Freedom for a purpose
At the podium for the conference was a large candle engraved with the Scripture  verse from 2 Corinthians 3:17, a text Martin Steinbereithner, Mission Director for the European and Middle East Region, had received while praying for the conference last November:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

A Scripture brought up frequently during the conference was 1 John 4:7-11, 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

This theme continued during worship with prophetic words about the importance of our sisterhood as women in the Sword of the Spirit and how we are to value and protect this gift. It was further emphasized as one sister led us to draw together with our arms around one another and gave the prophetic word that, “You are not alone! I am with you and your sisters are with you. Each of you is part of the bulwark. Your sisters are your companions. I have given you a gift of sisterhood.” We were reminded that even the act of praying for one another drew us together and allowed us to draw strength from the gift of our sisterhood. “You are a part and not the whole. You have need of one another.” 

The  International Women's Conference (IWC) has been a time of a wonderful grace. The Lord has increased my love and passion for this work. He has given my heart rest and filled me with joy to continue working for our beloved Sword of the Spirit. I was also privileged to get to know so many women in different parts of the world who have given the best years of their lives for this calling – an incalculable gift of bravery and fidelity... 

Pilar Galván
Incienso de Dios, Jalapa, Mexico

The International Womens Conference (IWC) was a good opportunity for the women leaders from different countries to share the way in which God is working and acting in our communities: the challenges and difficulties that we face. The conference also enabled us to listen to God's voice about where he is moving, so we can make the most of this time of grace. 

Araceli de Alfaro 
Dios Refugio y Fortaleza, Guatemala

During the IWC the Lord renewed my strength, widened my vision, and enriched me in a personal way. Sharing with my sisters allowed me to love them more. Their life witness edified me. The sisters' joy and good humor at the IWC was a witness of love for everybody. 

Martha de Velosa, 
Emmanuel, Cali, Colombia

In this encounter, as always, the Lord surprised me. To experience his love once more, in a personal and tangible way, was without doubt an oasis in the middle of the desert, a springtime in our community life. Being able to share with sisters from so many different places, with different cultures, but with experiences so similar to ours, brought to life the motto: "So far, and yet so close."  Our time together was a confirmation that the culture of this people, the Sword of the Spirit, is something we hold in common – we are indeed a community of communities. 

El Señorío de Jesús, Vitoria, Spain

This conference confirmed my calling and encouraged me to continue on despite obstacles and sufferings. It has filled me with hope seeing sisters from so many places united in one Lord, one faith and one mission. And the time filled me with greater zeal and the desire to be radical, to be faithful to the Lord in everything. 

María Josefina Corrales
Ciudad de Dios, Nicaragua