September 28, 2009

The 2nd annual Women on the Watch conference held last week-end in Ontario, California, turned out to be a wonderful time for like-minded believers to focus on the theme: “Behold the Bridegroom Cometh.” Although the conference featured women speakers, the men who attended were also blessed to look toward the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ from a unique perspective. The line-up of the armies opposing the state of Israel and the nature of the terrorists who threaten the entire world were not the focus. Themes like spiritual deception and the moral landslide of the world were examined in detail and the excitement of the soon return of Jesus was contagious.

Jackie Alnor, founder of Women on the Watch, hosted the event and was the first speaker. She spoke on “Birth Pangs: Sounds of Heavy Labor” and presented a power point that showed the escalation of the signs of the times from the early 1970s to the present. Using the biblical imagery of a woman in labor, she demonstrated how much closer and stronger the contractions are today, so much so that it is easy to see that the birth or return of the Son of God is already in the birth canal, so to speak. Besides the Matthew 24 signs she also spoke of the Daniel and Revelation signs of a forming one world government, one world economy and global religious system and how much closer those realities are today than back in the days when David Wilkerson wrote his book, “The Vision.”

Bible teacher Cheryl Brodersen, daughter of Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith, gave an inspiring overview of Bible prophecy with both humor and intensity. She encouraged the gathering to keep the Lord Jesus Christ as their focus and to have the right attitude toward others who can be rescued out of fear and unbelief. She admonished all to stay in the Word of God daily as the only protection from deception at a time when the devil is causing many to lose their faith. In her second message Cheryl spoke on the “Blessed Hope: How shall we then live?”  

Jewel Grewe of Discernment Ministries had two topics, “Bridal Preparation Time” and “The Slide into Mysticism” in which she warned of the influence of eastern mystics coming into the church under the guise of contemplative prayer. Her associate Sarah Leslie, writer of the online newsletter, Herescope,” helped all to understand the marketing techniques used by church growth leaders in Evangelicalism that are based upon delusional empire building strategies of the late Peter Drucker.

Apologist Holly Pivec spoke on the “Coming Civil War in the Church” that exposed the underlying ambitions of leaders of the New Reformation theology such as C. Peter Wagner and his associates of false prophets and false apostles. She brought along some TV clips of the antics of the new “prophets” who led literally thousands of “Christians” into a cosmic prayer, joining their voices to the noises that stars supposedly make in the universe. She showed how lying signs and wonders will most likely be used to deceive many of those who are seeking after the miraculous.

Film-maker Caryl Matrisciana delved further into the subject of contemplative spirituality in her talk, “Contemplative Convergence.” She showed the interconnectedness of the mysticism of yoga and Hinduism with the practices of today’s new mystics who seek the silence that is mistaken for contact with the divine. She showed where that could lead many into the “cult of death” that Hindus practice in reaching nirvana, the ultimate nothingness. Caryl’s second topic was “Oprah Spirituality” and she came armed with shocking clips of Oprah Winfrey denying the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him being the only way and claiming that all spiritual paths lead to the same place.

The two-day conference had many surprises of unplanned and unrehearsed prayers, hymns and spiritual songs that all joined in together under the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many of those who attended received prayer during the breaks and some were even freed from oppressive spirits. One precious young lady sang a song she had written about waiting for the Bridegroom adapted from the Song of Solomon that she sang beautifully acappella that was almost custom-made for the event. Many commented that it was the best conference they ever attended and left filled and renewed.

For those who could not make it out to the conference, all was captured on audio tape and can be ordered from Discernment Ministries, the co-sponsor of the event. Here is a link to a printable order form or you can contact Discernment Ministries at their website. The tapes from last year’s 2008 Women on the Watch conference is still available on CD or DVD through the co-sponsor Moriel Ministries at www.moriel.org.

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