Keeping faith can be tough, but sometimes the key to recharging it is simply being around other people like one’s self. That’s why women from 10 churches in Washington have come together to plan the inaugural Washington Women’s Conference on Jan. 27-28.

Brought together by Beth Page with First United Methodist Church, these women have collaborated to host an event for women of all denominations. The idea for the event was born out of a nondenominational women’s retreat least year at Page’s church. The participants enjoyed the fellowship and worshiping with members of other churches so much that Page, with the help of others, was inspired to put together something similar this year.

“I think it will be a great time of encouragement, renewal and revival,” Page said.

The conference’s organizers came from First United Methodist Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Harvest Church, First Baptist Church, Temple of Jesus Christ, First Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Christ Church, First Christian Church and River City Christian Center, but its participants are by no means limited to those churches. Page hopes that as word gets out about the conference, women from throughout eastern North Carolina will attend.

Sarah Knott, a veteran Bible-study leader from Raleigh, will be the guest speaker. Knott and her husband, Joe, led women’s and men’s Bible studies, respectively, for 24 years. Each study had an enrollment of 500 people. In 2004, Knott helped start a community outreach ministry called Saltshakers’ Women’s Bible Study at her church called. This study is comprised of women and children from 90 churches in the Raleigh area, as well as those who are “unchurched.” There are more than 500 attendees each week.

A mother of six (including quadruplets), Knott knows what it’s like to live a hectic life, at times.

Page said, “Women today are so busy, and we don’t take time to tend to our souls. We are praying that this event will be a time for women to draw closer to the Lord and to share in fellowship with other women.”

Knott will focus each of her three talks over the two days on a different aspect of living life as a Christian in the modern world. The seminars will feature and examine Paul’s letters to the Ephesians.

The conference will be held in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church. In addition to the, the event will include singing, worship and meals. It runs from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Jan. 27 and 9 a.m. until noon Jan. 28. The event costs $10 a person, and scholarships are available. Women from all areas and denominations are welcome. Registration forms may be obtained at any of the 10 churches sponsoring the conference or by sending email to washingtonwomensretreat@gmail.com.