An afternoon of powerful messages

Westside Family Fellowship will host the "I AM" women's conference on Saturday, Jan. 28. It will be an event that is sure to empower and uplift all those women that attend.

LaRonna Rhodes co-pastors along with her husband, Jonathan. She is passionate about helping other women live their best life possible through the spiritual word and ministry.

"The heart of the conference's theme is based on Ephesians 2:10, [BEGIN ITAL]'for we are his workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,'[END ITAL] " Rhodes said.

"The idea behind it is understanding your identity, knowing your worth, and we use the name of the conference 'I AM' as a fill-in-the-blank – I am chosen, I am worthy and I am valuable, for example."

Rhodes believes the event will bring joy and happiness to the women who participate and expects between 100 and 150 to be at the event.

"It's more about coming together, connecting and encouraging one another as ladies. We are all better together, we need each other, and we need to know we are not alone. God created us, and he has a purpose and a plan for us.

"It will be a good day to have fun with the ladies, laughing and enjoying themselves. I think it's important to have these types of conferences for women because we all walk through different struggles in our lives, go through different seasons, and we need the strength that comes from other people's stories."

The highlight of the conference will be a presentation by Tosha Blansit from Missouri. She and her husband, Chad, are the founding pastors of Destiny Church.

Blansit is also the founder of the Destiny Embrace Conference, a gathering for women in southwest Missouri. Additionally, she does ministry work in Zimbabwe, Africa.

Blansit will share her testimony and speak on the theme at the I AM conference. Her message will be one where participants will take away a positive outlook on their lives and bring them closer to God.

"It will boost their self-esteem," Rhodes said.

The conference will also address some of the challenges women face.

"Especially coming out of a couple of years of seclusion, women deal with loneliness, and some still experience anxiety and fears. I hope that through this day's event and the message given, ladies can feel they are not alone and have someone beside them to walk them through whatever they are facing."

Rhodes invites women from the community and the surrounding area.

"I encourage women to attend to rearrange their schedule and carve out this time aside. It will be really special and fun. There is nothing like coming together with old and new friends to spend the day with one another."

The I AM conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 2150 Palm Ave. The cost to attend is $25, and a catered lunch will be provided. To register, visit westsidefamilyfellowship.church. For more information, call 661-758-9013.