Photo_Gallery - Naomi's Posture

Next, Evangelist Benn came before us and lifted her scripture text from Jeremiah 18: 1-6 which is a declaration of God’s way in dealing with nations and kingdom’s that he can easily do what He will with them, as easily as the potter can with the clay. She mentioned how we are marred (clay), blemished and broken but when we allow God to place us back on the potter’s wheel He then begins to “Repair the Breach”. She encouraged us to think about the things we were willing to unmask. It’s only when we were honest with ourselves could the healing process begin. Nearing the commencement of Evangelist Benn’s ministry time she asked the NP staff to distribute small sheets of writing paper for an honesty exercise. The paper had a broken chain in left corner and words that read “My brokenness is______. But I am getting healed this week. Repairing the breach and preparing to move forward.” We filled in the lines and tightly folded the papers and placed them into a basket-I loved that the exercise was completed anonymously. Evangelist Benn informed us that she would not pass around the sheets and she would personally shred them but we would stand in agreement with each other believing God to meet our sister’s needs. Then we all stood in a huge circle and held hands and prayed for addictions, buried hurts, unforgiveness, bitterness, broken language and what we secretly inscribed on the sheets of paper that were previously distributed. We declared victory over our issues and the shame that we’ve secretly carried for years. After prayer we ministered hugs to our WIT Sisters and for many of those gathered in the room healing began on Thursday night. We are determined to live a life that IS golden…and separated unto God. Lastly, we feasted on cupcakes and said our good-byes..

Friday, March 11th 9:30am, we gathered in the Executive Hall for our WIT Sessions and to enjoy a hearty breakfast. Our first WIT Session was titled “Acknowledgement and Recovery – Life after the breach”. The facilitator was Minister N. Behr of Freedom Temple Ministries in Rock Hill, SC. The word to best describe this class is reflective. Minister Behr opened her presentation by showing a video slide show of influentional women; First Lady Michelle Obama, Evangelist Kimberly Benn, Author and Poet Maya Angelou, Senator Hillary Clinton, recording artist Tamala Mann and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. She admonished us to look in the mirror and to first acknowledge where the breach occurred and then identify what dysfunctional behaviors were birthed out of the breach. Lastly, she distributed red and white ring pops to remind us that we are God’s choice instead of believing what we had become because of the breach. Missionary Tiffany Jackson one of the Naomi Posture staffers, asked the question to the participants: In order to heal the breach what must we do first? The Answer: Look at the woman in the mirror and acknowledge truthfully what is broken. The gift recipient was Lady Annette Potts..

The second WIT session was titled “Am I part of the whole or the cause of the fracture?” The facilitator was Lady Cheryl Maddox of Flint Hill Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC. The word to best describe this class was eye-opening. First Lady Maddox provided handouts with scriptures that highlighted a myriad of codependent personalities demonstrated in our relationships. To list a few: the caretaker, the rescuer, the pleaser and the helpless victim. She then suggested we admit to ourselves that we have a need to be needed; we all had to drink some of the truth serum. This session was hard hitting because we couldn’t help but examine ourselves and admit that we have a dependency of neediness, some may see this as s weakness. From there we couldn’t help but to begin to ask God to restore us and renew our minds after we’d taken moral inventory and admitted our wrongs. Lady Tanisha Robinson, another of Naomi Posture staffers, asked the question to the participants: What do two halves make? The Answer: Dysfunction. The gift went to Elder Martha Bennett..

The third WIT session was titled “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” The facilitator was Minister JaVonda Ellison of Freedom Temple Ministries of Rock Hill, SC. Minister Ellison began her presentation passed a crumpled twenty-dollar bill around the room. One word to describe this session was enlightening. Minister Ellison suggested that broken hearts breed broken communication and broken language. The heart is the breeding ground for all things. Minister Ellison asked all the WIT Sisters gathered in the audience to stand and had us make several affirmations about who we are according to God’s word. At the end of Minister Ellison’s presentation she asked…who was holding the crumpled $20.00 bill? Lady Yolanda Feaster was holding the crumpled bill and Minister Ellison began to prophesy to her. What a mighty word came forth. We often find ourselves crumpled up and damaged like the $20.00 bill that traveled around the room, but in spite of the damage we are still valuable. Minister Tanya Higgins, one of Naomi’s Posture staffers, asked the participants: What must be done to repair the breach? Answer: Believe God right now. The gift was handed to Lady Latoshia Young!!.

The fourth and final WIT Session was titled “Repairing the breach and preparing for what’s next” The facilitator was Intercessor Ira Coleman of Bible Church of Christ of the Bronx, NY. A technique that best describes the final hour of the sessions is “scavenger hunt”. Intercessor Coleman begins to slowly walk us in the word of God by explaining how before we can prepare for what next we must admit where we are. She asked each woman in the room to stand and begin to look for their stuff. Though many of the attendees were confused about what they were looking for, they began to get a revelation about where they were. Some women looked for good health, some sanity, some happiness, some forgiveness, some love, and some contentment and for some women in the room they weren’t sure what they needed because their baskets were filled to capacity. As the women began to move chairs and look under tables, and lifted table cloths it seems praise broke forth in the room as some women could see the light ahead. There were tears and breakthroughs. Burdens were lifted and the countenances of many women were literally changed- some were relieved. It seems we found what we were looking for so we could prepare for what’s next and move forward. Evangelist Benn asked the participants: What did Intercessor Coleman’s parents tell her needed to possess in order to navigate life? Answer: Power with God. The gift went to Felicia Chisholm..

Friday, March 11th 7:30pm, evening service was a gathering that could not be compared to another. The opening scripture was read by Minister Y. Benson and the opening prayer by Elder Doris Allen of Freedom Temple Ministries. Then, the Praise and Worship segment was opened by Lady Nicole Broadwater of The Life Center Ministries of Charlotte, NC where Bishop Brian Moore is the Pastor. Lady Broadwater allowed the Lord to use her as she ushered us behind the veil. Next, the Freedom Liturgical Dancers ministered to a CD selection of Pastor Marvin Sapp’s “He has His hands on you” They were another added blessing to the service on Friday night. The sermonic psalmist was Lady Kiandra Jefferson from The Life Center Ministries. Lady Jefferson melodically ministered “Thank you Lord for all you’ve done for me”. She sang until the power of God fell in the room. She prepared the atmosphere so that the speaker of the hour would not have to work hard to bring the Word. Dr. Matthew Woodhouse of Abundant Hope Ministries in Pineville, SC was the Conference Speaker. Dr. Woodhouse raised his scripture from Isaiah 58: 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Dr. Woodhouse did not attend any of the previous services, but he touched every topic that was previous addressed. It was as if God had silently planted him in our midst all weekend. Dr. Woodhouse exegetes the Word so simplistically; first we have to address the ancient issues in the church and reestablish foundations, and then we can repair ourselves and then others. The work begins with us and we have to be the repairers of the breach. Dr. Woodhouse encouraged us to act as the scriptures instructed us to be do….doers. We prayed and said our goodbyes but Dr. Woodhouse left a Godly passionate impression on our hearts about being active in the kingdom and not to get caught up in mediocrity. He banged the podium, paced the floor, showed pictures of his beautiful wife and children, and made us laugh but when he was done we were aware that there was work to be done in the kingdom..

Saturday, March 12th 9:30am. We excitedly gather for the WIT Sister Recognition and Empowerment Breakfast in the Executive Hall. This was the first year the culmination of the conference was held in such an intimate setting, but the closeness of the room created an ambiance that couldn’t be duplicated in the sanctuary. Missionary Jackson approached the podium and began to explain that affirmations are “thoughts that precede actions." Taking a quote from the Bible, "As a man thinketh, so is he." Proverbs 23:7. If something happens to make you happy, it registers in your mind, which can spread over your body in a positive way. However it all starts in your mind. We made four affirmations on Saturday:.

1. Self-esteem Empowerment Charge: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well ~ Psalms 139:14 2. Victorious Empowerment Charge: But thanks be to God!! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ~ I Cor. 15:57 3. Health Empowerment Charge: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee ~ Isaiah 26:3 4. Abundance Empowerment Charge: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus ~ Phil 4:19.

Naomi’s Posture ministry celebrated two special WIT Sisters. Veronica Boyd was celebrated for being a woman that has transited through many storms physical storms but still she rises. She’s demonstrated the posture of a palm, bending but not breaking. Naomi’s Posture remembered our seasoned WIT Sister Bernetta Shamberger who passed from this life in December 2010. Sister Shamberger was one of our original conference attendees from WIT 2008..

The empowerment speaker was First Lady Dawn Crump of Freedom Temple Ministries. She boldly told us its time to “Repair the promise”!! God is the promise giver and we have a responsibility to be the promise keepers. Lady Crump empowered us to walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His statues and He would keep His promise to us- God is a man of His word..

We ended the festivities by saying thank you, raffling off twenty of Kim’s favorite things and singing the Naomi’s Posture theme song “The strength of a Palm”!! It was a happy ending to a weekend that no one wanted to end. We are looking anxiously and excitedly, to WIT 2012. Hope to see you there!!.