WHEATLAND – There were nearly 200 people again this year at the third annual gathering of Sisters in Christ this weekend in Wheatland. 

Attended by people from around Platte and Goshen Counties, the event was started by Judy Miller of Wheatland, with help and support from many churches. It is not associated with any single church or denomination, Miller said. It is an event she started to help local Christian women have a time to come to fellowship and encourage one another in their lives and in their faith. 

This year’s event included time for attendees to get to know one another, and especially people they had never met. “Flower Power Hour” was an icebreaker in which people would mingle and ask a question of four strangers – that question being supplied randomly at the event.

While emphasizing the importance of interacting with and getting to know other Christians, there were several speakers who spoke on the theme of “Hope.”

“Hope is not a ‘maybe,’” said Michelle Jackson, one of the speakers Saturday morning. “Hope is a confident expectation. Lay your [situation]/ story down on the alter [of Jesus Christ]. You will see all your darkness be shattered with light. Jesus Christ can help you through any storm.”

She shared some insights into what has helped her through a multitude of years of trauma and difficulties: prayer, getting in the Word of God and staying in it, watching your words, worship, fellowship with other believers, and forgiveness.

“I have witnessed Jesus bring beauty from the ashes,” Miller said. Summing up her testimony that included many struggles and heartaches in her life, Miller emphasized, “God has always been faithful to provide everything.”

Another localspeaker, Peggy DesEnfants, said “faith” is required before “hope” can even happen. “Faith is ‘now,’ and hope is in the future.” She shared relatable personal anecdotes to explain how faith is something you can have now because you have seen something happen or know something is going to happen from experience. Like if you spill your coffee, you can have faith that there will be a mess. Hope is built on faith, and unlike coffee or many things in this world, when you build your faith and hope in Christ, it is reliable – it will never fail.

Miller said anyone is welcome to attend the Sisters In Christ event, and while there is a pre-registration option, there is no problem with people showing up the day of the event. Contact sistersinchristwyo@gmail.com to get on a list to be contacted for next year’s event.