Women’s Fellowship looks to grow Christian conference with Grammy Award-nominated singer/speaker

By Matthew Nash • January 10, 2018 1:30 am

“Clothesline Untangled & Renewed Conference”

with Michele Pillar, Christian singer/speaker/author

Hosted by the Olympic Peninsula Women’s Fellowship

Three sessions at 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.

Cost: $35 by Feb. 1; $25 for 18 and under; $10 increase for both after Feb. 11.

For tickets/more information, visit http://olympicpeninsulawomensfellowship.com.

Organizers with the Olympic Peninsula Women’s Fellowship look to build on their success with a second conference slated for Feb. 23-24 in Sequim.

Last February, the non-denominational, nonprofit group hosted 400 women of all ages for a two-day event with nationally-known Christian author and speaker Elisa Morgan.

Co-organizer Nancy Vance said they far exceeded their goals in 2017 and this year move from Dungeness Community Church to Sequim High School’s Auditorium to host up to 600 women.

This time, the fellowship group brings in Michele Pillar, a Grammy Award and Dove nominated singer, to share her series the “Clothesline Untangled & Renewed Conference” over three sessions.

In a video promoting the conference, Pillar said she’ll focus on the clothes in your closet that may have been there too long and analyze why you’re wearing them even though you may not know it.

Following early success in the Christian music scene, Pillar took a break from ministry due to tough life circumstances but she returned in recent years to lead lectures and become an author.

Vance said Pillar will host one session on Friday night and two on Saturday with Kenda Simonson of Sequim Valley Foursquare Church leading worship music.

Two American Sign Language interpreters will be available throughout the event with a third person needed as backup, Vance said.

A box lunch will be provided on Saturday by Sequim’s Sweet Beginnings in the school’s cafeteria.

This year, organizers said they plan to break more into conversational groups to flesh out thoughts on a deeper level.

The Olympic Peninsula Women’s Fellowship’s event grew from a “visioning retreat” of local women from different Christian churches in fall 2016 who wanted to address the spiritual needs of women on the peninsula.

“It was about seeking support and not about one individual church,” Vance said. “This was a need and so many women responded so positively.”

Last year, the 400 participants said they visited from 53 churches across the Olympic Peninsula and in the Seattle area.

Vance said the push for a bigger venue came forth because demand was so high in 2017 that due to space they had to turn away participants and organizers were told some didn’t bother to try and attend because they were told it was sold out.

Early registration runs through Feb. 1 for women 19 and up for $35 and $25 for 18 and under. After Feb. 1, prices go up $10. Participants are encouraged to bring an outfit to donate to a local clothes closet, too.

For more information on the Olympic Peninsula Women’s Fellowship and the weekend event, visit http://olympicpeninsulawomensfellowship.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.