| A Look at the 2008 Visions and Dreams Singles Conference |
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| Emy Mondesir | |||
| Sunday, 21 September 2008 | |||
 The International Singles Conference, I must say, was all that it was cracked up to be. After hearing about it for nearly a year and getting a reminder every time I checked my emails, visited disciplestoday.com, or talked to a close friend who knows of my tendency to procrastinate, I finally registered and booked my flight the week before the conference. I knew it would be a great experience, but I was afraid that it would also be another reminder of what often feels like a cross to me: my "singleness". Nonetheless, I packed my bags and left after praying that God would make the experience about him and not about the possibility of hundreds of single and available brothers who could be there.I arrived in Dallas early on Friday afternoon and started meeting brothers and sisters as soon as I arrived at the airport. The resort was humongous and yet brothers and sisters were on every corner. That was only the beginning of an overwhelming but pleasant realization that God has not stopped working around the earth. The opening ceremony started with the procession of flags representing the different nations attending the conference. There were also performances by brothers and sisters from each continent displaying their cultural heritage. Later that evening, Dallas’ Carlos Castillo, a single brother born in Columbia, gave the keynote speech. He shared that in order to start dreaming again after spending time away from God, he had to change his perception about God, himself and the world. He explained that our perceptions, like footholds, can become strongholds. It was the perfect message to start the evening as Carlos inspired us all by his awe of God. The rest of the weekend was no different. It was filled with alot of fun and encouragement, as well as great lessons from God’s word. I am left with encouraging memories such as enjoying a late night snack (brownies and hot chocolate) at 1:30 a.m. in the Hotel lobby with a brother from Nigeria, a sister from Seattle, one from Jacksonville, Fl and another from Miami, Fl. I shared the dance floor with hundreds of brothers and sisters while doing the “Kingdom party must have electric slide”. I chatted with a friend from the Amsterdam church and watched sisters, including me, fall head-over-heals for an Australian beau due to his accent. While I enjoyed the fellowship, the lessons were the highlight of the weekend. I learned about intimacy with God. More specifically, I learned that I can find in God and in his church the things I long most to find in a husband: security, passion, love and care. I learned that as a single, I can experience intimacy by building deep friendships with both brothers and sisters in ways that will glorify God. I learned about how to build friendships with my brothers in the faith with no strings attached. I was also reminded of the need to choose God and God’s word, as well as life everyday. On Sunday morning, Rolonda Thrift, a single sister from the Dallas church, explained how important it is to have God’s word on my heart at all times as it can shape my perception about myself and about God. She reminded me that a “bargain base Christianity” is far from the life to the full that Jesus wants us to have. Finally, I was reminded that I am daily being pursued by the most loving man ever. Don’t believe me? This is what he said about me: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her… In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master." Hosea 2:14-16.
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