It's Time To Gather Again

Our Women’s Conference Is Returning — October 3, 2026

For the past two years, many of you have asked us the same heartfelt question: “When is the women’s conference coming back?” Each time, our answer was either, “We aren’t sure,” or simply, “When the Lord leads us.”

I can genuinely tell you that it has meant so much to us to hear how deeply God has used our conferences in your lives. Every message, every conversation, every question asked “When is it coming back?”  has reminded us over time that this gathering is more than just an event — it’s a holy space where God meets His daughters, speaks to our hearts, and does what only He can do. Now, this holy space is being prepared once again.

We are OVERJOYED to say that after a two-year pause, the Lord has released us to move foward with the conference again — and we couldn’t be more excited to announce that our beloved women’s conference — formerly known as the Michiana Women’s Conference — is returning in 2026 on Saturday, October 3rd! 

We will gather once again, under a new name and a fresh vision: The Alabaster Heart Women’s Conference. While some things will look a little different, our heart remains the same:

💜 To worship the King with abandon

🌿 To encounter His holy presence in life-changing ways

🤍 To connect deeply with God and with one another

🔥 To grow together in our faith, leave refreshed, and walk boldly in our calling

Waiting on the Lord’s Timing

This journey has been one marked by patience, prayer, and deep trust. From the very beginning, our heart as a ministry has always been — and will always be — to remain Spirit-led: to seek the Lord, listen for His voice, and respond in obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense to the world around us.

When the Lord led us to step away from hosting our women’s conference in the fall of 2023, we didn’t fully understand why, but what we did know was that He was calling us to trust Him and to follow His leading — even without having all the answers. So, we stepped out in faith and obedience, trusting and believing that His plans and timing are always perfect.

During these last two years, it wasn’t a pause of inactivity. God invited us into a deeper dependence on Him — behind the scenes, He was still moving, still refining, and still preparing us for what was to come.

A Season of Quiet Work

"...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"

Ephesians 4:12

While the women’s conference was on pause, one of the first things the Lord led us into was to attend a Biblical counseling training course as a team, equipping us with practical tools to walk alongside women with greater wisdom, compassion, and grace.

Also, during this season, our team walked through circumstances unbeknownst to them that only God knew we would face — seasons of our lives that required deeper trust and slower rhythms that could not have taken place in the midst of a full ministry calendar. We are so thankful to serve a God who sees all, knows all, and gently tends to the details of our lives, preparing us for what’s ahead.

This quieter season has also given our founder, Jennifer,  the gift of time to write, to listen, and to develop new resources that we look forward to sharing with you in the months to come, as the Lord leads.

One of the most beautiful things that God did during this time was water a seed He planted many years ago. What once was only a quiet stirring began to grow and take root, and out of that seed something new was birthed within Alabaster Heart Ministries — a ministry created specifically for pastor's wives. It’s a tender, much-needed space for women who pour out so much to come, rest, and simply be — to be refreshed, renewed, and reminded that they are seen and deeply loved.

Since the beginning of 2025, we’ve been hosting monthly gatherings for these women, and they have become a true safe haven — intentional spaces where God is moving in tender and beautiful ways. Each time we come together, we’re reminded that even in the quiet seasons, God is still writing stories of connection, healing, and hope. We’re also preparing for a special retreat for pastor's wives in April 2026, and we can’t wait to share more about that soon!

In addition, this past June we hosted our first annual “His Beloved” Gala — a beautiful evening created for pastors and their spouses to come together in community, connect with one another, be encouraged, rest, and enjoy a much-needed pause from the daily demands of ministry. Our heart in all of this is to be a refuge — a safe haven where those in ministry can find rest and renewal, be strengthened and refreshed, and continue walking in what the Lord has called them to with joy as they flourish in their calling.

Spirit-Led Obedience Is Countercultural

We know that following the leading of the Holy Spirit doesn’t always line up with the rhythms or expectations of the world around us. It’s not always easy to explain, and it’s often misunderstood. Yet that is the nature of full surrender — to trust when we cannot see, to obey when we do not fully understand, and to walk by faith, not by sight.

"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Even when we didn’t have all the answers about when or how the conference would return — even as we waited on Him to know when to move and when to be still — we held tightly to this truth: God was writing the story, and His timing would be perfect. Now, looking back, we can see how every moment of waiting was woven with purpose. Every pause was preparation. This season has been a season where God has been shaping the soil for what He is about to do — and now, He is inviting all of us into this next chapter together.

Join Us on the Journey

We want to personally invite you to be part of what God is doing through Alabaster Heart Ministries. Follow along with us on social media (Facebook | Instagram) and subscribe to our newsletter as we step into this new season — through gatherings, resources, studies, and special events designed to help you encounter His presence, grow in your faith, and be transformed by His love.

And of course, SAVE the date on your calendars for October 3, 2026, when we will gather once again for the Alabaster Heart Women’s Conference. This coming year be ready to worship, connect authentically, and be renewed in the sweet aroma of His presence.

We can’t wait to walk this journey with you — heart to heart and surrendered to Him, carrying the fragrance of Christ into the world and those around us.

"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," 2 Corinthians 5:17

This isn’t just a return.

It’s a renewal.

And we believe God has something truly beautiful in store for us all.

In His love, 

Jennifer Smith