If revival in the church is going to happen in our world, it must first happen in our homes, said Beth Moore at the "One Heart, One Way" women's conference this weekend. Additionally, she said the church must unify as one body of Christ in order to win the war Satan is waging.

Moore has authored numerous widely used Bible studies and speaks around the country. Nearly 1,300 seats at the new Starr's Mill High School auditorium were filled Saturday, having sold out before August. Another 200 women joined the conference via live satellite broadcast at First Baptist Church of Peachtree City. A Friday night seminar led by Moore for women, men and teens was also well attended.

"Lots of people were touched and renewed their commitment to God," said conference director Mary Frances Bowley. "Beth's talk on generational strongholds really touched a lot of people. That was our most requested prayer need."

Generational strongholds, Moore said, are sins our parents, grandparents or other generations unknowingly passed on to us un-Christian attitudes about people or things that wronged them. This sin binds us now years later, even though we never knowingly committed it. Prejudice, she said, is an example, as is a generational tendency to overindulge in alcohol or drugs. If this generation doesn't say, "The buck stops here," and break that sinful stronghold, our attempts at spiritual revival will be hindered.

Moore also said we should acknowledge and celebrate our differences; be "color-blessed rather than color blind." Similarly, she suggested the church not do away with denominations and differences in worship styles as it unifies, but celebrate them and not allow the differences to divide the church.

She based her talk on Jeremiah 8, the first revival of the church. Revival comes, she said, when God's people recognize that growth is useless without the filling of the Holy Spirit and are willing to encounter God's word; when they assemble as one body; when God's word is proclaimed without shame and welcomed with spontaneous praise; when God's people want to obey, are ready to forsake whatever they must to be free, and repent of personal sin.

Many Christians still hold on to "cherished sins" and what Moore called "Judas sins" things other than Jesus that bring comfort in difficult times, such as alcohol or a sinful relationship.

"What you are holding back from God is what is strangling you," she said. "Give it up and be free." She noted that it is better to bend the knee before God does.

Moore shared with the ladies the unbearably difficult year she had last year, with one devastating event happening after another. She encouraged those who may also be going through difficult times, saying it is the perfect time to draw closer to God and study His word.

"I've never seen God so strongly" as last year, Moore said. "God did everything but show up in a multicolored coat and do cartwheels in my living room" to get her attention, she said.

Moore hoped the things she shared at the conference will make the attending ladies more ready and alert for the spiritual warfare they face. "I pray that Peachtree City will be a little different, and our children will be a little bit different 10 years from now because of what we learned today," she said.

Praise and worship was led by Alicia Williamson-Garcia and a praise team from Braelinn Baptist Church; Braelinn's drama ministry also entertained the conference attendees with a performance. Cheryl Slaughter-Ward served as MC.

Artwork for the conference was designed by Kristina Eden and Patsy Gullett. Note cards featuring the design are available at Sonrise Christian bookstore in Fayetteville, The Ark in Newnan and at Olive Branch in Peachtree City.

The conference was organized by Women Seeking God's Best, an interdenominational group representing 24 area churches which was formed four years ago over lunch. The group has claimed as its focal Bible verse Jeremiah 32:39. This was the group's third conference; the next is scheduled for March of 2000.

Women Seeking God's Best is hosting a pastor's lunch next month. They will outline a plan to accomplish the goal of personally delivering the "Jesus" video into every home in the cities where the conferences are held. Another vision of WSGB is to get the churches to regularly pray for our neighborhoods, school and police.

For more information about WSGB, call Bowley at 770-631-4187.

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