Life coach, minister and author Jency Proctor of Mount Pleasant, Texas, says women can trust God to handle their baggage — if they’re willing to leave it on the altar.
“People can cast their fears on the Lord, and he will certainly deliver us from our worries, so we must trust and believe that he will,” she said.
Proctor will be among three speakers at a ladies’ fellowship, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 17 at Sanctuary Apostolic Church, 2802 S. Cherokee St.
The church’s co-pastor, Angela Martin, said the fellowship is “for all women to come together and encourage one another”.
“We want to unload all the negative baggage and all the baggage that may be holding us back from being women of faith and Christian women and leaders in our communities, our homes and our churches,” she said. “We pray that we can leave some baggage behind and create new positive vibes and characteristics of Christian women.”
Martin said speaker Katrina Christopher, a church member who lives near Stigler, has a beautiful testimony of recovery.
“When she came to see us, she had attempted suicide twice,” Martin said. “And the Lord healed her completely and delivered her.”
Christopher said she plans to talk about the baggage women accumulate over the years.
“We tend to put it in a nice little box because the world has convinced us that we can’t overcome these things and move past them,” she said. “In my situation, I have things I’ve done in my past that I’m not proud of. The enemy comes in and tries to convince you that you can’t get past that. You’ll always be known for that.”
She said she will talk about how God has helped her overcome past mistakes.
Martin said attendees won’t want to miss Proctor.
“She’s just a blessing to be around a real cheerleader,” she said.
Proctor said baggage can manifest in many ways, including feeling depression and tightness, she said.
“In 2020 a lot of our churches were closed, and I really feel like a lot of our churches were struck with fear,” Proctor said. “We’ve developed baggage through all of this. I believe everyone has developed baggage, and the baggage can be fear of finances, fear of losing a relationship, fear of losing loved ones.”
Also, women are notoriously versatile, she said.
“Having 19 boxes open at the same time. We can wash the dishes. We can get the kids to do their homework. We can cook dinner, work, take a phone call, all at the same time,” she said. “We’re so caught up in day-to-day life and before we know it, we’ve got a ton of baggage on us. And the Lord says, ‘Bring it to me. It’s so easy.”
Martin said the scholarship is for women of all faiths, as well as those who do not go to church.
A meal prepared by church women will follow the communion.
There will also be door prizes and sketches.
“It will just be a great day to come together and celebrate the positive energy,” she said.
If you are going to
WHAT: Ladies Fellowship: Baggage you don’t need to carry.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on September 17.
WHERE: Sanctuary Apostolic Church, 2802 S. Cherokee St.
