Faith-based women's group filling arenas
by Kate Brumback, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
published July 1, 2006

ATLANTA — The arena crowd was on its feet, arms in the air, dancing to the lively beat. Colored lights flashed on the performers, who belted out some of their most popular songs.

But these fans weren’t teenagers and the attraction wasn’t a hot pop act. Two of the four performers, in high-wedge platform sandals and trendy but modest outfits, were obviously pregnant. And many were middle-aged women.

This was the scene at Contagious Joy, an event organized by Women of Faith, a national women’s group that recently stopped at Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

Its purpose: To remind women that God loves them, no matter what.

“We want to encourage women and inspire them,” said Mary Graham, the group’s president. “I would like every woman to leave the arena knowing for sure that she is loved by a God of grace and that she can have a relationship with him in the hardest moments of her life and in the best days of her life.” the rest