiverse of Madness

Jennifer Lopez, Los Angeles, California, USA, Spiritual Formation: Engaging God through Meditation (Teens) Talking to your Kids About Sex (Parents, preschool to 5^th grade)

Kristen Lamb, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Partnering with Parents (Teens)

Kristen Balzer, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Spiritual Formation 101 – How to Read Your Bible

Lauren Schamaun, Maryland, USA, Planting and Watering Faith in Teens

Sara Saltos, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Girl Friends and Guy Friends (Teens)

Jeanie Shaw, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, Women of Faith (Teens)

Elizabeth Thompson, Georgia, USA, Women of Faith (Teens)

Roxanne Little, Breaking Free (Teens)

Lauren Peterson, Illinois, USA, Female Sexuality (Teens)

Sherie Gayle, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, Look Through the Ceiling to the Heavens! (Teens)

Angela Wens, Houston, Texas, USA, God Made Me (Teens)

Deb Eskew, Vicky Bergem, California, USA, Parenting Children with Special Needs

Heather Geeting, Pennsylvania, USA, When the Evening Comes (Intimacy for Marrieds)

Xin Batino, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sharing Horizons that are New to Us (Second Marriages)

Karen Louis, Dallas, Texas, USA, Good Enough Parenting

Bethany Monday, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Media and Technology: the Good and Bad Influence (Parents)

Beth Kreider, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Know the Times: Parenting in a Post-Christian World

Tami Ryter, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA, Crucial Conversations 6^th grade to high school (Parenting)

Angela DeAquino, Denver, Colorado, USA, Creating Your Village: Relationships and Mentors for Your Family

Heidi Ammons, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Women’s Teen Session: Favored

Michelle Curtis, Houston, Texas, USA, Women’s Teen Session: Favored

Melannie Poliarco, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Caring for Adults with Special Needs

Vanessa Bridges, Texas, USA, Caring for Adults with Special Needs

Virgen Fernandez, Broward church, Florida, USA, Married to an Unbeliever

Erlyn Sugarman, Los Angeles California, USA, Working Together Day to Day: Evangelism in Marriage

Mary Hattaway, Broward church, Florida, USA, A Kiss For Luck and We’re on our Way: Finances and Marriage

Angel DeLory, Dallas, Texas, USA, Same-sex Attraction: Balanced and Christ-centered Parenting

Kim Rhyne, Denver, Colorado, USA, A New Legacy: Breaking the Cycle of Generational Dysfunction

Cheryl Hammer, Santa Clarita, California, USA, The Next Chapter: Multi-generational Family Dynamics

Marci Strickland, Broward church, Florida, USA, Planting the Seed: The Power of Family Culture

Stacy Fridley, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Raising Them to Let them Go (Parenting teens)

Tosan Livingstone, Kingston, Jamaica, Blended Families: United in Christ

DEAF MINISTRY

Katherine Cornish, Practicals and Discussion

Cheryl Hammer, California, USA, How to Start a Deaf Ministry

Jennifer Lopez, What is your Vision in your Deaf Ministry

SPANISH

Mireles Cruz, Iglesia de Cristo San Juan, Celebremos la Vida en Cristo

Luz Martinez, Dominican Republic,  Somos Iglesia: El Poder dl la Comunidad

Carolina Barreto, Los Angeles, California, USA, Somos Iglesia para el Mundo

Carrie Delgado, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Ama al Señor tu Dios con toda tu…mente: Salud Mental para Mujeres

Saraí Serra, Buenos Aires, Argentina, La Familia como el Primer Ministerio

COMMUNICATIONS

Kalah Haley, Denver, Colorado, Building Media Teams without Burnout