You are not alone

More than 300 women from five different states, 35 different congregations, and completely individual struggles and life goals came together for two days of sisterhood and self-reflection at One City Church in Beaumont at the conclusion of March’s Women’s History Month, with Pastors Suzann and Randy Feldschau celebrating a milestone for the fellowship’s PINK Team and its Pink Impact series production that brings the popular Dallas-area conference to a population that otherwise might not be able to afford such an occasion. 

“We had a lot of fun,” Pastor Suzann Feldschau shared of the project she has overseen for the last three years, this time serving many more women than in years past. “It was a lot of work, but we had a lot of help.”

The hybrid simulcast/in-person experience was initially slated as a more intimate affair, but burgeoning registration soon necessitated a venue change and more legroom. Teams had to be increased to accommodate the event, including videographers and ushers, sponsorships needed for indigent attendees multiplied, housing needs for providers and vendors increased, and rental of the 22-foot-by-13-foot LED screen needed for attendees to get a good view of the breakout sessions on display came in at $10,000. 

“The theme of the conference was ‘Wonder,’ and it really was a wonder how miraculous everything came together,” Feldschau said. From the hands to cover the work, to the income to cover the expenses – and God’s grace of serenity to cover the rest – the “wonder”-full collaboration was more than just a sum of its elements, it was entire experience, Feldschau added.

Come one; come all

Hundreds of women as different as each of the hand-made crystal adornments reflecting rainbows in the foyer of One City Church were welcomed into the Pink Impact 2023 Women’s Conference on Thursday, March 23, starting with a little mixing and mingling of the attendees to get better acquainted. Vendor shopping and selfie stations scattered throughout the church campus encouraged participants to unwind, relax, and get ready for the infusion of togetherness in store for participants.

A packed parking lot gave way to a bustling auditorium the first evening, as excited participants embarked on Day One of the conference with gusto that was matched by the participation received on Day Two, as well as the evening before Day One even commenced. According to Feldschau, One City Church hosted an “Appreciation Dinner/Rally” the night before the conference started, where leaders prayed over the PINK Team.

“It meant so much to everyone in that room,” she shared. “They felt so seen and appreciated.”

One City Church’s PINK Team women’s ministry led the charge, under the direction of Connections Pastor Christi Miranda and Honor PINK Team members Shana Delasantos from Power Church in Amarillo and Michele Laymon from San Antonio. Delasantos and Laymon even rolled up their sleeves and pulled extra duty tasks to serve roles of production manager, panel host, Sunday morning worship leader, and guest speaker.

“I’m very thankful for the team of women I have around me,” Feldschau shared of a group of people she considers a gift from God. “We had a record number of volunteers. You have to have a small army. 

“Pastor Christi calls them aces in their places. We have women who are gifted and have a passion for many things – some are greeters, some are gifted prayer warriors; others are good with numbers.

 “We try to be very deliberate in placing people where they can grow their gifts.”

No shortage of gifts was on display. Tiffany Ready and Amy Bennet rendered artistic paintings during worship service, where interpretive dancer Zoe Miller was also joined by flaggers and spoken word by Abby McCall; more than a dozen services were offered including on-site Med-Spa infusions and catered lunches from Homemade by Tenisha; and conference speakers that included Bridgette Morris, Lisa Harper, Kari Jobe, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Joyce Meyers and Gateway Worship. 

Southlake, Austin, Dallas, Amarillo … Texas was certainly represented by attendees; but seekers of sisterhood from other states made the trek, as well, including those from Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and as far away as New York.

When One City again opened its doors on Friday at 8 a.m. for early shopping and prime seat picking before the 9 a.m. morning Pink Impact session that sparked a day-long agenda culminating in an 8:30 p.m. “After Party” concluding the Pink Impact 2023 series, the ladies readied for a day of revelation and revelry. 

Lean on me

“Every day I wake up, and every day I mess up,” a shared generational curse spoken aloud from a young woman on the stage brought erupted murmurs from her sisters in succession. “This is my story,” she continued to recite from a biography that obviously hit a nerve among many in the room. Tears – maybe sad, maybe joyous, maybe victorious – streaked faces throughout the large auditorium as the speaker triumphantly concluded her tale with a promise recently claimed and shared freely, however: “You are not made to be broken.”

The young woman’s testimony came without context – not that it needed any. Pink Impact attendees in approximate age from 13 through 80 needed no backstory; the words were simple, relatable, and encouraging.  

“The love of God was tangible,” Feldschau shared of the spirit felt in the room. “Women received breakthrough in their situations,” as well as reported inner and physical healings, spiritual breakthroughs and salvations, deliverances, and 16 women were baptized at the conclusion of the conference. 

“You are not alone, sis,” Honor PINK Team member Michele Laymon spoke through soothing music as fellow attendees prayed and spent quiet time with sisters going through “a season of ache.” 

“Break free from the lies you tell yourself,” that a damaged, scarred, broken woman isn’t worth anything. “There is nothing you can do to separate yourself from the love of God.”

As Lena Ayers, who hand-tied hundreds of imperfectly perfect sun-catchers on display for the attendees to see their beauty – and to recognize the beauty they possess themselves – would say of the cuts and scars that make the design unique: “When the light hits you, you shine.”

Pink Impact 2023

“We try to make it as special as we can,” Feldschau said of the Pink Impact Conference, and the PINK Team is already readying for next year.

“This is our third year, and, at some point, we may plan to have our own conference with a similar format,” Feldschau explained. Although the turnout was great, the event did take place as the first weekend of the YMBL State Fair, and she hopes to find a better scheduling option for fans of both events in the future.

Among the hundreds of women represented at the conference, several dozen attendees from the Melton Center and Franklin House transitional shelters were sponsored, as well.

“I’ve never felt as loved and accepted as I do here at this conference,” a lady from a halfway house remarked of her experience. Women in recovery residing at local halfway homes pursuant to court order were not allowed use of cell phones, so the church secured a Photo Booth giving women the ability to have pictures sent to relatives.

“They took pics and asked us to send them to their moms and grandmothers so they could see how happy and blessed they were,” the team reported back after the event.

“We are blessed to have the Melton Center and the Franklin Hose, the Dream Center … that attend,” Feldschau said of frequently marginalized groups enveloped by the congregation at One City. “The theme of the conference was ‘Wonder’ and there is wonder to be found in uniting all God’s people.”

Feldschau pointed to the 35 individual churches representing several different denominations at the Pink Impact Conference, and marveled at the wonder that befalls a community unified.

“There was a lot of new relationships built,” Feldschau said. “There were a lot of denominations represented, which we were proud of. There were several who came who didn’t even profess Christianity as a faith.

“It was incredible.”

Fellow One City Pastor and husband Randy Feldschau, who offered mostly silent support for this ladies-only event, is of the opinion that unity in the community is absolutely wonderful in any iteration.

“As you bring people together,” whether it be of differing races, religions, cultures, communities or genders, Randy Feldschau shared, “unified diversity creates unlimited possibilities.”

Amid a growing narrative of division at the city, state and national level, the Feldschaus are of the belief that there is more that unites us than divides us.

“It is the cultural diversity of our community that creates the richness of our city,” Randy Feldschau further detailed of his view. “Diversity demands unity and unity allows for diversity.”

Scripture guides Feldschau’s views even further, looking to Romans 3 in paraphrase to note the difference between us really is no difference at all and to the (NKJV) 1 John 4:20 in totality:  “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

“We can’t love God in Heaven and hate each other on planet Earth,” Feldschau asserted.  “As a community, we can accomplish more together than we could ever accomplish alone. Truly, we are better together.”