Positive changes in the hearts and lives of local women will be the focus of a four-day women's conference beginning Sunday at the St. Thomas Assembly of God Church. All are welcome.

The theme for the fourth annual conference, "The Intentional Woman: The Woman at the Well," was inspired by Ephesians 5:17, which states "Don't live carelessly or unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants."

St. Thomas Assembly of God First Lady, Sister Agatha Phillips, along with international guest speakers Apostle Sandra Valentine, Minister Agatha "Patsy" Baker and Pastor Marcia Estrada, will engage conference attendees with services and workshops aimed at guiding women through a change of heart to live a more focused, deliberate and God-directed life so they will be able to overcome obstacles and hear the voice of God more clearly.

Concurrent services and workshops will be held for single women, adult women and young adults and teenagers. Sunday through Tuesday's meetings will be held as services, and Wednesday's meeting will be conducted as a series of more informal workshops. Attendees may come to all four days or as many as they would like.

"Women face a lot of challenges in their lives, as mothers, as wives, as women, and we need to be able to balance all of these aspects and have a Godly focus in our lives," said Leonilda Jarvis, public relations at St. Thomas Assembly of God.

Guest speaker Apostle Sandra Valentine is a native of Antigua and Barbuda. She currently serves as pastor of Kissimmee Pentecostal Assembly, now known as Kingdom Life Center. She received her theological training from the West Indies School of Theology, and has ministered in London, Ecuador, Dominica, Antigua, Grenada and throughout the Caribbean and the United States. She has traveled as an evangelist ministering in places such as Africa, Canada and Guyana. Graced with an apostolic calling and gifting, Valentine proclaims the word with boldness and conviction, and carries a prophetic anointing that confronts the status quo. Her life experiences will add distinctive and meaningful Godly guidance as she addresses the single women's workshop.

Minister Agatha "Patsy" Baker is a visiting guest speaker from the "spice island" of Grenada. She is married to Bishop Christopher Baker, superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies (P.A.W.I.), Grenada, whom she has supported in overseeing the District for the past 10 years while raising their children, Chrystel and Jeremy. Minister Baker attended the West Indies School of Theology, obtaining a Lady Minister's Certificate with the Pentecostal Assemblies. Currently, she serves as director of the Women's Ministries Department P.A.W.I., Grenada, and has also been a schoolteacher for the past 25 years. She has organized and ministered to the overall needs of women both educationally and spiritually, and her areas of expertise uniquely qualify her to provide spiritual insight and intentional righteous guidance as she conducts the Adult Women's workshop.

Trinidad native Pastor Marcia Estrada has been married to Apostle Ashley C. Estrada for the past 30 years. They have five children, Joel, Kenneth, Jesse, Jeriah and Kristel. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of the Virgin Islands. She is also a graduate of the West Indies School of Theology, Maracas Valley, Trinidad, and holds a master's degree in Biblical counseling from Trinity College in Newburgh, Ind. Pastor Estrada is the co-founder of Kingdom Life International Christian Center on St. Thomas, where she serves in the capacity of full time church administrator. She has ministered throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Outwardly meek in demeanor, she delivers the word in a clear, bold and uncompromising manner, and her distinctive style lends itself to a unique ability to convey the message with passion and inspiration that is appealing to young women. She will lead the workshop for young adults and teens.

Last year, the conference was themed "A Woman for Such a Time as This" and about 75 women attended. This year, organizers are expecting about 125 women to attend, though they are hoping for even more.

The conference begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and continues at 7:15 p.m. Monday and Tuesday evening, culminating with a series of dynamic workshops from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. All services and workshop sessions will be held at the St. Thomas Assembly of God Church located at No. 133 Contant. Registration for the workshop is $20 and includes lunch.

For information, call 776-7243.

- Contact reporter Genevieve Ryan at 774-8772 ext. 340 or e-mail gryan@dailynews.vi.