Founding Director, Terri Girardi, actually began Anathallo Women's Ministry 7 years ago as a monthly women's ministry for the Kalamazoo area. It was best described as a monthly "mini-conference" with special music & worship, a scripture focus, prayer and workshops with specific topics and bible study. After Terri's son, Tony, died, she was invited toserve as Music & Worship Director at her former church and felt she could not effectively serve in both ministries. She and her husband, Walt, thought that the new leadership position at their church would help everyone to grow in many ways, so without a leader in Anathallo willing to keep it going, the women in Anathallo closed the programs that spring.

Prior to this time, a dear friend of the Girardi's approached Terri and said that he believed the Lord had told him that Anathallo would grow in 7 years. It was not common for him to receive specific direction for others during his prayer time, so they both wondered about the word at Anathallo's close. As Terri got ready to attend a women's ministry meeting in Kalamazoo THIS past spring, she believes the Lord whispered in her ear, "It's the seventh year...."

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Driving to the meeting, she wondered, "the seventh year???" Then, it hit her as she counted back. She really had 'forgotten' about Anathallo completely, thinking that her decision to take the new church ministry position had ended Anathallo. NO! As she sat through the meeting, she heard women talk about how they wished there was a more dynamic interdenominational women's ministry that could serve the needs of our area more effectively. They were describing Anathallo! She thought she would burst! Terri shared how the Lord had led her that morning concerning Anathallo and talked a little about what their goals were 7 years ago. A spark was lit.

Terri hit it off with another woman that had been invited to the same meeting - they chatted about their current ministries and knew the Lord had brought them together for a purpose - they weren't clear beforehand on why they were at this other meeting - until then. Terri prayed specifically for the Lord's direction concerning the possibility of restructuring Anathallo and since that morning, God has laid out a slow, purposeful path - and brought each of the women who are now serving to help redesign our programs.

Since monthly meetings could put an added strain on both leadership, and participants, Terri felt that quarterly programs would serve everyone more effectively. Anathallo's name from the Greek means "to refresh and renew - to blossom again, to flourish once more," so it is our intent to provide a dynamic, challenging program that helps to better equip Christian women in ministry - unifying the Body of Christ in our region and providing an outlet for those in leadership to promote their other foundational ministries (Terri speaks and writes, another has published a book and leads women's ministries, another sings professionally, etc). We hope to help women of all levels of service to go back to their homes, churches, and careers refreshed and newly inspired to follow God's will and add a new level of joy and obedience to all that they do.

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Terri is passionate about God's Word. She hopes to see the quarterly programs so grounded in learning more about scripture that we might more readily apply biblical principles to all circumstances. Then, we might be empowered to help others do the same, helping to lift the burdens of our world as well as empowering our ministries to a greater degree as we serve in our local churches. It is also VITAL that all those involved in serving have the underlying gift of exhortation - manifested in a spirit of encouragement. The women that the Lord has led to help thus far have a joy-based attitude that will automatically pour out onto others. A negative, or critical spirit would undermine all that we hope to accomplish.

Basically, our quarterly program will include a registration time - we hope to keep costs down to $7-$9 - an opening *refreshment time (hors d'euvres and a beautiful environment based upon our topical theme) so leaders and participants can take part in a brief fellowship time - welcomed and drawn to Christ's own love and care for one another and an opportunity to connect with each other more effectively, time for *special music and *corporate worship, a *speaker who will share a testimony about how the Lord is working in their own life and ministry, and a choice of *workshops with topics that will help equip us in more specific ways. The evening will close during a *"wrap-up" time, (called "Connecting Point", where participants can pray with leaders, ask questions about their message or class, et al. We hope, too, to include specific workshops for pastor's wives and other Christian leaders.

We'd welcome any other questions you might have!! Please pray for our efforts and for the Lord to continue to lead us in His will and way. You may email Terri directly at terri@awministry.com

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