It will be attended by women from around the nation who come to be taught how to advance in their relationship with God through thought-provoking teaching messages, prayers and praises and interactive workshops, and a women-to-women advice panel.”

Cheri Hartsfield, Thrive Christian Ministries co-pastor

By Delarita Ford
Mail | Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Valley women are invited to an upcoming conference where faith, spirituality and woman-to-woman advice converge under one roof.

The Purposely Created Women’s Advance Conference starts 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 1-2 at The Westin Tempe, 11 E. Seventh St.

Conference hosts and pastors, Ivan and Cheri Hartsfield relocated from Illinois to the Valley last year to broaden their ministry.

“Because we are advancing spiritually, we call it the ‘Women’s Advance,’” said Cheri Hartsfield.

She detailed how the conference originally started in 2007 to teach women about their God-given purpose, with topics ranging from praying to praising over the years.

“Women are purposely created to be nurturers, encouragers, teachers, helpers, and leaders that build leaders. Each year, we learn how to use our purpose,” she said. “For this relaunch year, our theme is ‘Purposely to Proclaim.’”

The keynote address, “Proclaim Light in Darkness,” and first workshop will include an inspirational speaker, Dr. Lonise Bias, who is the mother of the late Len Bias, a Boston Celtics draft pick. In addition to Bias, other female speakers are Deenbo Kidane, a minister, Gina Hayes, an attorney, and Cheri Hartsfield, an author and pastor.

“It will be attended by women from around the nation who come to be taught how to advance in their relationship with God through thought-provoking teaching messages, prayers and praises and interactive workshops, and a women-to-women advice panel,” Cheri Hartsfield said.

The cost of the conference is $100. Registration, room reservations, and more information can be found at cherihartsfield.com and Eventbrite.com.

The Hartsfields expanded their spiritual services to include Surprise and Tempe after leading a small fellowship of Chicago area churches for 17 years.

“On a trip to Tempe, Arizona, during a season of fasting and prayer for discernment, a chance meeting of pastors praying on ‘A’ Mountain for the Lord to send workers to the area, helped solidify the decision,” stated the couple.

The Hartsfields started online ministering for Thrive Christian Ministries to meet the spiritual needs of family and friends during the pandemic.

Moved by “faith and a sense of urgency,” the couple relocated in July 2022 to the Phoenix area to plant their ministry, launching in-person services for Thrive Christian Ministries on March 26 of this year.

The hour service is held at 10 a.m. on Sundays in the Hilton Garden Inn, 16601 N. Stadium Way in Surprise.

Delarita Ford
Reporter | Surprise
@AzNewsmedia

dford@iniusa.org

Starting my media career in 1994, rumor had it that newspapers would not exist much longer. Years later, the newspaper is still around and so is my passion for storytelling and capturing life’s moments for the community.