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By Jordyn Davis | For The Birmingham Times
On Sunday, July 19, Birmingham transplant Krispin Watson will host her first public event for her faith-based women’s community. But the ideas for both her group and the upcoming event have been years in the making. As a woman who has experienced grief, trauma and isolation, Watson has been completely transformed by her faith and is now urging local women to seek God when experiencing heartache.
This is the message that will be at the center of her event, Purpose & Power: The Professional Women’s Networking Experience, hosted by Watson’s community, Confessions in Christ.
“Confessions in Christ has been on my heart for years,” Watson told the Birmingham Times. “I just wanted to create a women’s support group, basically a community where Black women have a need for connection. I just want to be a helping hand to guide one another.”
Confessions in Christ
Watson came to Birmingham on a whim. After graduating from Jackson State University in 2013, Watson had big dreams of becoming a lawyer. She earned her degree in Political Science and was on track to begin law school soon after graduation until she found out she was pregnant. Watson said life got “real tense, real fast.” Pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer was still an option with her parents’ support; however, Watson always envisioned being the best mother she could be. Leaving her daughter for school wasn’t an option.
Watson began exploring the world of finances and took a leap of faith when accepting a branch transfer to Trussville. She left her ultimate place of comfort — the small town of Grenada, Mississippi — and brought her husband and daughter to Trussville. Soon after arriving, her life began to quickly unravel, beginning with her marriage.
“It was really messy. I was at work one day, just riding in my car, and I was like, ‘God, please remove anything that is distracting me from you. And, I kid you not, two days later me and him [former husband] fell out. I ended up leaving on a Tuesday and that Friday I found out I was pregnant with our son. I had to begin this whole divorce while pregnant. I was about to be a single mom of two. Who wants to do that?”
Shortly after the beginning of her divorce in 2017, Watson entered a state of deep depression. She began neglecting herself and her baby and was even fired from her job. During this time, Watson felt as if there truly was no light at the end of the tunnel. And then she began a simple yet life-changing practice that became her steady anchor during the storm: she prayed.
Watson sought guidance from the Lord, she said. After battling depression and fleeing from thoughts of suicide, her prayer was finally answered. After on-and-off conversations about starting a women’s group in Birmingham, Watson finally mustered up the courage she had gained from God and put her dreams into action, she said.
After years of exploring the idea of creating a safe space for women to grow in their faith, Watson launched Confessions in Christ, a women’s fellowship group, this year.
“During those rough times, I thought to myself, ‘Okay, there has to be a community out here,’ because my parents aren’t divorced. They’ve been together for over 30 years. My sister was married at the time. All of my friends were married. They couldn’t really relate to what I was going through,” Watson said.
After a small interest meeting in April, Confessions in Christ blew up and has since amassed over 4,000 followers. The faith-based meetups consist of women looking to pursue Christ. Watson says she’s beyond blessed to meet these women, wherever they may be in life.
“A lot of people feel like we need to be so uptight at bible studies. That’s not us. We’re going to have some wine. We’re going to have a good time. You’d be surprised at how many women’s stories actually align. I always tell everyone who comes to not hold back. It’s a safe space,” Watson said.
In a short time, Watson has had the opportunity to hear all kinds of stories about how women are going through situations that Watson once endured. “One of my members talked about getting to a place of forgiveness after walking in on her husband cheating on her with the kids in the house,” Watson said. “She went through a period of depression. She’s a nurse now and is thriving.”
After a small interest meeting in April, Krispin Watson’s Confessions in Christ blew up and has since amassed over 4,000 followers. (Provided Photos)After forming a close-knit community for women of faith in Birmingham, God’s plan for her didn’t end there, according to Watson. After being selected as a TEDxAlabaster speaker for her segment The Comeback is Always Bigger than the Breakdown last year and releasing her book, Shattered Vows: Turn Relationship Pain into God’s Purpose for Your Life, Watson continued speaking life into women and building a community from the ground up.
Now, Confessions in Christ will host Purpose and Power: The Professional Women’s Networking Experience, designed to facilitate meaningful conversations and lifelong connections. The panelists will include local Birmingham women making a difference:
- Synetta Smith, a corporate professional, entrepreneur and reality television personality.
- LaDonna Allen, a local stylist passionate about helping women gain confidence through clothes.
- Tiffany White, a corporate legal professional, young mother and college student.
The networking event will take place on Sunday, July 19 at Hemings in downtown Birmingham from 2 to 6 p.m.
As for Watson, she continues to be amazed at what she’s built here in The Magic City. From being isolated as a single mother to reclaiming her power, she wants to inspire young women to seek God and to find a community in Christ.
“God told me this was an opportunity to not just shine light on myself, but to shine light on grace, forgiveness, and knowing that no matter what you go through, you can always get through it. And while you’re going through that, learn something so that you can help someone else get through it.” Watson said.
“I genuinely believe that the things we grow through is not about us. God makes us strong so that we can get through it and help someone who may not be as strong as us.”
Purpose and Power: The Professional Women’s Networking Experience is set for Sunday, July 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Hemings,1623 2nd Avenue North, Suite 106, Birmingham, AL 35203. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
