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March 8, 2009

Live from Synergy 2009--Day 3

by by Caryn Rivadeneira and Amy Simpson

Well, Synergy 2009 is officially over, and we have to say we?re overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the life-changing messages we heard this weekend, with the blessing of being surrounded by so many gifted women leaders, by the incredible calling God has placed on his people, and by the tremendous potential of what women can accomplish in responding to that calling.

Wow. So how do we summarize the experience? Well, maybe it will help to share a few of our favorite quotes from the plenary speakers at this year?s event:

On relationships between men and women: "What do people think about God
when they see how we relate to one another?" —Carolyn Custis James

On using gifts: "When women are not using gifts to the fullest extent, the
Kingdom of God suffers." —Alice Matthews

On men encouraging women: "Joseph gets behind God?s calling on Mary's
life." —Carolyn Custis James

On competition between women leaders: "Women are taught to compete with
one another from Day 1. [We learn] there can only be one prettiest girl in
class." —Lauren Winner

On continual learning: "We can't get by on what we already know... [If
we do] we are dim shadows of the God we're supposed to reflect." —Carolyn Custis James

On education/empowerment/something: "We have the responsibility to make
our own arms strong." —Alice Matthews

On the Synergy conference: "It's good to be at a woman's conference
that doesn't have spa in the title." —Lauren Winner

On the Proverbs 31 Woman: "She's Lady Wisdom in street clothes." —Alice Matthews

Good stuff, huh?

The greatest thing about Synergy, though, is not the challenging and informative workshops. It's not the times of worship or the powerful teaching. It's the group of people who come together. Synergy is a unique gathering of women who are exercising their leadership gifts in church and parachurch ministry. It's an unbelievable opportunity to rub shoulders with people who are making a difference in all kinds of places, responding to the call of God in gifting them for his service.

Sound good? Then please plan to join us for the Synergy conference next year. We'd love to meet you there!

And we'd love to hear from some of the women who attended Synergy 2009.
What did you take away from conference? What did God do in your life while you were there? How will you put into practice what you've learned?

Posted by Amy Simpson on March 8, 2009 4:45 PM

Comments

I wanted to be at Synergy so badly this year! From just these quotes, I can only imagine how great the rest of it was.

But like you said, what I long for most as a woman in ministry is "rub shoulders" and to be among other women who share my successes and frustrations with our lives.

I hope I can make it next year!

Posted By: Moll | March 9, 2009 9:13 AM

Synergy was great! I came away with so many new thoughts, I'm not sure what to do with all of it, but I will leave it to the Holy Spirit to help me sort it all out. I definitely won't be the same.

Posted By: Ruth | March 9, 2009 11:36 AM

The women at Synergy are remarkable. I was blown away by how many women I met who are in influential positions of leadership, and how many are shining as beacons where God has planted them. And I really appreciated the message of this conference: men and women should work together, not oppose one another. That was the way God created us.

Posted By: Christy | March 9, 2009 11:40 AM

I totally wrote down that same quote about when women don't use their gifts! It's amazing to hear (for once, it seems!) that the Kingdom of God actually suffers when women (or Ezers!) don't live as God intended them too. Great stuff. Totally lifted me up!

For what it's worth, though: I remember Carolyn James saying it---not Alice Matthews. Better go check my notes! I guess it really doesn't matter--as long as someone said it!

Posted By: A.J. | March 9, 2009 3:45 PM

I went to Synergy alone. Physically alone, by myself, but also feeling very much spiritually and emotionally alone. I already believe that the only way forward for the kingdom is through this Blessed Alliance that Carolyn describes so eloquently. I've spent the last year-plus trying to persuade people in my place of service that this is the way we need to go. And I have been overwhelmed by the opposition. Opposition from male leaders who don't want to include women in their mix. Opposition from women who are content with their low-responsibility low-accountability lifestyle. And saddest of all, indifference from women who tried to work this way, got nowhere and have now walked away in frustration. So I came in feeling down, discouraged and quite doubtful about myself. I was beginning to think maybe I had it all wrong.

I shared this with another woman there. I told her I was discouraged and felt disqualified, and that I doubted my own convictions and maybe even my own sanity. And she looked at me and said, "NO! You are not crazy or disqualified or wrong. Look around this room. There are 200-plus people here who agree with the Blessed Alliance."

She comforted my heart. So did Alice and Carolyn and Lauren. So did other women. I am so grateful to all of you who put this conference together, to the women who spent time with me, and to our God for bringing me to a place of renewal for the battle.

Posted By: LDM | March 9, 2009 4:33 PM

"When women are not using gifts to the fullest extent, the
Kingdom of God suffers." --Alice Matthews

YES!

Welcome back, Caryn. I can't wait to hear how your workshops went!

Posted By: Robyn | March 10, 2009 9:51 AM

Thanks for the quotable quotes, Caryn! I'm just now reviewing my notes from the weekend. There's so much to process. My favorite part of the conference had more to do with the depth of the speakers and content...it was truly a "no fluff zone." And that is a breath of fresh air.

In one workshop, I saw women clamoring for depth in their women's ministries. They were tired of the event-driven fluff that is apparently still being offered around the country. I must be blessed in my part of Texas, where so many churches offer solid Bible study, mentoring, and community. I was surprised at the widespread frustration evident in the leaders' voices and faces during that workship.

Synergy provided much-needed networking for me and the others seeking resources, ideas, and encouragement. I encourage any lay or staff leader to book her flight now for the 2010 conference next March!

Posted By: Kelley | March 11, 2009 7:47 AM

Amen,Amen,Amen! This conference was such a validating and affirming event of God's call to women! Seeing an army of 200 women with the same call gives me confidence, boldness and encouragement! Praise God for Carolyn stepping out with the truth that many women have felt in their inner being! Praise God for the Board, for the excellent speakers and facilitators! God's bugle blast is being heard and the army is waking!

Posted By: Lori | March 11, 2009 12:12 PM

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