Talk About “Vision”!
[행사스케치] - 세계의 깃발이 한 자리에
[행사스케치] - 나는 여성입니다!
[행사스케치] - 마지막날 찬양
[행사스케치] - 예수 그리스도안에서 우리는 하나입니다
As WOGA 2007 comes to an end, we embrace our final theme “Vision”. Beginning with the International Festival to this evening’s Closing Ceremony, it certainly was a day filled with vision! Visions of God’s daughters singing and dancing to their national music, visions of sisters praying together in thanksgiving and with joy, visions of mothers adorned with colorful fabrics—visions of women of faith from all nations, tribes and tongues gathered in the appropriately named Love Hall.
The day began with the International Festival hosted by the ever so charming Korean talk show host Hong-Yul Lee. Our sisters from all over the world—from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan to name but a few—proudly performed musical acts from their respective nations. It was truly a festival…one that was overflowing with enthusiasm and thanksgiving.
Later on, 400 women really got the beauty treatment—quite literally~! 10 buses of women made their way to various beauty parlors for the star treatment. From hair treatment to facials, to massages and clinics, these ladies learned how to make themselves even more beautiful than they already are!
As 7:20 p.m., we began to prepare for the Closing Ceremony. While there was an excitement in the air in anticipation for the grand finale, it was also bittersweet. After all, it meant the end of something so good~!
After a simply awesome time of praise, we were encouraged by Lorry Lutz and subsequently challenged by Leland Paris to run the good race and fight the good fight~! After pledging to seven key principles that commit us to working towards the evangelistic mission, we had a time of Communion led by Joon Gon Kim. Women pastors dressed in an angelic white served as the praise band sang an ethereal rendition of “Amazing Grace”—it was truly amazing. As the evening began to wind down, the sanctuary was filled with choruses of “Jesus Love Me/You” as sisters exchanged floral wreaths, hugs and a holy kiss. Tears of joy and happiness flowed—they really, really did.
Before the Benediction given by Onnuri’s visionary Pastor Yong-Jo Ha, as the perfect ending to a perfect week, the flags of the nations marched onto the stage once again to the triumphant tune of “Days of Elijah”. The ladies waved the flags for all to see and gave us a moving glimpse of what heaven must be like.
The evening ended as all evenings do. The ladies began to make their way outside to get on their buses and return to their lodging. It began to rain every so slightly. Some might take this as a bad sign but I don’t. You see, every seed needs water to grow and thrive. This week many seeds were planted. And now, they will thrive.
