For Sherry Watkinson, taking a shot in the dark was a good move.

On Saturday, around 150 women of various denominations attended Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle for the first annual Ladies’ Day Off event. Presented by Women of Worth (WOW), a group of women who belong to the church, Ladies’ Day Off was a great success.

“We had women from Baptist churches, Pentecostal, Anglican, United and Catholic,” said Watkinson, adding that a woman from Red Deer, Alberta, booked her holidays around the event so that she could attend. “There were women from Mactier, North Bay, New Market, Bracebridge and Sundridge. What was really amazing to see, was all these women come together and connect with each other for a day.”

Aside from a delicious breakfast and lunch and the chance to mingle with other woman or rekindle old friendships, the day-long event featured Christian comedian Heather Ashby, who was kept a surprise until she took the stage, guest speaker Tammy Crews, a pastor’s wife with a good sense of humour, and a mind-blowing performance from soloist Stacey Nieuwenhoff.

“Heather Ashby talked more from personal life expeirnces and that got the crowd roaring,” said Watkinson, adding that the comedian touched on topics like giving birth and her life as a crossing guard. “She stood up and blew everyone away. She received a standing ovation, and that was her first time. The guest speaker shared twice and was absolutely wonderful. The soloist, who has the voice of an angel, performed six songs and the ladies were ministered, too.”

Watkinson explained that two years ago, when asked by the church’s leadership to revive the women’s ministries, she helped form a committee (WOW) and members quickly began planning events for women to participate in.

“Once I agreed to do it, I would wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas,” she said. “When it was decided in March that we would do this, I said, ‘We begin planning now.”

WOW has organized various women’s events over the last two years; however, the most recent large-scale event was the Ladies’ Day Off. Watkinson said the women of this area can plan to attend next spring’s Ladies’ Day Off.

A suggestion box placed in the church for attendees to make comments as to what they thought about the event left Watkinson in shock.

“There weren’t that many and the only ones in the box said, ‘Don’t change a thing,’ ‘My suggestion would be to do this again,’ ‘How could it be any better?’ ‘Awesome,’ and, ‘Let’s do it again.’ What a packed, full, great day it was. Some people felt they got two days of goodness.”

The last Thursday of each month, WOW hosts a special event for women of all denominations. On May 29 at 7 p.m., Daughters of the King will take place at the church, an evening for mothers and daughters. Kathy Berg is the guest speaker, there will be a musical performance by Kristine Knight and attendees are encouraged to bring used books and magazines to swap. WOW breaks for the months of July and August and resumes activities in September.

Throughout the year, WOW also sends supplies such as clothing and personal items to Ukraine and provides gift baskets to local families in need at Thanksgiving. The group donated $7,000 in cash value last year to needy families and single mothers. As well, when the fire nearly destroyed Chrysalis, WOW members came forward and donated groceries and a cash offering.

A motto that Women of Worth try to live by is found in a saying that Watkinson keeps close to heart.

“Here’s to godly women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them,” said Watkinson.

To learn more about WOW, contact Sherry Watkinson at 645-1963.