For the second year Plymouth Church of Christ was the site of a women’s centric gathering that aimed to uplift those in the church’s Family Life Center and inspire them to pursue their purpose and be empowered by the triumphs of others.

The creation of entrepreneur Tunora Bell, the “I Am Better Now” conference was a celebration of all things faith and victory. As such, the program was just as much a motivational event as it was a series of testimonies from each of the keynote speakers of the afternoon.

In contrast with last year’s inaugural event, this year‘s version of the conference featured more speakers as well as a much tighter production and procession as well as some unexpected entertainment in the form of a brief stand up routine from comedienne Crystal Nixon.

Afterwards, speaker Frances Wallace was the first to take the stage to address the audience. Drawing from the biblical passage Psalms 34:19, Wallace spoke candidly about her blessings having come out of a time of immense hardship and darkness.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all… the tunnel was my beginning, and I remember being stuck there,” Wallace began. “I remember being lonely, no one else could take me out of this tunnel. Then God said to me, this wasn’t the end, I was just in middle of the tunnel…and as all of you know, God does his best work in the dark...”