Over 950 women from over five states filled the RiverPark Center this weekend for the two-day Connecting Ministries Women’s Conference: Awaken Owensboro. The guest speaker at this year’s conference was New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst.
TerKeurst, a highly sought-after keynote presenter who will speak at more than 40 events across North America this year, was an answer to prayer in the eyes of Connecting Ministries president Cheryl Goss.
Goss moved to Owensboro in 2010 and said God soon began laying it on her heart to work with the women in the Owensboro community.
“Christian women were hurting, but had smiles on their faces as if they had it all together,” Goss said. “Yet they were crumbling on the inside with marriage issues, addiction, abuse or the loss of a child.”
Goss saw it as her calling to begin building a community in which women could come together and share their stories, so Goss founded Connecting Ministries. According to their website, “Connecting Ministries was founded in 2015 to come alongside churches, organizations, and individuals, equipping and empowering them to live out God’s Word.”
According to Goss, it is a non-denominational ministry that allows women to step outside of their comfort zones in a non-judgemental, non-threatening way for one purpose — to share the word of God.
Goss said she had the opportunity to meet TerKeurst at an event several years ago, and began praying about having her as a guest speaker in Owensboro. Goss was then offered the opportunity to present her ideas and her ministry to TerKeurst’s team for consideration.
“I was completely humbled and honored that she would want to be a part of this ministry,” Goss said.
Goss said she has been even more humbled by the prayer requests that are brought before her daily and weekly.
“I don’t think people in our community understand the mental health of what we’re walking through,” Goss said. “I want to be able to build this organization so that we can crumble those walls down — and can support and build a strong community of believers walking with each other.”
Goss said Connecting Ministries isn’t just about connecting and supporting the women in the Owensboro community; it’s about bringing others that aren’t believers and serving the organizations that serve our community.
Connecting Ministries gave out over 75 complimentary tickets to the Awaken event through scholarship to organizations like the women of Friends of Sinners, Care Net and New Life Baptist Church.
“This is a perfect opportunity to share what these organizations are doing in our community and sharing their needs as a mission project,” Goss said. “We want to be able to support these organizations and the good they are doing for our community in Owensboro,” adding that there were tables available at the conference for ladies to donate items or sign up to volunteer.
Goss said Connecting Ministries, who also hosts an annual event in Alabama, already has the guest speakers for Owensboro booked through 2020. In November 2019, New York Times best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs and popular Bible teacher and speaker Margaret Feinberg will present. Author and “Life Today” co-host Sheila Walsh will present in November of 2020.
As for how well the ministry has been received by such notable guest speakers, Goss believes it is a wonderful opportunity for women in the community to sit under incredible teaching.
“I just never in my wildest dreams thought we’d be where we are today, especially after two years,” Goss said.
To learn more about Connecting Ministries or future events please click here.
