Women from around the country gathered at this year’s Alabaster Box Women’s Conference, themed “Power in the House,” the weekend of July 14 at the New Otani Hotel and Garden in Los Angeles, Calif.

From the start of the conference with Dr. Prudence Pollard, associate professor of Business Management at La Sierra University, attendees in the hotel ballroom sensed God’s Spirit. “Have you ever felt the presence of the Holy Spirit? ” asked Pollard as she began her Power of Love seminar. “Ladies, when I walked into this room, I felt His Presence. He’s here with us.”

Janet Lui, prayer coordinator for the Southern California Conference, walked the participants through a deeper meaning of the communion sacraments and led a foot-washing service. Two ladies from different Christian denominations attended the conference together. One had never experienced the ordinance of humility service. During the process, the Holy Spirit convicted her sister of an unconfessed sin and the sisters were drawn closer through the process of healing.

Saturday morning seminars, “Power of Healing,” “Power of Joy” and “Power of Worship,” provided further enrichment to the women. Lui spoke of her own healing after 25 years of marriage. “Janet Lui's message reminded me once more of how far God will go in arranging things in order to reach out and touch His child,” said Oluwatoyin Fafowora, the wife of a Pentecostal pastor.

Linda Penick described the ability to have joy in sorrow and suffering. Imelda Mitchell intrigued the audience as she taught about worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

Over the weekend, nearly 200 women gathered, some commuting each day, to find deliverance, healing and anointing for ministry. Seven seminars and 24 workshops were offered to women, teens and young adults.

The conference ended with a spontaneous three-hour testimony, song and prayer service — an event that resulted when the closing speaker cancelled unexpectedly. The women debriefed, sang songs, spoke of their personal blessings and healing and won door prizes.

“His Presence is so thick in this place right now,” said Desiree Webb. “I don’t know what He’s doing with you, but I know what He is doing with me, and I praise Him for it.”

“The conference exceeded our greatest expectations,” said Fafowora. “It was wonderful — everything, from the worship, the prayers, the messages, the seminars, not to mention the glorious saints who attended. And the food — that food!”

The Alabaster Box Women’s Conference website, www.abwc.org, contains more testimonials, a calendar of events for women and much more.