It went swimmingly.

I believe that's the adjective often used in those British films to describe a successful venture. Swimmingly seems appropriate. And if I were to use biblical terms I would say the river of living water flowed onto the Interdenominational Women's Conference's annual event last month.

The I.W.C., founded by the late Rev. Dr. Allene Gilmore, sponsored its annual confab under a great deal of pressure from outside sources that were hoping, nay, praying that it would not be successful. Thankfully, such abominable prayers went unanswered and the I.W.C., under the guidance of the newly elected president, Dr. Stephanie Arrington, went along as smooth as "buttah," to borrow a word from the diva known as Barbra Streisand.

Dr. Arrington herself, along with Betty Horton, Celestine Miller and the Rev. Bertha Brown should be applauded and praised for their tireless efforts and nonstop involvement to make the event what it was. Obviously, the I.W.C. members were in lock step with the executive board to make the three-day parley an event to remember.

Bishop James Everett, under shepherd of the Deliverance Jesus Is Coming Church in Newark was an amazing expositor of the word and an anointed man of God. He preached two nights in the Passaic County Community College 's Little Theatre.

The gospel choir from William Paterson University , under the tutelage of Professor Michael Butler, was superb. Those young folks sang themselves happy. During the day, Pastor Kenneth Pearson, pastor of the Reaching Out For Jesus Church in the Poconos, was incredible in his ability to speak a prophetic word in the midst of many who were yet engaged in troubling situations.

 Ministers Shelton Dove, Veronica Johnson, Debra Richardson, Elder Gale Richardson, Bro. Bert Nance,  Bishop Hubert Banks, Bishop Jiggetts from the city of Newark , et al, all set the tone for the spirit-filled services that began in the college's Paterson Room and ended in the theatre. The theatre, which seats 300, was just about filled to capacity each night. Tell me that wasn't the hand of God.

Pastor Pearson returned on Saturday as keynote speaker for the banquet at the Brownstone Restaurant. Dr. Arrington's vision is taking the organization beyond church walls and into the society where the people of God belong. The assisted-living facility is yet on the drawing board as a project and dream put in place by Rev. Gilmore, the late president.It will come to pass in God's own time. We are yet grateful to Funeral Director Carnie Bragg for stepping to the plate and allowing us to use his facility to hold our monthly meetings.

It was a pure act of altruism. It was a generous act of kindness with no strings. It is typical of the favor God has allowed in the life of this organization through Bragg and also through the president of Passaic County Commnity College , Dr. Steve Rose.

The bottom line is this: No matter how great anyone thinks their project is, there still needs to be others standing or waiting in the wings to assist you in bringing the project into the path of manifestation. Dr. Rose has always been there for this writer and now he and his assistant, Rev. Randall Lassiter, are standing tall by being a part of history.

The line in the song says, "We shall overcome." The I.W.C. has already overcome many obstacles that should not have been there in the first place. No matter. His truth is marching on...and so are we.