Triennial Speaker Challenges Group: 'Walk in the Light'

A colorful and moving procession of flags opened the Covenant Women Ministries (CWM) Triennial X celebration at the Ridgecrest Convention Center Wednesday evening.

More than 900 people filled Spilman Auditorium for the opening of the three-day event. The procession of flags representing 16 countries served by Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) missionaries was a fitting tribute to this year's theme Keeping in Step With the Spirit. Flags also represented areas where Covenant partners are at work, such as the ministries to the Sudanese and Chinese.

A moving moment came as former short-term and retired career missionaries stood throughout the auditorium as the respective flags representing their former areas of service passed by and their service to these countries was recognized.

Triennial participants were greeted by ECC President Glenn R. Palmberg, who offered a special thanks to CWM Executive Minister Ruth Hill for coordinating the event. Palmberg also thanked the CWM organization for its involvement in developing ministries of enablement that are now administered by Covenant Ministries of Benevolence. Southeast Conference Supt. Kurt Miericke added his words of welcome.

A dramatic presentation, reflecting the Triennial theme, emphasized the fact that people, like shoes, may vary in style, but the underlying support - the Holy Spirit - is the same. God wants to walk with every individual, regardless of style.

Kathy Brawley of Strathmore, Alberta, Canada, led worship assisted by team members from Covenant churches throughout the United States and Canada.

Keynote speaker Cindy Secrest McDowell challenged her listeners to keep in step with the Spirit by "Walking in the Light," which was her sermon theme. McDowell is the author of Amazed by Grace, Women's Spiritual Passages, A Southern Style Christmas and Quilts from Heaven.

She offered three observations/suggestions in developing her theme:

• Groping in the darkness: - McDowell asked the audience what it means to be out of the darkness. In her view, it means that there needs to be a light that illuminates the shadows. "However we often try to find our way in the dark without any light and stumble," McDowell observed. She noted that in the dark, good and evil cannot be distinguished. Only in the light can they be seen. She then encouraged her audience to identify areas in their individual lives where they may be groping in the dark - emotionally or financially perhaps - and what it is that keeps them there.
• Seeking His direction: McDowell observed that many individuals seek guidance for getting out of the darkness from sources other than God. She suggested that many people desire lives with meaning, but have settled for less. "Perhaps we do not seek the answers from God because we are afraid of what we might find He wants for us," McDowell said.
• Stepping out in faith - People need to have faith, believing in what they cannot see. McDowell used the participants' journeys to Triennial as an example. "We had faith we would make it all the way to the site," she noted. She asked listeners to remember the promises in the Bible and determine which ones apply to them.

Triennial activities continue through Saturday, including numerous workshops and worship experiences, with McDowell as the worship speaker. Linda Belleville will be leading Bible study each day and Christian recording artist Kim Hill is scheduled to make a guest appearance Saturday evening.

For additional photos of Wednesday evening's opening worship service, visit Triennial X

Editor's note: Patty Retamal, who is representing the Department of World Mission at Triennial X, also is reporting on behalf of the Department of Communication, working with Editor Don Meyer (writer) and graphics specialist Heidi Griepp (photo pages) in Chicago.

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