Kassian, Loritts and Parshall Speak at True Woman Conference

At the recent True Woman conference sponsored by Revive Our Hearts ministries, some the nation's top evangelical speakers gathered to speak to 6200 women on the theme of being a true woman. Because so many wanted to attend, but were turned away for lack of space, a live webcast was offered so many more could enjoy the event.  The talks are now available for free download. The first two sessions by Piper and DeMoss were previously summarized. What follows is a brief overview of the next three general sessions by Mary Kassian, Karen Lorrits and Janet Parshall.

In session 3, Mary Kassian deftly traced the historical development of the feminist movement in the United States. She showed how the feminist movement, rooted in and powered by the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan, served to undermine biblical and honorable structures of authority within the American culture. Though some would defend the feminist movement  as a cause of justice, Kassian reveals the rampant spiritual, physical and emotional carnage that has indeed resulted from feminism. Feminism's message could be focused into this sentence: "Women need and can trust no other authority than their own personal truth."

Kassian answered the blight of feminism with an invitation to submit to the good design of God in creating persons male and female. She declared that femininity speaks to the glory of God. Without it something of God's glory is lost. She asked the women present: "Will a return to 1950's culture bring happiness? No.  Will feminism bring happiness? No. Will a good husband or family? Not ultimately. The only thing that can satisfy every woman's longing for true happiness is a relationship with God himself through Jesus Christ.

In session 4, Karen Loritts, wife of Crawford Loritts, spoke biographically on her journey of faith in Jesus Christ. She told how she was born to a single mother in Philadelphia, and how she came to know Christ in March, 1965 when John 3:16 was powerfully preached. She unfurled six imperatives from James 4:7-10, and then challenged the women to stop listening to themselves and begin to talk to themselves - and talk to God.

In session 5, radio host, Janet Parshall preached with passion on the life of Hannah in I Samuel 1-2. She spoke of how wise God was to lead her to live out bibilical family values early in life, so that she could defend those same family values later in the public square. From I Samuel, she walked though the pain and difficulty Hannah endured as she submitted to His sovereign will. Parshall's talk grew to its poignant climax as she spoke of the unwavering love of God for us, which the prophet Isaiah compares to that of a nursing mother (49:15).

Parshall defined a true woman as one who is not self-centered, but God-centered. Understandably, her talk was met with hearty applause.

We are so pleased with each of the contributors to the True Woman conference. We trust these messages will linger on the web and in the hearts of godly women and men for a long time. We'll wrap up the final two general sessions tomorrow.