Guest Contribution by Tracie S. Burns

Ladies are arguably the hardest workers in most churches. They serve in the nursery, teach children’s Sunday school classes, clean and decorate, deliver meals to the sick, check on shut-ins—and so much more. They are an invaluable part of God’s work.

However, while we love being busy helping others and serving the Saviour, we often forget to invest in ourselves. We need time away from the work to be refreshed and renewed. As ladies, we need the occasional spiritual “checkup”—a chance to be encouraged and reminded to keep growing.

That is why we are so thankful for what God did at the North Florida Baptist Ladies Conference last week! This was Immanuel Baptist Church’s second year hosting this conference, and the Lord truly blessed. We welcomed 210 delegates from 24 different churches. Some even came from as far as California! Let me share a snapshot of this wonderful meeting.

The theme was “Timeless Truths & Kindred Hearts”—a lovely tribute to true beauty that never goes out of style, both inward and outward. The decor reflected a look of timeless elegance inspired by the Victorian era. Many ladies chose to dress the part on Friday night, and we loved seeing everyone so festive.

The evening began with a sumptuous sit-down dinner, served by the men and teen boys of Immanuel Baptist Church, all dressed in their turn-of-the-century finery. After dinner, all the ladies gathered in the auditorium for the main event: three helpful devotions, joyful singing, multiple giveaways and games, and a hilarious skit.

Saturday morning featured 15 different breakout sessions: 12 for the ladies and three specifically for the teen girls. Delegates could choose one session each hour, covering a variety of subjects such as building confidence, navigating health struggles, strengthening marriage and ministry, embracing Christian womanhood, and learning biblical forgiveness. Every speaker was a member of Immanuel, and we were so blessed to have such a gifted group of ladies who used their unique testimonies and gifts to minister to other ladies.

At noon, we enjoyed lunch together, once again served by the men. Boy, was it nice getting spoiled! Afterward, we wrapped up with a final session in the auditorium, filled with more games, giveaways, singing, and a skit. Pastor Neal closed out the conference with a powerful message from the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb, reminding us how precious and rewarding our relationship with the Lord truly is.

One group of ladies told me that they decided to drive four hours from South Carolina at the last minute. After the conference, they shared how wonderful, refreshing, and helpful the two days had been for them. They are already planning to bring even more ladies with them next year!

Local ladies brought friends, relatives, and neighbors. One lady, who attends another church in a neighboring town, could not get over how first class everything was and how pampered she felt. She invited a friend on a whim, and the friend told me, “I’m SO GLAD I came! All the love and learning was exactly what I needed. Five stars for everything!”

Seeing these ladies leave encouraged, refreshed, and full of new friendships was so rewarding. I know I speak for every lady who helped in any and every capacity to make this conference a success when I say it was a true honor to serve, help, and love our friends, new and old.

You can learn more at ladiesconference.immanueljax.org. Keep an eye out for when next year’s registration opens in January 2026. The next North Florida Baptist Ladies Conference will be held April 10–11, 2026.

Mark your calendar now, and bring a friend or two…or five! See you next year!