By Devlin Smith
Last July, the Palma Ceia Baptist Church Women’s Ministry in Hayward, Calif., held its seventh annual women’s conference, “Being Fit for Godly Living: Mind Body & Soul.” Held over the course of three days, the conference included games, music, speeches and activities.
On the third day, Connie Willis, activities and project coordinator for the Women’s Ministry, offered a PowerPoint presentation on the ministry’s project for 2006—African Well Fund. The group chose to donate to AWF not only because it felt the organization’s aims fit with the conference’s theme, as well as the theme of a conference workshop called “Glorious the Water,” but also to honor Jeannette Ricard, a ministry member who passed away in January 2006.
Ricard, a nurse, was diagnosed with leukemia 10 years before she died but, according to Willis, never dwelled on her illness. “She was a wonderful example of how to deal with adversity,” Willis said. Ricard was a wife, mother, grandmother and active member of her church, community and professional organizations.
“Fundraising has not always been a part of the Women’s Conference, however we wanted to acknowledge Jeannette’s past participation with our group,” Willis said. “Jeannette played a major role in planning our past conferences.”
Members of the Women’s Ministry, participants in the conference and Palma Ceia Baptist Church participants donated $1,500 to AWF in Ricard’s honor. The money will be used to fund well projects in Uganda.
Jeannette Ricard
Palma Ceia Baptist Church Women’s Ministry
