Lubbock Christian University (LCU) hosted a gathering for women of all ages on their campus Monday night. Titled “Brave and Beautiful”, this multigenerational event offered a devotional and worship time followed by complimentary photoshoots for the attendees and time for community building and networking.

A key component of the evening was the photoshoot, designed to highlight the beauty that God has placed in everyone. LCU student Abriana Fernandez, a junior Exercise and Sports Science major, was instrumental in pulling the evening together.

“I am a photographer and love to see the confidence that taking pictures can help foster in individuals," she shared. "When you see a picture of yourself and love what you see it can be so powerful.”

Though the event was not initially planned for the day before International Women’s Day, the event turned out to have perfect timing. Fernandez continued, “I think culturally, women compare themselves to others rather than seeing the uniqueness of themselves. With this event, I wanted to create a space where we as women can support and encourage one another.“

Reagan Branch, Student Involvement Coordinator for the University, worked alongside Fernandez to plan the evening.

“Stepping into a space of worship with women who inspire me, both older and younger, is so refreshing," she said. "It is an encouragement to see how we are all united by Christ, even with all our differences, and it reminds me that we are capable of creating community and empowering one another daily.”

Both Fernandez and Branch hope this event will become an annual opportunity for women to see how they are powerfully and wonderfully created and one in which more women from throughout the Lubbock community will want to become more involved. Branch concluded, “Intergenerational events for women have become more valuable to me over the years, as life gets busier, and we often get caught up in our own schedules. We want to make times together like this a priority.”