Women learning to ‘love God and themselves’ at weekend conference in Pocatello
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IDAHO FALLS – If god is real, then what?
That’s the focus of IF:2023, a Christian conference for women being streamed at the First Baptist Church in Old Town Pocatello this weekend.
The IF:Gathering is a virtual event designed to “equip women with opportunities and resources to go and make disciples,” the website says. There are typically several speakers who discuss their faith, marriage, raising children and other uplifting topics.
Wife, mother and author Jennie Allen launched it in 2014 to help women become better at loving God and themselves.
“God sees you. He loves you. He has invited you into the beautiful story He’s written for this world. And because He is a God of abundance, He wants to use you to bring more of His love into a world that desperately needs it,” she writes on her website.
In the last eight years, the event has reached more than a million women in 179 countries.
Barb Lyle and Jan Eastman of Pocatello were inspired to hold an event in Pocatello after meeting Allen at an IF Gathering in Texas several months ago.
The Pocatello event was first held in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. They tried again last year, working with a church in Inkom. More than 70 women attended and they’re hoping for an even bigger turnout this year.
“After COVID, many women need that connection with others. We need that again as well as reconnecting with God,” says Barb. “We need to encourage each other because we are all in this together.”
The two-day event will be held Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s happening at the church at 408 North Arthur Avenue.
It’s open to women of all ages and the cost is $15 for the entire weekend. To register or learn more, call Eastman at (208) 232-6305 or click here.