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Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 12:29 PM

Journey Community Church hosts Open Doors Women's Conference

Journey Community Church hosts Open Doors Women's Conference
Joseph Maino, The Fernley Reporter

The Open Doors Women’s Conference brings Christians from different churches, towns and cities together to stop criticizing each other and to make a commitment to do good for their communities. Journey Community Church hosted this year's annual meeting. Presenters included Alexandria Brown, who discussed "Awaken," a Reno non-profit, faith-based organization whose mission is to increase awareness and education surrounding the issue of sex trafficking. Other speakers included Paster Ric Fehr of Reno, and Fernley's Sherry Poundstone and Toni Patterson. Patterson also organized the meeting.

A special part of the conference was the Sand Ceremony.

Patterson told the group, “Each of you received a vial of sand with one specific color. The single color sand represents not only you, but also your specific Christian denomination. You will walk up to the table with the large bowel and pour your vial of colored sand into the it. After all of you empty your small vials of sand into the glass bowel, it will be taken to the back of the church and vigorously mixed so that the individual colored particles of sand can not be separated from each other. Finally, each one of you will receive a new vial that contains the rainbow of color sand grains.”

This "blending of the sands" represents how each person, regardless of their church's denomination, are all one under God and should work together to improve the lives of people who live in their community.

Mixing the sand.
Even the young participated in the Sand Ceremony.
Matt McCleary and the band.
Toni Patterson sings along with the band.
Open Doors is a family event.
Vials of uni-color sand.
Giving out the raffle prizes.
Music was enjoyed by all the participants.
Toni Patterson, Open Doors organizer, speaks to the group.
Participants enjoyed the religious music.
Enjoying the music!
Pouring the single color sand into the bowel.
Soon all the different color grains of sand will be mixed together.

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Comment author: Alicia Euresti Comment text: We are all so blessed to have Pastor Matt and Mrs. Regina in this town. They have become a major part of pur family and our children adore them. Thank you both for all you do for qll of us. We love you!!!! Comment publication date: 9/6/26, 9:24 PM Comment source: Fascinating Fernley: Meet Your Neighbors at Living Faith Food Pantry Comment author: R Conley Comment text: Is the deputy receiving any additional training or reinforcing prior training? Comment publication date: 9/5/26, 10:08 AM Comment source: Inmate escapes from Fernley substation Comment author: Kayla Allen Comment text: Suzie was a wonderful woman. I was pleased to call her my "godmother" as she helped me to become a better version of myself. I think about her a lot. Comment publication date: 7/10/26, 8:31 PM Comment source: Susanne Lynn Foster Comment author: Sheena Nash Comment text: After the trivia night is over, I would love for you to print the questions. I grew up in Fernley and would be interested to see how many answers I know. The coin is beautiful. Congrats on 25 years as a city! Comment publication date: 6/22/26, 1:38 PM Comment source: City of Fernley planning 25th anniversary celebration with three days of community events C Comment author: Carl C. Hagen Comment text: Maybe there is more to this story than what is reported, but it seems to me that the businesses that are causing this problem ought to be paying for this, or at least a major portion of it. Why does the County have to pay the whole bill? Just my opinion. Comment publication date: 5/7/26, 10:26 AM Comment source: Storey County, Tesla partner to extend I-80 Patrick on-ramp Comment author: Alan Reeder Comment text: Great guy, laughed easily, had fun with his students, enjoyed our time together at FHS! Comment publication date: 4/23/26, 10:23 PM Comment source: Howard David Jackson