Jul. 13—A local church will bring guests with messages of encouragement to the area for its annual conference in Stephens County this month.
Ray of Hope Church will host this year's annual Sparkle Women's Conference 2023 for women of all ages, according to Cindy Hale, event organizer.
The two-day conference will run from 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 28 and from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at Ray of Hope Church.
According to Hale, the event will allow women to gather together for fun, refreshments, worship, special music, prayer and a time to hear the word of God.
The conference will feature four speakers: Lucinda Davidoff, Stella Maxwell, Roxanne Parks and Dr. Lauren Duroy.
Since its inception in 2015, the conference began as an outreach for the women who live in Stephens County, as well as the surrounding areas to come together for a weekend of hope.
Hale said the goal of the conference is to provide a place for women to encounter God.
"This is a time to break away from the busyness of everyday life to focus on intimacy with God," she said. "Reclaiming your identity in Christ, finding answers for anxiety and stress in the midst of a chaotic world, learning how to choose well and understanding the power of choice and intercession."
Hale said one of the speakers, Davidoff, heads up the Save the World Foundation with her husband, Jarrod.
"They have seen 5.3 million children come to Christ in public schools," she said. "They have a training school in Africa equipping men and women to preach the gospel and pastor Eternity Church in Southern California."
Next, Hale said Maxwell, from Lawton, escaped communist Romania to come to America with her husband, David, and she will take the stage to speak to community women.
"She founded the Fully Loaded Women's Organization," she said. "(She) hosts a podcast for equipping and empowering women to be more than conquerors."
According to Hale, the lineup will also include Parks, who has served as Ms. Oklahoma Senior America 2022. She's also the founder of Winter Summit Ministries.
"She has lead women's conferences internationally and written 20 YouVersion Bible plans with 1.2 million readers," she said.
Hale said they will also host Dr. Duroy, who is both an author and speaker and a certified life coach.
Hale said Duroy works to mentor women who struggle with anxiety, discouragement and stress.
The conference typically brings thousands of women to the event from area churches each year, according to Hale.