Koinonia Women’s Spiritual Fellowship hosted more than 275 women at Leoni Meadows in Grizzly Flats, Calif., in November, celebrating 20 years of lay women’s ministry.

Chaplain Wanda Grimes Davis and Gloria Crumpler, speakers from the ministry’s early years, were featured. Participants came from as far away as Panama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma. Two bus loads of women came from Los Angeles, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev.

Humble Beginnings

In 1984, Sable Hughes and Ella Tolliver organized a ministry that addressed the need for spiritual fellowship among women. The first Koinonia drew 57 women. Hughes and Tolliver called on their friends to help and Hughes’ mother, L.J., advised and mentored the team.

“We called the conference office to get the name of a good speaker. We hoped she would come for nothing, because we didn’t have any funds to pay anyone. That’s how Koinonia started. It was an act of faith, and God has been faithful to this ministry.”

Fellowship

The success of Koinonia is in its name, which means fellowship with God and other Christians. From its beginning, spiritual fellowship has remained the standard for the gathering. Koinonia provides many opportunities for women to share testimonies, music, skits, poetry and prayers. Even foreign languages, including French, Creole, Ugandan and Spanish are featured throughout the weekend.

“The mass choir cannot sit down before singing, ‘Order My Steps,’” said Teddy Brazelton. She and Ena Hunter are the long-standing music directors.

Other activities include workshops, seminars and a custom party/social hour/talent show. A Hawaiian luau complete with music and a hula demonstration was a big hit.

First-time participants are often amazed at the outpouring of love and friendly attitudes of the women. “The glory of God indeed prevailed,” said first time participant Danita Williams of Fairfield, Calif.

Paula Dudley from Los Angeles, Calif., admits that her attitude was skeptical and bad. “I didn’t really want to come, although it was my first women’s retreat. But, as I sat in Friday night’s meeting and listened to Chaplain Davis, my hard heart started melting, God got the junk out, and I felt His presence with me the rest of the weekend.”