First Session
Serving Those We Lead

Friday, 9:45-11:00

Biblical Peacemaking

Tara Barthel

Do you know how to help your women to work through conflicts in a biblically-faithful way? Is peacemaking a regular part of your women’s ministry or are your women more prone to peace-faking and peace-breaking? In this workshop we will review the basic peacemaking theology of Peacemaker Ministries (as codified in the PCA Book of Church Order appendix on conflict resolution) and learn together how to maintain the “unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” through genuine confession, humble confrontation, and lavish forgiveness.

Coming Alongside Those Who Come Alongside

Karen Hodge

Come and glean from the wisdom and maturity of women who love Christ and His church in the trenches every day. We are privileged to have a panel of wives representing the ministry in the pastorate, church planting, RUF and the chaplaincy.  We will share stories and strategies that will encourage and equip you to return to your churches and presbyteries to come alongside those who come alongside so many; most importantly their husband and families.  Don’t miss this tremendous opportunity and privilege to employ your helper design to the glory of God.

Gospel Unity, Cultural Diversity: Living Out the Implications of the Gospel in a Multi-cultural Community

Sherry Lanier

God is advancing His kingdom throughout the world through His church!  The result is a change in the local church reflected by a diversity of faces.  This diversity is beautiful, as it rightly reflects the kingdom of God and the implications of the gospel—people coming into the kingdom from “every tribe, nation, and tongue.”  How do we live out the implications of the gospel?  How do we live and serve together in the context of the local church?  How do we rightly love one another so that the world will see Jesus reflected in the witness of our unity?You are invited to join a mutual learning experience, as we consider both the joys and challenges of ministry in a multicultural community.

Single Women and the Family of Christ

Lydia Brownback

Christians are one big family in Christ, and in that sense churches are to be family oriented—all caring for the needs of each, finding safety and spiritual sharpening in one another’s company. Sometimes, however, in churches where the membership consists primarily of another sort of family—traditional families made up of father, mother, sons, daughters—singles can feel, well, a bit out of place, and they can miss out on the blessings of spiritual family that God intended. In this workshop, singles and those who minister to them will be given a fresh look at singleness from a biblical perspective and will see that there’s no need to tiptoe around it, because singles are a vital part of God’s family, the church.

Thirsting for Springs of Living Water

Sarah Ivill

We are living in a culture where women seem to follow the most popular personality of the teacher’s of God’s Word, or that which tickles their ears (2 Tim 4:3), or those who profess to teach Christian truths but are really “springs without water” (2 Pet 2:17).  Yet, the Lord promises to lead His people to “springs of living water” (Rev 7:17).  Are we leading our women into the truth of God’s word, while standing firm in the historic Reformed and Covenantal tradition?  This seminar will explore how to address our own thirst for the Word of God as well as Reformed resources to use to lead others women into the study of God’s Word.

The Next Generation

Teri Anderson

God infuses many categories of women into His Body where we are called to minister.  Do we look through the faces of our next generation?  Do we assume those faces are the Titus 2 “younger women” only, instead of “older women” equally gifted for service by the Holy Spirit?  Are we not only serving them, but calling them into leadership roles within the Bride of Christ?  This forum will provide a venue to hear the hearts of our next generation, to stretch our thinking and to show us the gifts they bring to kingdom service.  The panel will share stories and examples that will encourage and equip you to return to your churches and presbyteries to come alongside the next generation God has given us for His glory.

Women in Crisis I: Uncovering and Identifying the Secret Pain and Silent Suffering in Our Congregations

Debbe Mays

Christian women are our own worst enemies.  Our “scorecard” for behavior, appearance and relative piety stands in the way of our honesty about our own and each other’s sins.  You can be sure that in your congregation there are women who are suffering the guilt of past abortions (or maybe not so past), who are dealing with eating disorders or other destructive behavior, who are watching the disintegration of long-term marriages or may be seeing their children slip away from them.  How do we engage and encourage these women with God’s Word, without judging them?

Second Session
Equipping Those Who Lead

Friday, 11:15-12:30

Tools for Leading Learning Teams

Tasha Chapman

The toughest challenges we face in ministry are those with no ready solutions.  Contrary to our culture’s push for hero leaders, leading well in the midst of adaptive problems requires gathering people to learn together, as solutions are explored and tried.  This workshop looks at three tools for leading towards learning in the midst of planning, conducting, and evaluating educational ministry.

Disability and the Gospel: How Valuing, Welcoming, and Enfolding People with Special Needs into Church Life is Good News for Everyone!

Steph Hubach

This workshop will actively explore how to see people with differing abilities from a Gospel Perspective, how to relate to one another from a Gospel Posture, and how to enfold people with disabilities—and their families—into congregational life by applying the Gospel in Practice.

Leading Through Laughter

Jen Seger

Would you rather listen to someone who “knows it all” or someone who is willing to share her failures and how God has taught her through them?  As leaders, we often feel pressure to be an example of the perfect Christian walk.  But transparency, not perfection, is the better way to lead – and transparency with a little laughter is even more engaging!  Shared laughter with other women enhances relationships and builds trust.  We all have stories from our own lives that can bless others.  What better way to minister to those who have been entrusted into your care than by encouraging them. Join Jen to learn how you can add levity and laughter to your own leadership style and expect to have some fun along the way!

Relishing the Biblical Poetry

Kathleen Nielson

How do we treat the Bible's poetry, as we study it?  Do we enjoy it. . . notice it. . . even relish it?  Why did God give us all this poetry in the Bible?  How can we deal with it most effectively in the context of Bible study?  This seminar will encourage us to make careful attention to the biblical poetry a rich and joyful part of studying the Word.

Planning Your Women's Ministry with Eeeease

Jean Bronson

Whether your church in large, small or in the middle there are women to be loved, served and reached.  Join us as we discuss the nuts and bolts needed to build a successful ministry to women.
This will be a panel discussion including council members from Kirk of the Hills in St. Louis: Becky Kicklighter, Pat Kleinknecht, Linda McKindley, and Anna Porter, led by women's ministry coordinator Jean Bronson.

"This is Ministry. It Hurts."

Tara Barthel

As you reflect on how the Lord has called you to serve and equipped you to lead, do you ever secretly wish that he hadn’t? Are you trying to trust in his sovereignty and love His church, even though deep down, you have been hurt by false accusations, uncharitable judgments, and even outright attacks from fellow Christians? Ministry is often painful and lonely work. It can be terribly difficult to persevere in the suffering related to ministry: To whom can we turn for counsel? (We don’t want to be gossips.) What friend can help us to grieve? (We don’t want to be whiners.) This workshop will consider how Christ is sufficient even in our deepest suffering related to ministry; and it will explore practical ways we can help one another to stay the course—especially when it hurts.

Women in Crisis II: Building Relationships of Trust that Point to Our Redeemer and Lead to True Change

Debbe Mays

Continuing with the theme of engaging and encouraging, how does God’s Word tell us to speak to, pray with and lead those who are “bruised reeds “ and “dimly burning wicks” (Isaiah 42:3).  God calls us to bind them and help them to grow, to fan into a flame those who are about to lose hope in Him, even as He states that the Messiah will not break them or quench them.  How do we incarnate Jesus in practical ways that shift focus to Him and give hope?