AUNDECK OMNI KANING—Following a Christian way of life can prove challenging in these days beset with secular bombardment via both social and traditional mainstream media, but IF: Gatherings offer a lifeline and mutual support to women seeking to forge a Christian path for themselves and their families, harnessing the power of the Internet.
“If God is real, then what?” is the expression that IF: Gathering founder and visionary Jennie Allen uses to elevator pitch the concept—and its been very successful, reaching out through the organization’s global team of 10 staff members, five interns and over 7,000 local IF: Gathering leaders around the world to reclaim “the priority of discipleship as God’s method to changing the world.” Through technology and its events, IF: Gatherings have reached more than one million women in 179 countries.
“If we believe God is real, how do we live by it?” paraphrases local IF: Gathering leader Audrey Joyce who first discovered the organization through a Christian blog she reads online. “I mentioned it to the ladies in our Bible study group.” The concept struck a chord and the seed of If: Manitoulin was planted.
Ms. Joyce explained that the group has been meeting for about five years, but that although they are an ecumenical group, they have been meeting primarily in the Missionary Church in Mindemoya. “This year we thought we should move out into the community,” she explained. “So we contacted Aundeck Omni Kaning and arranged to set up here in the community centre.”
Attendees, of which there were about 30 from church communities and denominations from all across Manitoulin, were able to watch a simulcast that linked them to other Christian woman across the globe.
The IF: Gatherings are based on a three-pronged concept, explained Ms. Joyce. “First is Learning, equipping ourselves with Bible studies; the second is Gathering, and that is what we were doing in AOK with the Livestream event; and third is Unleashing, doing things in the community.
This year, Unleash is all about providing food for the hungry. “One year we were involved in the Good Food Box program,” said Ms. Joyce.
The group gathered at AOK for the If: Gathering Manitoulin were well supplied with literature and ideas on how women can bring Christian values and teachings into their homes and families. While a well stocked lunch table ensured the group was well nourished.
If: Manitoulin has a Facebook page online where people can learn more about the group and get involved locally. The IF: Gathering homepage is located at www.ifgathering.com for more information about the group on a global scale.
