Beginning on November 20, Richard Allen A.M.E. Church's "International Women's Conference'' is being organised with the hope of "bringing Christian women together to talk and learn about how to deal with issues in everyday life, without compromising their beliefs''. The conference will include lectures, group sessions and worship services led by experts from the Island and overseas. Attending will be the Reverend Dr. Debyii Sababu Thomas, an American assistant church pastor who lives in Suitland, Maryland. Currently serving with her husband at Hunter Memorial A.M.E. Church, Rev. Thomas has previously worked as Associate Minister of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, Maryland and St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Although ordained as an Itinerant Elder in the A.M.E. Church, she has had a ministry that is ecumenical as well as intergenerational. Consequently, she has been called upon to minister in churches of many denominators, as well as, to teach and lecture to persons and groups of all ages, races and creeds. Having received a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard University's Divinity School in Massachusetts, Rev. Thomas completed her dissertation in the area of Religion and Communications. She received a Ph.D. degree from Howard University. Rev. Thomas has been involved in numerous religious, educational or community related activities in Baltimore and has worked in Radio Broadcasting, Public Relations and Journalism, for which she has received various awards and citations. She has three sons and one daughter and asks "that you keep her and her family in your prayers so that God might continue to use them to be a blessing to the Body of Christ, as well as , to be a faithful witness to everyone they meet''. Finally she quotes from the Book of St. Luke, chapter one, verse 45: "Blessed is she who believes, for there shall be a performance of those which were told her from the Lord.'' In the meantime, Richard Allen A.M.E. Church has pledged to help, not only women, but the community at large. In an interview with The Royal Gazette , Pastor Reverend Wilbur Lowe Jr. explained what he felt the purpose of the women's conference was. "We are looking for this to be a life changing experience for those who attend, which people come away from with a new focus and new direction and, in short, to be more spiritually motivated. "The women's ministry in our church is growing and I think you'd have to agree that when females get together they create a powerful, sisterly force of communion and comradery.'' He added his belief that "the church needs to do more in preparing people, especially women, for life. "At this conference, there will be a chance for participants to take in a great deal of information.'' In addition to the conference, Rev. Lowe explained that ministers from all denominations will meet together this morning to discuss how to address several pressing social issues, including homelessness and drugs. He described how he felt that the church, as a whole, needed to take more action in dealing with such issues. "In St. George's, the community turns into a different place at night,'' he explained, "Some of the most violent acts occur after midnight and people are sometimes afraid to leave their homes. Something needs to be done about this.'' Richard Allen A.M.E. Church's "International Women's Conference'' runs from November 18 to 20 at Sonesta Beach Resort. For more information call the church office on 297-2311. PHOTO Richard Allen AME Pastor Rev. Wilbur Lowe: `The church needs todo more in preparing women for life'.