There were jokes about mammograms, slick musical numbers praising the Lord and stories about family, friendship, depression and joy at the Women of Faith conference.
More than 18,000 women attended the annual nondenominational event at the Pepsi Center, which ended Saturday.
Though religion was the theme, the attendees were there to take a break from hectic lives and have a good time, said Nichole Masker, a Women of Faith spokeswoman.
Comic Anita Renfroe’s folksy demeanor and witty take on marriage and aging drew laughs, while vocalists such as Sandi Patty got the crowd on their feet.
“It is a good getaway from family and housework,” said Susan Marymee, 51, of Fort Morgan, who came with her friend, Melody Wiener, 47.
Both women attend St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brush and have come to the event 10 of the 11 times it has been held in Denver.
“I come to be encouraged that there is a better way to live, and for strength to get through the hard times in life,” said Sandy Cyphers of Evergreen. Cyphers, a member of Conference Baptist Church, also has attended the event in the past.
She leaves feeling energized, she said.
Not every woman who attends the conference is a Christian, Masker said. Some non-Christians come when they are invited by friends.
“We do let them know about our faith and how it has impacted our lives, and we invite them to become Christians,” Masker said.
Women of Faith is a faith-based company that puts on conferences all around the country. The company also holds a teen conference, The Revolve Tour, that will be in Denver in February.
The company held its first conference in 1996, and today holds events in about 30 cities each year.
Tickets to this weekend’s two-day conference ranged from $59 to $100.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
