My recollection about sightings of the Virgin Mary in Georgia in the 1990s, strong evidence that truth is stranger than fiction, continues…
The Catholic Church did not sanction Nancy Fowler’s alleged Marian Apparitions. The Archbishop of Atlanta said he doubted their authenticity, and he urged church officials to discourage visits to Fowler’s home in Conyers.
Local police and health officials agreed with him. By the summer of 1991, the city and county threatened to block the pilgrims from gathering because of zoning violations and safety concerns.
Ultimately, the authorities backed down. In the final analysis, the hoards of pilgrims were orderly — and were a boon to local motels, restaurants, and stores.
On the other hand, Conyers tripled in population on the 13th, and that sudden influx of humanity had consequences. On one occasion, traffic prevented an emergency vehicle from reaching a local resident who needed hospital care. She survived.
In 1992, the water in Fowler’s Blessed Well tested positive for coliform bacteria, and warning signs were posted. Visitors continued to drink the water anyway.
In 1993, the county again threatened to declare the large crowds a public nuisance and again backed down.
Then in 1995, Fowler announced that the Virgin Mary would cease to appear to her monthly. Instead, Mary would leave one annual message on October 13th.
The city and the county, if not the local merchants, were greatly relieved.
Pilgrims in small numbers continued to visit Fowler’s farm on the 13th of each month. But on October 13th, crowds of 90,000-100,000 people flocked to the farm.
In 1998, Nancy Fowler and the non-profit had a falling-out over unspecified matters of fund-raising and publishing. Ultimately, their disagreements led to a series of lawsuits and counter-suits.
Eventually, the non-profit went to court and accused Fowler of filing frivolous complaints as a strategy to drive un up legal costs and force a settlement. The court threw out the accusation.
In fact, the court soon grew weary of the legal wrangling and ended it. The judge told the opposing attorneys, “The case is over. Take your medicine and swallow it and go home.”
In one proceeding, the presiding judge commented, “You know money was hauled off from out there in black garbage bags for years. It went somewhere. I don’t know who got it. Still don’t know who got it.”
On October 11, 1998, Our Loving Mother’s Children, Inc. officially opened the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church on the 30 acres adjacent to Fowler’s farm.
Two days later, on October 13th, after relaying a message from Mary to an estimated 100,000 pilgrims, Fowler announced that no further messages from the Virgin Mary would be forthcoming.
With that, the saga of Nancy Fowler and the Conyers Apparitions came to an end. As a public event reported to us civilians on the evening news, it was over.
Nancy Fowler quietly faded from public view. In 2012, she died after a long battle with cancer.
I have never doubted the sincerity of the multitudes who descended on Conyers in the 90s, or that of the small groups who still visit Conyers today. Moreover, I am in no position to know the motives or judge the actions of any of the players in the Conyers melodrama.
It is worthy of note, however, that even though the last Conyers Apparition occurred in 1998, little has changed at Fowler’s farm. Behind the scenes, the momentum of the non-profit, Our Loving Mother’s Children, Inc., has continued unabated.
Pilgrims still come to see where it all happened — to worship at the Holy Hill and drink from the Blessed Well. Nearby, daily prayer groups and weekly healing services take place in the Apparition Room of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church.
And recently, a campaign got underway to solicit donations to build a new and more splendid church.
The design submitted by the architect, a distinguished Washington, D.C. firm, will be costly. But the non-profit is undaunted. Its appeal includes this rationale:
This new cost estimate of 25 million dollars created quite a shock wave for us! After the shock wave passed, we started looking for ways to cut cost. However, as we prayed about how to do this, a warm and wonderful feeling became clear in our hearts… “How much is too much for Our Loving Mother?
Having been so close to the action as it unfolded, I have a host of fascinating memories and mental images of Conyers in those days.
But I possess only one tangible souvenir.
It is this magnificent bumper sticker, distributed in the mid-90s by an irreverent local merchant:
I was there. It was a wonderful experience and with the amazing roses smell began my truly faith. In Jesus name I thank Nancy and all that make it possible my own and forever experience. Elsa (Miami)
Is it open right now to visit? I would lime to go on may of this year 2016.
I don’t know for sure. The church is in operation, so you could call and ask.
Take it from someone who didn’t believe any of this Conyers story’s I read in the newspapers. Till I found myself their on 10-13_1998… All I can say is it’s real very read…. It changed my life.
I have no doubt at all that the happenings at Conyers are real. Its sad to think that humanity can be so close minded to God and the Blessed Mother who love is so much despite our indifferences…Don’t forget what happened in the days of NOAH….if we shut the do or on the ARK which is Mart now we cut ourselves off from God’s Mercy, woe to humanity…we must repent while there is still time soon God will withdraw His Mercy and the day of Divine Justice will befall is.
Nancy will be proven at a messenger blessed by God…
I had the most life changing amazing beyond human comprehension experience at that farm in 1991 . No one could ever convince me it was not real. Forever blessed and grateful…
Is Nancy still alive . If so, can you still see her . It’s like she disappeared.
No, Nancy died of cancer in 2012.
i will never forget The Mother of God who brought me back to her son Jesus at Conyers. Thank you Jesus for sending your mother to Conyers to bring us back to you.
I converted to Catholicism because of those experiences. I took off from work and never missed a chance to attend. It was my introduction to the rosary. My rosary turned gold. I saw the sun. My heart was content to be amongst the crowd of holies. It was a most beautiful and memorable experience.
It hurts my heart to see the negative things so called theologions are publishing about Nancy Fowler. I saw her in person at least 13 times and witnessed the multiple conversions and healings attendant to the messages. She was the most humble of persons and l know God truely worked through her. I pray she will continue to convert hearts and bring people back to God now that she has gone home to Him.
May Nancy’s soul rest in peace.God surely used her and her to share supernatural experience with the world.
I was there and saw the sun change colors and appear as if it was an eclipse. At one time, the sky appeared to be like a huge visual display with formations of all sorts. I turned to a young man next to me to ask him what he made of what I seeing. He said he was not seeing anything.
At another time near the well, the place appeared to be with so many people speaking in tongues.
When I asked another person who those people were, the person didn’t see anything.
Then there were groups of people crying that their rosaries hard turned to gold.
My rosary turned to gold weeks after the event (half of it).
It was an amazing experience for me. I had no doubt something spiritual was going on at the farm.
I know a relative of this family and he told me it was a hoax from the beginning. It was all intended to make money. Do not believe these people. They are taking advantage of EVERYONE!
It’s amazing how people can be so gullible.
I don’t care what you think . I cannot wait to visit the Farm . We are in the End Days .
I was there as well. This was the most blessed time of my life . I was pregnant with my second son Sean and he has always been supernaturally blessed and protected his whole life . I smelled the roses, saw miracles in the sky , felt the presence of our Holy mother and Jesus . It was 30 years ago and the experience is a wonderful imprinting on my soul . I was especially blessed with a indescribable feeling of love that filled my whole being from head to toe everyday for two weeks . It was an out of body feeling of love . Greater than we know on earth. I know how wonderful heaven is and look forward to being in heaven when the lord calls me home
Wow . Want to still go there and visit
I haven’t been down to Conyers since 1994, I can’t remember how to get to the apparition site. How can I get the address?
2324 White Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30012
Look it up online . Nancy Fowler, Conyers, Georgia Farm . It’s on Google. 2324. White Road NE Conyers , Georgia . It’s called The Farm Conyers George. Let me know idmf it is still there . What did you experience at the apparition. Site ?