Proverbs 31 Ministries announced today that we’re giving away another SHE SPEAKS scholarship from Cecil Murphy ! We thought it’d be fun to introduce you to our team who will be leading the conference, so we’re hosting a carnival of P31 blogs. That’s where we’ll be sharing a personal story about being called to speak or an experience at She Speaks. From your comments we’ll draw a random winner! I decided to answer some of the most common questions I get about speaking:
What came first, your speaking ministry or your role in the Proverbs 31 Ministry? My role with Proverbs 31 Ministries came first. I joined the staff in 1995 as editor of our P31 newsletter (before it was a full color magazine) and served in that role until1999. For the next two years, I volunteered in various capacities at the ministry but mostly I spent my kids’ nap times digging deep into God’s Word and letting Him dig deep into my heart. I would write down pages of Scriptures and journal about everything God was teaching me. I didn’t know it, but it was a season of preparation. God was doing a new and very deep work in my heart.
How did your speaking ministry begin? My speaking ministry started at my home church. 
During my “digging deep” season, the Lord laid it on my heart to write a small topical Bible study for a supper seminar my pastor’s wife had taught. The leaders had been praying for a gift to give the attendees but I didn’t know it, so they asked me to write the Bible study. At at the end of the last fall supper seminar 1000 copies were given away. I was overwhelmed but loved seeing how God was using all He had been teaching me to encourage other women. In the spring I was asked to share my testimony at a supper seminar and then teach a 4 week series based on the study I’d written.
How did your speaking ministry grow? The next year, I wrote another study and taught two more series. Then in 2001 Proverbs 31 Ministries hosted our first annual She Speaks Conference and my church sent me to it. At the end of the conference, I sensed there was more. God was moving in powerful ways in my heart to confirm a calling I had sensed for 10 years but run from due to many fears I’d had. Lysa shared that P31 wanted to build a speaker team of ambassadors for the ministry. All I’d been through and all God had taught me had led me to this place. I’d been serving at P31 for years and had such a passion for the ministry. From that point on, God grew me, my messages and my speaking ministry through opportunities at my church’s events, Bible studies, local dinner events and MOPs groups. Then God brought invitations from churches in other cities and eventually in other states. Each year God enlarged that circle and now I have the honor of getting to meet God’s girls and speak His truth into their hearts from coast to coast.
When it became obvious God was calling you into a speaking ministry, how did you choose the topics you would speak on? Every one of my topics is birthed and developed in my heart through life experiences and lessons God is teaching me personally. My messages reflect my greatest desires, struggles and passions such as reading God’s Word and allowing it to transform my heart and the way I live in my everyday life and relationships; hearing, recognizing and listening to God’s voice and not the enemy’s accusations; living a purpose-filled and balanced life as a wife, mom and child of God.
Are there resources you recommend for someone who feels called to speak?
The Reason We Speak, Gen Ed Marybeth Whalen
Com
municating for a Change by Andy Stanley
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To Enter the She Speaks Scholarship Contest
1. If you’d like to win, or try to win this for someone else, please leave a comment below sharing why you’d like to win by clicking on the word “comments.” Simply type in the white box. If you don’t have a blog, click anonymous. But be sure to include your name and email so we can contact you if you win.
2. We’d like to give this scholarship to someone who has not attended She Speaks before since two of the others went to graduates.
3. Our other scholarships have been for writers, so this one is for a woman who feels called to speak. Be sure to let us know what this scholarship would mean to you to fulfill that calling.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can (linked below) and leave a comment (it can be the same comment) to increase your chances! We’ll compile the comments left on our blogs through Friday at midnight and send them to our home office where a random drawing will be done. The winner will be announced on Monday on the P31 homepage.
So, leave a comment and click away. You have until midnight on Friday. I can’t wait to read your comments!
Wend B www.wendyblight.com
Shari www.sharibraendel.com
Micca www.miccacampbell.com
Whitney www.whitneycapps.blogspot.com
Melanie www.melaniechitwood.com
Lynn www.lynncowell.blogspot.com
Karen www.karenehman.com
Suzie www.tsuzanneeller.com
Zoe www.zoeelmore.blogspot.com
Sharon www.sharonglasgow.com
Charlene www.charlenekidd.blogspot.com
Tracie www.traciemiles.blogspot.com
Rachel www.rachelolsen.com
Wendy P www.wendypope.blogspot.com
Luann www.luannprater.com
Susanne www.susannescheppmann.blogspot.com
Melissa www.melissataylor.org
Van www.vanwalton.blogspot.com
Marybeth www.marybethwhalen.com
Glynnis www.glynniswhitwer.blogspot.com
LeAnn www.leannrice.com
She Seeks www.sheseeks.org
She Reads www.shereads.org
RadRev www.radrevolution.org
Discover more from Renee Swope
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The honest truth is this: I feel called by God to be a speaker to women, especially young adult women. I am a youth pastor's wife and minister to teenage girls. I just feel I need EQUIPPED to go out to do what God has called me to do. "He equips those he calls" – so I am grateful for an opportunity to come and learn from those with more experience and take those tools and apply it to the life God wants me to lead. Greater is he that is in me; Lead me O Lord through the paths you have laid before me.
I am so overwhelmed and stirred in my spirit from reading the stories and personal testimonies on all of the different P31 blogs I've visited this morning….thank you all for sharing!
Now for generic contest entry spill that I'm posting on several blogs! haha….
I was very excited to have the opportunity to enter the contest for the writing scholarship…so excited, in fact, that I dreamed up the wrong deadline date and missed submitting my entry. (sigh.) Perhaps, this is my second chance! Or, perhaps, my entering has nothing to do with the contest and everything to do with saying the words again. (Kind of like cleaning your coffee pot…sometimes you just need to do it.) So, with that said….I feel that I am called to speak (even though I get butterflies just saying it), as well as to write, encouraging other women as I encourage myself. Attending this conference would (hopefully) help to clarify what my next season holds, allow me to connect with some amazing women (most of whom I have just recently found in blog land!), and encourage me to take the next step….whatever that might be!
XOXO 🙂
Thanks for this Give-away and thw questions you answered. It is always so exciting to hear about how God uses everyday women for His Glory.
Kimberli S [email protected]
God led me to the Proverbs31 site today! I am thrilled to be considered for a scholarship to SheSpeaks, as our finances on my husband's retirement income are adequate for daily living, but certainly not overflowing. I know God has given me a passion for ministering to women by encouraging them in their personal walks with God. Whether it's through a platform of leading Bible studies and small groups or stepping out into a broader speaking role remains to be seen, but I know God is preparing me for something more. I can't wait to see what is in store!
Rachel Binney
[email protected]
God moves in mysterious ways. I thought my season of "public speaking" had passed. I instead have been focusing on writing, while raising my three lovely daughters. I was completely comfortable with this shift. Several years ago a friend encouraged me to attend a She Speaks conference but the cost was prohibitive. So I put it all in a "past season" category and left it at that. This morning when I read that another scholarship would be offered I felt compelled to read about the details. All while reading I was thinking "this will be so nice for someone else." Then a small voice said "do it." Uh-oh was my first thought, it seems God might want to take me out of my comfort zone. Since then God has led me to scriptures of confirmation that I am to enter this contest. For what purposes I do not know, but I do know that when God speaks and you follow amazing things always happen. Thank you for offering this wonderful oppurtunity and encouragement to so many women, who like me have a God story to share.
Blessings,
Amy Peterson -average Mom with and AWESOME God!
[email protected]
God knows my fearful heart………but I'm gonna do it afraid.
Thank you for a chance to win the scholarship it would be an answer to prayer.
Joycee
[email protected]
On July 20th, 2006, the Lord led me into a wilderness of brokenness I’ve never known before. Everything I held dear, He gently and very quickly stripped away-my calling, my home, my church, my friends, my comfort zone. God brought me to a new arena that was very frightening to me. Being the ultimate Girl Scout, I always prided myself in knowing what was going to happen next. I was serving the Lord but with a prideful resistance. I could have never foretold the pain I learned in this desert wilderness. I was so completely broken and stripped bare of any resemblance of self.
As God ordained each aspect of how the brokenness came forth, I heard His gentle voice speak, “I am going to use your mouth to encourage women. I am going to publish things through you. Where you are is not where you are going and I am getting ready to accelerate things”. I sure wish I could say I believed Him. In the pain and the countless tears of grieving over the life I thought was mine, I was very angry with the Lord and verged on much disrespect toward our Heavenly Father. I tried to bargain with Him that I would do anything, absolutely anything if he would just give me my old life back. I yearned for the familiar for what I thought I needed and even though my calling was crystal clear, I seemed to be paralyzed by fear. Many questions stirred in my mind…How Lord? How are you going to accomplish this calling?
Being completely and utterly honest, at that time, I didn’t even like women. In my past, I have been on the receiving end of spitefulness which included haughtiness, jealously, and fakeness to say the least. Why would you call me away from my love of being a Children'sMinister to encourage women? But Praise God, His ways are always higher than my ways.
These last four years since my calling was revealed, I have experienced God in the most phenomenal ways. I have been an eyewitness to his grace as He is opening door after door to speak, to encourage, and to minister to all women who steal my heart. He alone, spoke Isaiah 61, “you are a planting of the Lord to display my splendor”. And from this verse, my speaking ministry, Unveiling His Splendor, has been launched as I am daily watching God open doors that no man could open. God has supernaturally used many people to bring me to a platform where I can boldly proclaim His truth, His love, and His grace. I no longer expect an ounce of self to bring forth the perfect will of the Lord.
I eagerly await each new door that presents itself and consider it a privilege and an honor to stand on this platform hand in hand with every woman I encounter. With each new speaking event, He is daily teaching me to lean more on the Holy Spirit and less on myself. In the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker’s uncle states "with great power comes great responsibility.” I feel that way about my speaking ministry. I received power when the Holy Spirit came upon me and God has handpicked me for some unknown reason with this precious calling to love on women.
I would consider it a special honor, another open door, if the Lord allowed me to attend this years’ conference. Being a military wife to a husband who deploys six months out of every year, I have learned to not only rely on God's solid word, but to also trust in His timing. I have dreamed of coming to the conference for three years now but to no avail. I know and trust He will perfect those things which concern me and He will keep me in perfect peace as long as I am focused on Him.
I would humbly accept the scholarship and would be thrilled to attend. I know I would glean much information as I come under the authority of the P31 Ministry Team and as a result, would enhance my skills and strengthen my serve 🙂 Pun intended! May God bless you richly as we serve hand in hand with teaching and equipping all women to walk in love, to stand on His powerful truths, and to fulfill our specific purpose. Much love and many hugs
Unveiling His Splendor,
Ashley Cloninger
Mallory Kristjanson
Saved by Grace. Called to minister to the women who are broken, left on the streets and unsaved. I have volunteered in Ministry throughout Lethbridge and surrounding community, namely to the lost, street ladies and women in jails. This is my calling and this experience would be a life changing step in my walk with God.
[email protected]
Your sister, from Canada.
Thank you for this opportunity. My life has changed and I have been sober from alcohol and drugs for almost four years 🙂 Saved by Grace and called to serve!
http://www.msk1986.blogspot.com/
Mallory Kristjanson
Saved by Grace. Called to minister to the women who are broken, left on the streets and unsaved. I have volunteered in Ministry throughout Lethbridge and surrounding community, namely to the lost, street ladies and women in jails. This is my calling and this experience would be a life changing step in my walk with God.
[email protected]
Your sister, from Canada.
Thank you for this opportunity. My life has changed and I have been sober from alcohol and drugs for almost four years 🙂 Saved by Grace and called to serve!
http://www.msk1986.blogspot.com/
Although I have been teaching & speaking for a number of years, I realize that I need to take the next step of faith and attend a speakers/writers conference. As a teacher/speaker everything I learn I pass on to others thru various venues. What a awesome experience it would be to attend the She Speaks Conference. It soounds like a little bit of heaven just the thought of the opportunity to meet and speak with other women with the same passion and the opportunity to receive professional training doesn't get much better. It would be such an honor to attend. Please make my dream come true!
Cindy Saab
[email protected]
God has been nudging. He's got me writing devotional blogs for women; now I'm feeling a nudge towards an eventual teaching ministry. I'm sure this will include speaking at some point. I don't know when, but I do know it is my responsibility to become ready for the call when it comes. Scary but exciting. I was a high school teacher before I was a stay home mom, but getting up in front of a group of my peers to teach them the Word of God is intimidating. I would like to gain some confidence here, and I believe She Speaks could do that. With my husband in full-time ministry, your scholarship would allow me to attend when I otherwise would not be able. Pick me!!
Misti Gil
[email protected]
I would love to win a scholarship becuase it's the only way I can afford to attend! 😉 Just keeping it real! I am "the preacher's wife", so one income stretched over a family of six is very… stretchy!
Just a few months ago I told my husband I felt like the Lord just might be calling me into a public speaking ministry. A few days later I "accidentlly" stumbled on to the link to teh She Speaks Conference website, and as soon as I read it, I said out loud, "this is for me!" And I am confident that if it's teh Lord's will He will amke the way. If not this year, maybe next. I trust His timing!
Blessed,
Amanda
[email protected]
This is so exciting! A scholarship!
So let me tell you what God has done for me! To start I am a 26 wife and mother. Been married for 7 1/2 years and have a wonderful 3 year old son. From the time I was a little girl I gave my life to the use of Gods work.I believe without a doubt that God has something "big" for this girl to do. I am just waiting on his timing!
I was saved at the age of 6 and have been amazed at how God has blessed and watched over my life.
I have tried-notice I didn't say always have- I have tried to be obedient to Gods will but I had a stumbling block- my husband. My husband is a great man however he hasn't shared the same love for the Lord in the past as I have. I have always served actively in the church I attended. With VBS, leading womens Bible studies, teaching the children and various other jobs. My marriage was in trouble and I prayed that God would fix it for over 7 years but God doesn't work on our time tables. Instead I listened to my husband, gave up serving in my church becuase it caused me being "away from home" to much and I quit going to church at all. Truth is I was mad at God for not answering my prayers as I seen fit. Praise God that "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.." Heb 12:6. God has changed my husband to be so much more than I could have ever asked for and he taught me so much along the seven years of what I thought was unanswered prayers.
I know without a doubt that God is going to use me in ministry as He has already been doing so but He has put a big dream in this girls heart! I am ready to go whenever and whereever he says.
This scholarship would help me so much to improve and prepare me for the future God has instore for me. As you can imagine funds with a 3 year old are limited. Nevertheless, if the scholarship doesn't go to me He has another route at another time. Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." AMEN!!! Thank you for your time to read this. God Bless
Kyliegh Kite
[email protected]
I need some "me and Jesus" time but simply have no idea how to make that happen. Something always comes up and my time is shot. I want to attend this conference so much….just for the fellowship and teaching that would be uninterrupted and I could focus on Him.
deesjorgygal at aol dot com
Because I can't shut up! I've tried! For the last 12 years, my family & friends have said.."When are you going to be on stage?". I can't help but laugh at them for thinking I could actually do it!
God has given me this desire…but I have allowed fear to keep me from really stepping out!
My passion is for other women to know of God's love and forgiveness. Over the years, I've been asked to speak at a few women's events (and I loved it)!
I cannot escape the pull this ministry has on me. Just when I think I can, someone calls me to do it.
I want to obey!
She Speaks is a dream for me. If I were to win…I'd be the ding-dong jumping up and down squealing like a crazy person (yes, it would be that exciting!).
Thank you, Renee. You are a beautiful inspiration in so many ways. I love your blog and ministry! And I'd love even more to get to meet you in person.
I spent part of my day reading up on the She Speaks Conference, wishing that somehow, some way there would be an opportunity to go! I had no idea there might be another scholarship available … to best understand how I would benefit from this conference, you can read my story here:
Feeding sheep, Tina
[email protected]
I've been a bible teacher at my church now for over 5 years. I would love to attend She Speaks to gain more skills in communicating. I feel such a passion to share what God has done and is doing in my life!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a scholarship. My dream is to take the gifts God has given me to an new level.
I'd like to share how I stumbled upon the talent of speaking that God has bestowed on me.
My mom is a quiet and passive woman. Even when it came to giving me advice or disciplining me, she never felt comfortable "confronting" me. But she knows me so well. She knows how much I LOVE reading. So when she has a message to tell me, she usually buys me a book. The first book she bought me was "How To Manage My Emotions" by Joyce Meyer. I was a teenager then, a cranky one. Later in university, she gave me another book called, "My and My Big Mouth" by Joyce Meyer as well. I guess she noticed that I loved to talk. But the truth is she saw the talent of speaking in me and she wanted me to use it for God. I didn't see it back then. I didn't even read the book until much later. I've been comfortable speaking in public. I've done many presentations in university, at church and in my career. When I read that book, I saw what my mom had envisioned. I want God to use my mouth, this oh so big mouth of mine, ALL FOR HIS GLORY. I hope to learn more about how to do that at She Speaks.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Kat
I would absolutely LOVE to win this scholarship. I find Proverbs 31 so inspirational. Unfortunately, the reality of my life right now is that I'm having a baby in AUgust so I'm not really travel-ready for the conference. Hopefully next year I will be ready to hit the road and learn more!
I have shared a few times, in a large group, my testimony about over coming death in my life of my Father when I was 17 and my Husband when I was 23. For me it's nice to know when someone else has "been there" and they can walk you through it and hold your hand. In the midst of losing someone the power of others prayers is amazing! I would love to be the person to pray for someone and hold their hand and tell them it will be OK…God is in Control!
It's never easy for me to stand in front of a crowd and I would love to learn to do this without fear.