The Lord works in mysterious ways.

It’s something Lorna McGowan discovered when she was invited, seemingly out of the blue, to help facilitate a Christian women’s conference at Willowbank Resort.

Rather than immediately saying yes, she decided to pray about it.

“It came about quite suddenly so I wanted to seek God before making a decision, but then I heard in my spirit, ‘Lorna, go ahead and do it because this is what I want you to do’,” Ms McGowan said.

“I have done a lot of mentoring in different capacities and have been involved with government’s Mirrors programme assisting as a mentor or life coach in two cohorts, so I said to myself, ‘God is doing it again and taking me down that path’. I believe this is by design and truly believe the women who attend are going to be blessed through the various messages that God will use to speak into their lives.”

Guest speakers in Indianapolis will be live-streamed for Adorned, the conference which takes place on Friday and Saturday. Organised by Revive Our Hearts Ministry and based on Titus 2: 3-5, it will focus on such themes as service, self-control and holiness.

Its aim is to encourage older women to be a good example in the way they live their lives; to teach younger women how to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and kind and how to be good stewards of the home.

“I want all the women who attend to leave with hope, encouragement and an improvement in their self-worth and confidence,” Ms McGowan said.

“I also want it to be a caring and supportive space where women of all ages can come, feel safe and figure out how to take the next step in whatever is needed for their self-growth that could impact their homes, families and ultimately Bermuda. Families are the fabric of our society and everything starts at home. I know this will be a powerful time as well as life-changing for those who attend.” Like many Christians, Ms McGowan’s parents took her to church on Sundays however the real spark in her faith didn’t come until her adult years.

She got saved 25 years ago at a Bible study course led by Bermudian motivational speaker and author, Cindy Trimm.

At that point in her life, Ms McGowan felt something was missing and was desperate for information that would lead her on the right path. She happened to be the only unsaved person who signed up for the course — and on the first evening, Dr Trimm invited her to accept the Lord into her life.

“Something got me up off my seat and took me to the front,” she said. “I wasn’t saved; Dr Trimm asked me if I was ready to give my life to Christ. I said yes.

“She prayed for me. I just cried and cried. I felt a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. She prophesied into my life. I got so much out of her teachings during that course.”

Since then Ms McGowan has focused on growing her faith and learning to trust God, even when it feels like He’s silent.

Several years ago she was faced with health scares: her Pap smear results came back as abnormal and a doctor found a “cloudy area” in a mammogram X-ray.

She attended a service at the First Church of God where Miles Munroe was speaking. At the end of the service Dr Munroe asked the congregation to hold hands and pray.

Ms McGowan felt as if something was “sucked from her body”, and shuddered; a few weeks later she received a clean bill of health.

In addition to co-facilitating next weekend’s event, Ms McGowan is hoping to help provide ongoing support for women who attend.

“People get stirred at conferences like this, so there has to be follow-up to make sure women are equipped to take the next steps that will enhance the information that was received as well as the knowledge that was shared,” she said. “It’s not just a one-time event, but something that we hope can be sustained by nurturing relationships.”

•The conference runs from 2.15pm until 10.30pm on Friday and 8.30am until 6pm on Saturday. All-inclusive packages cost $199 per person for double occupancy or $249 for single occupancy. Tickets to Friday’s session are $45; Saturday’s tickets are $60. For more information: 234-1616 or reservations@willowbank.bm