IF:Gathering 2016, Local Boone Women Unite in Christ
"If God is real, then what?"
The question stood as a premise for the first IF: Gathering which streamed live from Austin, TX in 2014 and has stood as the theme for the "IF" movement ever since. This past weekend, the second annual IF: Gathering was held and united women all over the world via live streaming and locally held gatherings.
Founded by author, bible teacher, mom and lover of Jesus Jennie Allen, IF: Gathering started as a retreat in 2013 when Allen invited 60 influential speakers from various denominations, ethnicities and backgrounds to be a part of a weekend retreat. She spoke to them about her vision to influence and empower women in Christ through a nationwide event. She brought conversation and discussion, and immediately following the weekend IF publicly launched a website and scheduled the first event to be held in February of 2014. In order to be accessible to all women, the gathering had no ticket price and would be live-streamed. The event sold out in less than an hour.
Although space was limited in Austin, that didn't stop women around the world from taking leadership in their own communities and hosting the live-stream of IF: Gathering in their churches, theatres and even living rooms. Without much credibility or precint, the event had become a global movement due to viral marketing on social networks. The hashtag #IFGathering was trending on Twitter and Christian women around the world were raving about the event.
Within the first two years, IF gatherings have reached more than one million women in 50 countries worldwide. This year was the first IF:Boone Gathering.
"I had an incredible team of women to help with IF:Boone," said Jama Peterson, this year's host for the Boone gathering. "Our prayer for the weekend was to provide a safe place for women to process life and questions together. We weren't really sure how many women here in Boone would come to something like this, but when over 200 women showed up it revealed a need and the dreams of women in this community."
Peterson, wife and mom of three who moved to Boone this past year with her husband's relocation from Arlington, Texas, attended the 2015 IF:Gathering after the move and says it opened her originally discouraged eyes to the incredible women she found here in Boone.
"God can use anybody--this place is a testament to that," says Peterson. "I have found that you don't have to be an extrovert to gather women in a community or to empower them. IF has equipped me with the support, resources and strength to bring women in this community together through the common bond we share. Our love of Christ."
This past weekend at Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone, over 200 women of all denominations, ethnicities and backgrounds gathered for the IF: Local 2016 event held. There was worship songs led by a live band, Pinterest-inspired details of decorated mason jars and antique lighting on the refreshment tables, topped with intricately designed peanut butter cup, vanilla and death by chocolate cupcakes from local Ugga Mugga Bakery partner. Women were encouraged to meet, greet and tweet throughout the weekend, sharing experiences not only with women in the room but around the world.
"It was incredible to gather with both local and global women who have the same vision and unapologetic love for Jesus," said Meredith Rawls, Appalachian State student who attended the local event in Boone. "I learned so much about how to be a better disciple in my own community and that love has no limits--love always wins."
For the weekend, each woman in attendance was provided with a personalized"goodie bag" containing a tentative itinerary for the weekend along with group discussion cards and a locally-made devotional book for after the event was over. The devotionals are unique to each local gathering, and the community of women who put together the Boone event titled theirs, "A Call to Remember." Inside contains a 31-page outline of scripture, reflection and prayer. The inside cover welcomes the reader in saying, "Our hope is that even after the gathering ends, we can still be united in spirit each day as we study the same Scripture, hear the same testimony and pray the same prayer together..."
These local devotionals are just one of many ways IF "equips" women to continue their walk with Christ together. In addition, IF provides free online studies, social networking links and support sources, conversation cards for small groups, books, and many more options for continuing the journey past the weekend.
"IF has already begun working in some pretty cool ways since the weekend gathering," said Rawls. "There are some senior girls, some I already know and some I met during the weekend, who were inspired to gather at 6:30 a.m. once a week to pray over our lives and futures together. It's been great."
Like Rawls, there are many local women of all ages who have begun to create their own ministry in Boone through the repercussions of the weekend. Peterson holds her own small group bible study and encourages other women to come see what it's like, then join or branch out and create one of their own.
IF invites women around the world to "gather, equip and unleash the next generation of women to live out their purpose." The website equips readers with the IF:Table resource. The discussion for the week is titled, "Patience, Waiting and Faith," and the link below provides an outline to this discussion as well as conversation cards that can be followed in your small group.
"When women feel known, seen, heard and loved that's when we are empowered," says Peterson. "The place I've found that the most is with Jesus--because he did and he does just that. He speaks right to our heart, right to his daughters' fears and hesitations, and he empowers us."
Peterson encourages any woman in the area interested in getting more involved in the local community of women to contact her through the IF Gathering website or via email at jamapeterson@gmail.com.
https://ifgathering.com
