When Church and Science Combine

Every year, the mothers and I attend the Sisters of Africa (SOA) Conference at church. This Conference is a gathering of women who come together corporately to worship, lean into the Word, pray, laugh and develop themselves. The Conference happens over three days, and each year we have four speakers, who each deliver a specific message that aligns with the vision of the Sisters (Women’s) Ministry, for the year.

This year’s Sisters Conference was particularly special for me as it represented yet another milestone in my healing journey. How or Why, might you ask? Well, the last two years’ Conferences came around when I was very unwell. I was in a severe depressive state (yes, depression is an illness). In 2017, I only attended the last day of the Conference, and while I attended all the days in 2018, I was merely there in body. I don’t recall much of what happened. You know thát severe illness that is likely to get you hospitalised? That was me.

So, having made significant progress with the recovery of my mental health, I was fully present at this year’s Conference. Present in worship, in the Word and teachings, and mostly present in the experience with the mothers.

Right, back to the actual conference. This year’s speakers were Lisa Bevere, Valorie Burton, Ps Sheila Craft and Ps Wilma Olivier. Each brought a powerful message that without doubt, resonated and helped many women. Each speaker has a unique approach and life experiences and openly shares her life experiences, regardless of whether it was good or bad.

Valorie Burton is my personal favourite. She first spoke at SOA conference in 2017 and I immediately took to her. Valorie is a Life Coach and founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute. She strikes the perfect balance between providing teachings that contain biblical truths and researched/scientific methods of helping people. Imagine someone who understands how the human brain works and how God wants the human mind to function optimally.

In her one session, Valorie did a group coaching session with the women in attendance, and I’d like to share it with you.

The purpose of the session was, Successful Women Think Differently. Below are the questions Valorie posed that I am now posing to you:

1. What does success look like in this season of your life?
2. What do you want?
3. What will this goal give you that you don’t have right now?
4. If your best friend were going through the challenge you face, how would you treat them and what would you say?
5. How is someone’s life better when they cross paths with you?
6. What is the wise thing to do?
7. What conversation it is time to have?

Simple questions, right? Are they easy to answer? Do you have answers for some or all of them? Have any of them made you feel uncomfortable?

I am personally going to spend some time working through these questions. I hope you’ll join me in this group coaching session – I’ll be posting on this topic again soon. Share your thoughts in the comments section below and let’s collaborate and support each other.

M.