Sparkle Events

“Sparkle” is a Christian event just for women.

Why Sparkle?

In today’s world we often feel the need to do more and be more, all at lightning speed. We have so many things demanding our attention that it is sometimes difficult to prioritize personal time.

Women are especially prone to feeling overwhelmed and burdened. A personal relationship with God, though sometimes high on the priority list, can quickly slip and become another item on our ‘to-do’ list. Building friendships and relationships outside of our immediate circle may seem tedious.

Life can feel dull but it doesn’t have to stay this way.  Zechariah 9:16 says that when we are rescued by God we sparkle like jewels in a crown. And frankly, we often need rescuing from an overstretched, overburdened life. The good news is, in light of God’s goodness we can regain our sparkle and enjoy a full and meaningful life.

This is exactly what Sparkle events aim to do.  Through a mix of personal story, biblical takeaways and entertainment, women are encouraged to connect with God and each other.  And when women are reminded of their true worth in Christ, life begins to feel much more meaningful.

Where it all began 

In August 2015, amidst a sea of pink and gold sparkles, 40 women gathered at the serene J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens in beautiful Tortola, British Virgin Islands.  With steel pan music floating in the air, the atmosphere was light and airy as women waited in anticipation for Sparkle  – A Christian Event for Women.

U.S. Virgin Islands public relations specialist and media professional Monife Stout warmly welcomed women to the event.  The diverse group of women included moms, wives, single women, high-schoolers and grandmas.

Everyone was in awe of the personal sharing by Tamela Taylor and Melissa Bump, who were vulnerable about their lives prior to following Christ.  Messages of forgiveness and healing were the main themes. While their stories were distinctly different, the common thread was their gratitude for the people God put in their lives to help them pursue a meaningful life in Christ.

Along the theme ‘You Were Made to Sparkle’ women in the audience were surprised with gifts of luxurious giveaways and treated to ‘girl time’ during the intermission. Pictures from Sparkle give a glimpse of the lovely time the women enjoyed together.

Entertainment included steelpan interludes by  USVI Rising Stars Youth Orchestra Instructor, Le’Roi Simmonds and Caribbean Star winner, Ouida who wowed the crowd with her original song ‘Ladies’.

The keynote address was given by Debi Markland a Christian, wife, mother, author, John Maxwell team leader, and Youth & Family Ministry leader, who traveled from Orlando, Florida just for the event.

Debi shared openly from her life, giving many instances of how God moved on her behalf.  Using the biblical story of Esther, she encouraged the women to see that “God uses everything and everyone for his divine purpose.” Ultimately, she reminded participants that life’s occurrences are strategically ordained to bring us closer to God.

Marva Smith the event organizer, summarized the messages from each speaker. Quoting John 7:37 Marva pointed out the need for our souls to be watered.  She called on the women to shine their light beyond the doors of the event, reminding them that, “We are called not just to sparkle, but to spread the shine.”

Here’s what some of the women had to say about Sparkle:

“Inspiring, beautiful!”

“Each speaker was great. They all encouraged me to shine like a diamond and to be all God wants me to be.”

“I experienced God’s love through each song and message. Thank you for uniting women.”

 “The event was refreshing, uplifting and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed it!”

“My soul is happy.”

Spread the shine

Based on feedback from the event, Sparkle is being planned as an annual event to encourage women to fall in love with God’s amazing plan for their lives.  To God’s glory, a Sparkle women’s bible discussion has also started with the aim of encouraging women and fostering community.

To find out more about Sparkle or the Sparkle Bible Discussion group, contact us. We would love to hear your thoughts and even help you plan your own Sparkle event! To help you sparkle we will provide free tips and resources for your event.

Wishing you blessings,

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