Local churches live-streamed a two-day event Feb. 5-6 to bring women together to talk about God, Jesus and their calling in life.
Highland Church of Christ and The Well live-streamed the IF: Gathering, an annual event that took place in Austin and encouraged women around the world to telecast the conference in churches, homes and communities.
Shea Lea Roberson, the director of Young Children’s World at Highland and one of the hosts for the IF: Gathering, said IF provided the speakers, worship and panel discussions. Highland and The Well provided scholarships to those who could not pay the registration fee. Shea said she plans to do the event again next year.
“It went really well. We had more people show up,” Roberson said. “We planned for like 50-100 people and we ended up having over 250 who registered.”
ACU alumnus Kara Sheets (’05), mother and volunteer for the ladies and children’s ministry at The Well, was this year’s host for their IF: Gathering.
About 75 women registered for the event at The Well. An estimated 40 percent consisted of college students and the rest were young professionals, young moms, empty-nesters and retired women, Sheets said.
IF: Gatherings encourage women to see the way God has gifted them. Sheets said the event is not emotionally-based but instead it’s biblical, showing how women can be more like Jesus.
Leaders from the Well and Highland were able to get together ahead of time to pray and encourage one another, said Sheets.
“It’s not just about listening to these people speak but also what are you going to do about it and how are you going to be an example and be able to share the Gospel with people that otherwise might not know,” Sheets said.
Sheets said after doing the event this past weekend she hopes to bring one or two IF: Tables to The Well. IF: Tables is a smaller event and takes place in a home once a month where a meal is cooked for about six women who discuss questions and scripture.
“I’m really excited about seeing the way new relationships can form,” Sheets said. “You only spend a short amount of time with a group of people but you walk away feeling like you know each other really well.”
For more information visit https://ifgathering.com.
