Hailed by many as one of the best annual women's retreats on the Island, Calvary Gospel Chapel will be hosting yet another conference next weekend.

The featured guest speaker is Mrs. Jocelyn Wallace, Executive Director for Vision of Hope, a residential treatment centre based in Lafayette, Indiana.

According to organiser Pam Hall, "(Mrs. Wallace) is actually featured in a lot of women's retreats and counselling in Indiana."

Vision of Hope offers a faith-based residential treatment programme that caters to young women aged 14-28 dealing with a variety of issues, including unplanned pregnancy, alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders and self-harm. They also seek to assist in family transitional housing, homelessness, educating and assisting new parents and Biblical counselling.

The theme for this year's conference is "The Anchor Holds" and is based on Psalms 107 verses 22 through 32.

Mrs. Wallace will be speaking at an intimate dinner at the Waterlot on Friday evening, October 1, and then will be sharing three times during the conference on Saturday, October 2.

"It's a day for women," Mrs. Hall said. "We see it as a vehicle to encourage other women to seek God more seriously... 'Lives are short.' Everyone says that, the saved and the unsaved. We welcome everybody."

In addition to the messages, there will also be ample time for praise and worship, as well as the CGC (Calvary Gospel Chapel) Annual Cook-Off.

"It's a spin-off on TV shows 'Chopped' and 'Iron Chef'," explained Mrs. Hall. Six teams of four will be participating in the event, each having been given a theme and recipe based on a traditional Bermuda dish. The teams then have two weeks to plan their own take on the recipe.

On the day, three members of each team will then have one-and-a-half hours to prepare, cook and present their version of the dish, while the remaining members of the team will create the judging panel. The judges then taste the dishes, without knowing who created which dish.

During the competition, random facts about the particular recipe will be shared, and qualified chefs have also been invited to prepare sauces that will complement the secret recipe.

For more information or to book tickets for the event, which will be held in the Ampitheatre at the Southampton Princess Hotel, contact the Calvary Gospel Chapel church office at 234-3250 or Pam Hall at 234-3918.The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will finish at 4pm. The cost is $65 per person, and includes a continental breakfast and summer buffet lunch. Tickets will also be available at the door.