National Women's Conference

The annual Sozo Ministries Women’s Conference in Juja, Kenya, was full of wonderful things this year! Liz Ingram, Juliana Baale, Harriet Gibu (from Pearl Haven), Sarah Miller, and her mother, Monica Dowd, all came to visit and minister alongside Pastor John’s wife, Triza Mwangi, and the Juja church. The theme was from Isaiah 52:2. Juliana delivered a powerful message concerning our need to believe and follow the Lord so that we do not miss what He has for our lives. Sarah Miller shared a convicting and empowering message about how each of us has a God-given purpose and destiny that only we can achieve and fulfill. To “Shake off the Dust” is a call to action! Liz shared how waiting for the Lord is something that must be done with life and expectancy, how the Lord gives multiple examples and commands on how to wait for him, but also, we must learn to receive what has already been given.

There happened to be a deaf woman in the audience that weekend. Sarah’s mother, Monica, just so happens to be an ASL deaf sign interpreter, especially for worship/church services! We arranged for the woman to sit closer to the front, and as we were also live-streaming the services, we invited Monica to join the speakers on stage so she could interpret for anyone who might have access to the live stream. 

Then, towards the end of the service, a Kenyan woman was sharing, and the English translator had stopped translating. Only Kiswahili was audibly being spoken, but Sarah and Liz (and others!) watched as Monica, an English-speaking American, on her first day in Kenya, translated/signed accurately everything that was being spoken! God is pretty cool, right?! But wait, there’s more…. After the service, we went into a time for prayer. Veronica (the deaf woman) asked for prayer; she had received partial healing just last week! But she wanted more. Monica prayed for her, Sarah prayed for her, and Liz prayed for her… The holy spirit was in that room, and Veronica fell down, eyes closed, and no longer “with us”, audibly and very clearly, she began saying, “Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!” Over and over again. 

Fun side-note about Veronica- She is the chairman of the committee of people with blind/deaf special needs in Nairobi, Kenya. Please pray that God will continue to work supernatural miracles in her life and that her testimony will help bring salvation, healing, and deliverance to many more! To God be the glory.

During the conference, the ladies ministered, counseled, and prayed over many issues. Testimonies were still being reported a few weeks later! Depression was broken off, forgiveness took place, joy was restored, sickness left, deaf ears were healed, fear and anxiety were replaced with the Lord’s peace, and others found a new boldness and identity in the Lord. 

Thank you for your support of our church planting and leadership development in East Africa and beyond. We cannot do it without you! If you’d like to make a one-time or a recurring gift to Sozo Ministries, you can do so tax-free: