return to NAMfest

Beth Pitt tells us why CMF’s Nurses and Midwives Festival is a must-attend annual event in her calendar in this report of our event in May

This was my third year at NAMfest (Nurses and Midwives Festival), and it was great to see some familiar faces and new faces all gather for time together. Everyone at NAMfest has two things in common. Our jobs: we are all nurses and midwives, including students and retirees; and we love God and want to live for him.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle to find God in the more mundane moments at work and in life in general. This year we focused on ‘Encountering God in ordinary places’, thinking about how Moses was working as a shepherd when he encountered God in the burning bush (Exodus 3) and how, when we respond to God’s call in our own workplaces and say ‘Here I am’, we too can meet him there.

The 24 hours of NAMfest were led by Bex and the wonderful CMF Nurses and Midwives team. The first night we had opportunities to pray together, worship in song, get to know each other better whilst eating Skittles (yum!) and take time to reflect upon our own hearts and attitudes towards God in our lives and workplaces. For those who wanted a time of further reflection, there was a time of Compline, and for others, a quiz in the bar.

The next day we started with a time of worship and prayer. We were then brought a fantastic word from Exodus 3 and heard from eight wonderful people from our fellowship who shared their lived experiences of how God has been present and working through the ups and downs of their lives. In the afternoon, we chose to attend two out of four workshops on offer:

• Slowing:- considering everyday practices that can deepen our relationship with God.
• Going: which involved praying for our overseas members.
• Knowing: getting to know one another better on a walk. And lastly,
• Showing: watching and singing along to (well I did!) the film ‘The Prince of Egypt’.

During NAMfest, we were joined by the CMF Pastoral Care team, who were available to talk to and pray with us throughout our time together. Many of us found such time with the team to be of great benefit. And, at the end of the event, we prayed for each other as some would be returning immediately to their lives and workplaces. Others stayed on for the CMF National Conference, where we were able to join doctors, medical students, and allied healthcare professionals for more time together, but on a much larger scale.

The reason I have returned to NAMfest three times now is because it’s special. Nowhere else in my life do I get the opportunity to meet with lots of other nurses and midwives who are living and working for Christ. We are all affected by the day-to-day issues at work, we have the joys and the sorrows that come with caring for people in life and death, and all the times in between. Being able to spend time with and hear from other Christians who are brave and vulnerable, sharing their stories and experiences, their highs, their lows, their tales of 4 am night shift madness(!) and their journeys with God, has allowed me to share some of my stories. We learn from each other, pray for each other, and are strengthened to return to work to be his light in the dark places.

I look forward to meeting some more new faces at NAMfest 2026, May 7-8. Stick the dates in your diary now so you can request time off!

Beth Pitt is a Midwife in Weston-Super-Mare.