Women's Summit Testimony

We wanted to share a powerful account of what happened at the Women's Summit from one of our leaders, Angie Malak, from Michigan:

I wanted to reach out and send you a note of appreciation and encouragement following the Summit.  The Lord provided in so many ways through so many people.  For the first time in my walk with Christ I witnessed the body, with its many members, truly being the body as a result of abiding in Him.  With much diversity in gifts and expressions of those gifts, I was blessed to see Romans 12:3-8 lived out.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

I witnessed the body and it’s many members humbly pouring out the Spirits gifts everywhere.  I saw the fruit of their abiding in Christ shine through in the planning committee, hospitality team, prayer team, transportation team, AV team, communications team, breakout group leaders, program operations, worship leaders, speakers and every single person I was blessed to meet.  Love was literally visible - He was visible everywhere.

My hope for the Summit was that we would all have time with our Abba Father (an extended time, bathed in His peace) and grow through the wisdom passed down from those who have gone before us (the men and women Influencers).  To say this was accomplished would be an understatement.  You see, on Friday morning God took me to a place I now fondly think of as my prayer cottage.  I had planned to spend quiet time at an outdoor chapel and on my way there, another sister was already entering that location.  So I went where the Spirit lead me and found a cottage with a broken gate, an open door and I entered to find a single chair.  I’m not sure how long I was on my knees praying inside that cottage (time seemed to stand still), however my Comforter provided in ways my heart will never forget.  I was strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit in my inner being… I was filled with His fullness… He provided abundantly more than I could have ever asked our imagined.  Ephesians 3:14-21 took place in that prayer cottage:         

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I entered the Summit with a peace that surpassed all understanding.  I trusted the Lord was bringing me there for a purpose.  The old me (before I began the Journey and truly began abiding) would have ran for the hills, fearful and anxious of the challenges ahead.  However the new me, made new in Christ, relied on His guidance which resulted in total peace and absolute trust.  This resulted in a full on blessing throughout the Summit, as we were gathered as His church, in the inner chamber of His presence.

I imagine you have heard many stories of transformation that took place over the weekend.  I’ve never experienced anything like what happened at the Summit in my 45 years on this earth.  Women shared how their broken hearts were repaired by our perfect Physician, they told their stories / His story working in and through them.  Women were transparent, vulnerable, open and exactly what the Lord called them to be – I am eternally grateful He brought me to His daughters and allowed me to see His workmanship.

The Lord has blessed me with a deep desire to listen to others and reduced my desire for hearing my own voice (I view this as a gift)… and that is what He poured into me at the Summit.  I spent much of my time listening – listening to Him speak through others… speak about how He was getting them through deep trials, about their prayer needs, how He was calling them to be uncomfortable, how He has put their hearts back together like a mosaic (once shattered and now beautiful)… how they almost did not come to the Summit because of attacks and discouragement… how they were grieved because of recent loss of loved ones… how they lost babies… had broken families…how they were under attack at the Summit… and all of it resulted in them finding their way to Jesus, being strengthened in Jesus, healed in Jesus… all of the trials and what was meant for evil, Jesus turned into good! 

All of this to say, the Summit was seeped in the glory of our Father and fanned the fire of the Lord’s children, to seek first the Kingdom and yield to His Spirit.   

Mike and I are praying boldly for the Lord to move here in Michigan and through the men and women seeking the refugees within their sphere of influence.  We see Him working and are grateful for the legacy He is allowing to overflow in our family. 

Respectfully –

Angie Malak 

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.