LAUREL — More than 300 women from across the Pine Belt gathered at Sweet Hope Baptist Church in Laurel Saturday for the third annual “Citywide Women’s Conference.”

The brainchild of First Lady Stephanie Bolton, the event was designed to minister to “scarred and hurting women.”

“I had conversations with a lot of people and they were sharing different things they were going through in their lives,” said Bolton. “When I was thinking about a theme, the Lord gave me ‘Scarred, But Not Ruined.’”

Bolton noted that there a lot of things people have gone through in the past that have left them scarred.  She said many of the scars yet remain.

“They may have a little scab on them, but they are not completely healed,” she said. “We want to minister to these women and let them know that God is the only one who can help them.”

The guest speaker for the conference was Dr. Yvonne Capehart, founder of Sister Keeper International Ministries Crusade of Pensacola, Fla. Sister Keepers is a network for women in ministry on local, state and international levels. The wife of Pastor Lee Capehart of Believers Life Center in Pensacola, Capehart’s ministry intels prophetic deliverance to heal the “wounded hearts, the broken in spirit, encouragement to step out on faith and striving to reach our destinies in God.”

“God has placed a mandate upon my life, one I didn’t ask for,” said Capehart. “There is a difference in being mandated and volunteering. Those who are mandated for a job will do it even when they don’t feel like it.

“I have to tell you what God has given me to tell you,” she continued. “There is no way around it.”

Capehart said things are happening in the church and society, as a whole, because people refuse to talk about it. She added that because people fail to talk about certain things, “Satan is slipping in things that are totally out of the will of God.”

On the flip side, Capehart noted that when people in the church do talk, they talk about the wrong things. For instance, she said if they see an individual who is not dressed properly or who may not be acting quite like a church person, they will go around saying: “Did you see what she was wearing?” or “She is such a mean woman.”

Capehart said there may be a story behind what makes a person dress or act the way they do. Instead of talking about them, she said people should try to reach them, try to minister to them.

“There could be some scars there,” said Capehart.

Bolton said Capehart’s passion to reach those who are hurt or scarred is one of the reasons she wanted to bring her to Laurel. “She shares my interest and vision for the women of God,” said Bolton.

In addition to Capehart, Bolton had other speakers on program. Dr. Stacy Smithers of South Central Regional Medical Center’s Wound Center spoke to the women about health issues, Beverly McIntyre shared a personal testimony about her health crisis, and Pastor Cathy Evans shared words of encouragement.

There were also workshops during the day-long event that started at 9 a.m. Workshop facilitators and topics were Alvin Cook - “Singles,”; Pastor Lorenzo Carter - “Marriages”; and Co-Pastor Tonya Benton - “Youth (ages 13-18).”

Music was provided by Evangelist Deidra Moody featuring G.O.D. (God on Command) and Judy Jones. The Praise & dance (Mime) Ministry of Salem Baptist Church also appeared on program.

The emcee for the event was Evangelist Delorise McCormick of Laurel.

Sweet Hope’s pastor, the Rev. Bobby Ray Bolton, said he was pleased with the turnout and was excited about what the women’s ministry is doing at the church.

“There is a struggle within the general church in terms of the belief that women have no place in ministry,” said Bolton. “I think this is all because there is a breakdown in understanding what God says in the Scripture.

“I am all for bridging the gap between males and females. A lot of pastors don’t allow women to minister because they are afraid. I’m not afraid.”

The pastor said he wants to be the flagship church here in Laurel. “I plan to be just like Star Trek, span into galaxies other people are afraid to venture in,” he said. “It’s all about kingdom building.”