Radiant – A Celebration of Faith, Fellowship and Purpose
Radiant 2026: A Glorious Beginning for Our Annual Women’s Gathering
On January 26th, the Bangalore Central Church of Christ joyfully hosted the first-ever Radiant conference. This inaugural event marks a beautiful milestone in our church’s journey to encourage, uplift, and spiritually strengthen women. Envisioned as an annual tradition, Radiant is designed to inspire and empower women while fostering deep, meaningful fellowship within our community.
The name Radiant reflects our shared desire as Christian women to shine for the Lord. It represents our mission to radiate His love, grace and light in our homes, workplaces, communities and church family. Rooted in the call to live as faithful witnesses, the gathering challenged every attendee to grow closer to God and reflect His character in every area of life.
“The Purple Road”
This year’s theme, “The Purple Road,” focused specifically on the working women in our families. As the planning team studied the lives of women in the Bible, they were drawn to Lydia from the Book of Acts.
Lydia was a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. While scripture dedicates only a few verses to her story, they offer remarkable insights into the life of a faithful working woman. Lydia’s example demonstrates how a modern woman can beautifully balance her spiritual devotion, physical well-being, professional growth and social relationships. Through her faithful balance, Lydia became a profound blessing to her household, her church and her community.
A Day of Connection and Encouragement
The day began at the registration desk with a warm Meet & Greet. Sisters welcomed attendees with open arms, instantly creating an atmosphere of love, belonging and vibrant fellowship. The MC’s heartfelt welcome and introduction perfectly set the tone for a day centred on encouragement, learning and spiritual growth.
The gathering opened beautifully with an uplifting time of singing led by our sisters, followed by an opening prayer committing the day into God’s hands.
An engaging ice-breaking activity brought laughter and interaction, helping everyone connect comfortably and joyfully.To provide a holistic approach to life and faith, the day was purposefully divided into two dynamic segments—a morning and an afternoon session—with specialized speakers featured in each half to guide our study.
Morning Sessions: Spiritual Insights and Wellbeing
The morning featured the first keynote lesson delivered by Mary Naveed, a member of the Lord’s church who was baptised at the age of fourteen. A nurse by profession, Mary brought both warmth and practical wisdom to her lesson as she shared valuable spiritual insights and encouragement with the women. Her message highlighted the importance of remaining faithful to God through every season of life and trusting Him while navigating the responsibilities and challenges of daily living.
After a refreshing coffee break and fellowship time, the seminar continued with insightful guest sessions focused on holistic well-being:
Nutrition and Wellness: This segment was led by Ms. Phebe Vinodhini Surendran, a postgraduate in Food Service Management and Dietetics with over 18 years of experience in nutrition and wellness. Specializing in medical nutrition therapy, diabetes, hypertension, women’s health, and lifestyle-related disorders. Her expertise and practical insights made the session both highly informative and deeply relevant to the audience, giving everyone actionable guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Mental Wellness: Dr. Pallavi Joshi—a Neuro-Psychiatrist, Corporate Trainer, and Author—addressed the unique emotional and mental health challenges women face, particularly working women. She explored why women can be vulnerable to emotional difficulties when balancing career responsibilities, family commitments, and personal expectations. Dr. Joshi highlighted common roadblocks like workplace pressures and the “glass ceiling” that can hinder professional growth and increase stress. Through practical examples, she helped participants recognize both the physical and behavioural symptoms of stress. The session concluded with helpful remedies for maintaining mental health, including healthy coping mechanisms, self-care practices, emotional resilience and strategies for managing stress in a God-honouring manner.
The morning concluded with a sumptuous lunch, where sisters enjoyed a delicious meal and meaningful fellowship in a warm atmosphere.
Afternoon Sessions: Growth and Reflection
The afternoon resumed with another uplifting session of praise and singing.
Dr. Jasmin Alexander then delivered the second lesson, which deeply encouraged the women in their spiritual walk at their workplaces. An accomplished clinical research professional with a degree in Dental Surgery and over 20 years of experience in clinical research, project management, quality, compliance, and training, Jasmin brought a wealth of professional expertise and practical wisdom to her presentation. A member of the Bangalore Central Church of Christ since 2015, she effectively connected biblical principles with the realities of the modern workplace. Her highly interactive and thought-provoking session challenged attendees to respond to workplace situations in a manner that reflects their faith and brings glory to God. Through engaging discussions and practical examples, she encouraged the women to live out their Christian values with integrity, wisdom, and courage in their professional environments.
The final guest session by Dr. See Ing Or focused on Physical Fitness and Activity. We were honoured to have Dr. See join us at the event. A Christian since his baptism in 1976, he serves as one of the leaders of the Melaka Church of Christ, Malaysia, and has participated in medical mission work in India, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sarawak.A graduate from Manipal, Dr.See holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Medicine from the National University of Singapore. His special interests include allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and diabetes, and he is actively involved in conducting medical and health education talks.
A great proponent of physical health and general well-being, he reminded everyone that taking care of our bodies is a fundamental duty. He emphasized that staying active and stewarding our health well is a powerful way to honour our Creator, who designed and created us in His image.
Susanna Jacob, a member of the Lord’s church and co-founder of MicroGenesis Learning, was our final resource person for the day. She conducted a short and engaging session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), covering its proper usage, advantages, and potential drawbacks. As AI continues to become an integral part of both personal and professional life, the session provided the ladies with practical insights into how this technology can be used responsibly and effectively. Susanna highlighted the opportunities AI offers for learning, productivity, and efficiency, while also encouraging participants to be mindful of its limitations, ethical considerations, and the importance of exercising wisdom and discernment in its use. Her presentation helped demystify AI and equipped the women with a balanced perspective on navigating this rapidly evolving technology.
The first Radiant gathering was truly a blessed and enriching experience. More than just a seminar, it was a celebration of faith, sisterhood, encouragement, and growth. Through the theme of The Purple Road, women were reminded of Lydia’s example and encouraged to pursue a balanced, God-centred life that blesses those around them.
As a beautiful closing touch, each attendee received a special takeaway gift. This token was thoughtfully chosen to enable and encourage the women in their daily walk of faith, serving as a practical tool for growing in their spiritual relationship with God.
The unforgettable day concluded with a group photograph, capturing the deep joy and unity of the occasion. A heartfelt vote of thanks was delivered to appreciate all the speakers, organizers, volunteers, and participants whose efforts and presence made Radiant a success. The gathering closed with prayer, followed by tea and wrap-up conversations that reflected the warmth and fellowship shared throughout the day.
Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, many sisters faithfully served in various capacities—from organizing and hospitality to activities, technical support, music and coordination. Their efforts demonstrated beautiful teamwork and servant-hearted dedication to the Lord.
Looking Ahead…..
The first Radiant gathering was truly a blessed and enriching experience. More than just a seminar, it was a celebration of faith, sisterhood, encouragement, and growth. Through the theme of The Purple Road, women were reminded of Lydia’s example and encouraged to pursue a balanced, God-centred life that blesses those around them.
As the women departed with joyful hearts and renewed spirits, there was great anticipation for the years ahead and for how God will continue to use Radiant to bless and strengthen the women in our church community.
We look forward to welcoming you at Radiant 2027!