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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What a responsibility! What I first embraced as a passion to speak and write for my loving God, I now hold so very dear to my heart and I want to walk both faithfully and carefully down this path that God has made for me. I know God has called me to speak and write for Him and I taking each little baby step that I can with Him and embracing with this journey every open and closed door—trusting that God knows best and is leading the way.
I have researched ways to sharpen and better equip myself and I have not found anything like “She Speaks.” I have been praying about attending the last couple of years and honestly, the funds are tight and I have not been able to fork the bill on top of the airfare. If I am chosen for this scholarship, I will know that God desires to use the women at the conference to inspire and equip me to serve for His kingdom. To God be the glory, amen.
Julie Lane
I would love to win this, I would love to be taught, by these women of God. And I would love to acquire the knowledge, and opportunities that this seminar would offer me. Thank you so much for the consideration!
Monica Gwin
[email protected]
I am writing to ask you to consider Nadia Swearingen-Friesen for a Scholarship! She is an amazing speaker and loves to share her journey with other women. Thank you.
What would it mean to me to attend the She Speaks Conference? The sustaining of new life stirring. The continuation of a mysterious story God has been weaving in dark places. God used a brilliant study on the creative process to clarify my gifts and callings. Doubt has since crept in, telling me that the dreams he stirred in me were just lofty dandelion fluff. “He’s not THAT good. My gifts aren’t THAT valuable.”
If anyone believes in us to the death, it is our mothers. Today mine was fighting tenaciously for me while I dusted her with my doubts and unbelief like the heavy pollen raining down outside my window. Mom mused, “I held you on my lap in church when you were three, and I sensed that God had a special call on your life. My mother’s heart ached as I thought of the suffering it might involve and how it would take you far away.” I listened half-heartedly, pulling up the She Reads blog as I got ready to hang up the phone. Two powerful words arose from the screen. She Speaks. Tears ran at the sound of “my name”. Jesus made me to speak, to read, to write! Mystery still surrounds my story, but I need to tend it with my words, so that when it is full, I will be equipped to share it!
Noel
[email protected]
Between church and my professional career, I am overexposed to various levels of hurting women. My heart aches to help because my faith can see the best in them. Attending this conference would allow me the opportunity to polish all the necessary tools to effectively achieve spiritual success in the lives of these women. Iron sharpens iron, so I'd have no choice but to leave with an attitude of 'help me, help you!'
Mary Harris
[email protected]
I am brand new to Proverbs 31 it was by accident you could say that I found you. My sister sent me a word of encouragement and it was written by Wendy a proverbs 31 member and she mentioned " She Speaks " from that day to this I have been asking God if this is my season to launch out. God has given me a word for our sisters that have came through sexual abuse. I have shared my testimony in small groups for a few years now. My hearts desire is to reach the young girls who have not told anyone their secret yet. I remember the years that I held that secret so tight I wish for death. I need to know how to take the next step and obey God and share my story. God Bless all of you for all you do you are sent to us from God. Venus [email protected]
I am feeling the tug of God on my heart to go into a speaking ministry. I am like Moses was when God told him to go speak to the people and Moses didn't feel he was worthy or able to do so. God is not letting me use that excuse. I feel convicted to do to this.
I believe my life experiences could reach many hurting women.
My mom said that when I was born with a heart murmur, I turned blue in her arms, and she thought she'd almost lost me. She told me on my birthday when I was a teen, and this reminded me that from then on out with every extra breath I'm given, I should praise the Lord (Psalm 150:1)
"Breath" to me has translated into playing field hockey in college with all my heart for God's glory despite having asthma…and short legs, leading Children's worship with all my energy, despite not being able to sing a complete octave, and sharing with my voice the goodness of God to friends and family, and whomever I meet.
Winning a She Speaks scholarship giveaway would be like winning big on OPRAH. I didn't pray that I could go to She Speaks but I do pray that God will use me. Going to She Speaks will allow me to speak with a more effective "breath". I feel like God has gifted me not only with the ability to write through story telling and experience, but that he has also given me a passion and courage to share how He works in my life. I'm now 26 and thankful for the many breaths I get each and every day. I want to speak!!
I remember hearing Lysa TerKeurst at a conference wishing that someday I can also use my words to help people passion for Him.
Bel
[email protected]
I would love to be a part of She Speaks. I am in a study on finding your mission and the question came up "What would you do if?" and my answer was to be a courageous, authentic speaker for Christ and I think this would be a great next step.
Thanks for your blog Renee and your encouragement and materials on finding your calling. They have been so helpful!
Jennifer
[email protected]
My heart for speaking to women started at the age of 19 when I began teaching a 7th and 8th grade girls sunday school class. Over the next 10 years God allowed me to share my heart, and desire for women to find their complete satisfacition and fulfillment in Christ alone, and challenge them to get into the word DAILY!! My ministry took a very interesting turn in 2005 when I got married and revisited an issue in my life that I had known about since I was 13. I found out as a teen that I could never have children (details a little long so just leaving it at that). Since that day I had always planned on adopting my children and my AMAZING husband was very much on board. After our first year of marriage feeling of inadequacy krept in and I began to struggle with "why" God worked through His word and my sweet husband and in 2008 we adopted out PRECIOUS daughter Celeste, and in 2009 another daughter Olivia. We are a multi-racial family or daughters being african american and us being about as white as they come. The struggles of infertility, the joys and heartache of adoption and the hilarious, and thought provoking moments that being a multi-racial family brings I HAVE GOT TO SHARE! Speaking scares me because I don't want it to be about me but the message God has given me (which HE is still revealing to me). THAT my dear Miss Renee is why I would be THRILLED and delighted to attend "She Speaks" My husband is an associate pastor at a local church and talked starting an adoption minsitry (at some point in the future) where we share with anyone who will listen what God has done and how he has changed OUR lives thorugh adoption and to encourage others to support adoption in general any way they can. I feel attending She Speaks will begin the path to me refining what God would have me say and how to say it.
WOW – can you tell I"m excited! Going for the longest comment known to man or woman 😉 Praise God for what He is doing through P31!
Emily R
[email protected]
http://www.spoiledroten.blogspot.com
would love to be able to attend She Speaks, but financially it has been a difficlut season. I pray God will bless the woman who is supposed to win this scholarship, but that He will enable all of us to continue to tell our stories.
I believe that we all have a story to tell. Our stories are all different, but I believe that God is truly the author of them all. My greatest desire is to use my story to show His glory in my life.
I want to enable others to see the Hope that they can have as they trust Jesus on the journey. I love teaching and would like to broaden my Ministry by speaking as well.
Renee, my name is Tekesha Austin and my email [email protected]. I first heard about Proverbs 31 about a month ago. I was sitting at my desk and got an email from my friend. I was going through it with my husband badly the night before and contemplating divorce, Lysa was speaking on marriage. I went and bought What Happens when Women say YES to GOD read it and said ok GOD I hear you. After reading that book, purchased Becoming more than a good Bible study girl, I always knew that GOD was working through me, but this book definently confirmed that. Okay I just purchased on yesterday What happens when Women walk in Faith, so excited about how GOD is transforming my life. I would love to attend the conference I have been called to minister to people. My grandma said that I should have been a counselor, I am a people oriented person and people value my opinion and they want to know what I'd do in a situation. I have a drawing spirit and I know that GOD is perfecting some things in my life for his Glory. I have been allowed to go through certain things to have experience to be able to help someone because if I never go through anything how can I be qualified to tell of the goodness of the LORD. GOD orchestrated me to become involved with Proverbs 31 ministries so that I can become qualified and experience him on another level, so this conference will be a benefit to spiritual growth and walk so that as I continue to work for him, I'll know how to through HIM. The GREAT I AM…
It's only by God's grace that I desire to speak. I'm the one who was in speech therapy in 2nd grade. I'm the one who sang in front of a church in 4th grade and started laughing from nerves and couldn't stop. I'm the one who messed up on my ONLY line in high school drama the night of our play. Only to hear at my ten year class reunion by a then Calif. news anchor after she peeked at my picture and name button I was wearing. "Oh yeah, I remember you. You're the only who messed up on your only line is our school play." Oh gee, thanks.
God has given me a strong desire that will not quit to share HIM and His love and the way He has changed my life.
As a speaker, I have NO formal training. I'd love to come to She Speaks so I could learn more about the craft and so I could meet new friends. I love being a part of what God is up to. And I know this ministry is just that.
God's.
Currently I have no income from writing or otherwise to do conferences like this. It's just too much. So winning would be an amazing God sized gift!
The Lord has often spoken to me about a life of public speaking. I have stage fright so I told him I thought he must have the wrong person. I need a chance to learn so that I can be able to obey my Lord and get over my jitters. We are trying hard to get out of debt so I cannot spend the money right now.
I want to speak on healing along with the healing God has done in me. He said to me “I have delivered you for a purpose.” Part of the reason I have stage fright has to do with overcoming my perfectionism but also fighting against the lie Satan put in my mind many times that “No one wants to hear what I have to say.” I speak softly and often remember my parents criticizing me and laughing at me when I was a child. I would love to go to She Speaks with Christian women so I can also receive prayer and be freed to speak what God has placed on my heart to share.
http://www.gretchenflores.com/blog/
Gretchen Flores
Thank you for the opportunity for a scholarship. Why would I like to win? Well, many of the reasons already listed here… I have a heart to share how great our God is, how He is capable of anything. I feel that God gave me this heart to serve Him and part of that is to reach out to others. I feel fairly comfortable to speak in front of people, but the opportunity to learn, to have some sort of guidance – well, that would just be awesome. The tools and the experience I don't really have. The heart… I do. And to the fullest. I can't afford to get to the conference on my own. My husband supports us and it has been quite difficult. I trust that God already knows the winner – so congrats to whoever that may be. I would be honored if He would pick me, but if not, will remain faithful to know all things are within his timing.
Thanks again,
Cindy
I've been speaking to groups mostly through songwriting and music as I lead them in worship. I would love to gain more tools and connections to help encourage others on the journey.
Winning the She Speaks Conference Scholarship would mean the Lord is bringing me one step closer to the desire of my heart. I know the conference would equip me with the skills I need to go forth into His creation and share what He has done for me and what He can do for others. Thank you for this opportunity.
Colleen M. Geyer
[email protected]
In my life, I continue to live in awe of God's faithfulness during times of famine, testing and struggles. Recently, (March 2010)I lost my job while I was out on medical leave from an unexpected hysterectomy. This year, my husband and I will celebrate our 26 year wedding anniversary on May 26. I been praying for my husband to become the spiritual leader of our home for over 25 years. As a result of my recent job with this ministry, I spoke at many different churches to build awareness and to raise funds for programs to help urban youth, homeless men, women and families as well as incarcerated individuals. My husband would occasionally join our daughter and me when I would visit and speak at area churches. It was through these opportunities that we found ourselves in a new church, one where we felt at home. Although it was difficult for me to make this change, God made it very clear that He was answering my prayer of bringing my husband back into a relationship with Him. Today, my husband not only attends church with us, but He also joined a 6 AM men's bible study that he faithfully attends. He has volunteered using his gifts helping to build and to repair homes for hurting families who desperately need help during difficult times. His business is being blessed by God and our relationship has improved tremendously as well. My life is filled with examples of God's faithfulness! And now today, I find myself again at a crossroad, seeking God's wisdom and His direction as I actively look for a new job. I had prayed the dangerous prayer of wherever you want to send me, Lord, I will go. Every day I continue to receive feedback from Him through His word, answered prayer, encouragement from others and just by sitting still and waiting to hear His voice. As I seek His guidance, the Lord has continued to direct me that He is calling me to use the gifts of speaking, writing and encouraging others to serve Him as His obedient child. I can look back on my life and truly appreciate the difficulties and struggles that God allowed as He refined me to become more like Him. God has taken the brokeness of my life and healed me as only He can. My life is an amazing example of how He calls us by name, and how he brings us out of the fire and out of the floods of life to an abundant life that is possible only through the saving grace of His son Jesus. It would mean so much to me to attend this conference and I know that I can trust Him for the outcome. I have faith that Jesus has a plan for me and with this training and this opportunity to network with others, I could continue to develop the gifts He has given me as a speaker and to be an encouragement for others. Thank you for offering this scholarship and for your daily words to point us back to Jesus. That is my hope, my dream and my prayer to glorify Him in all that I say or do, and to always be ready to give an account of His faithfulness. "Each one should use whatever gift he has reeived to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." I Peter 10-11, NIV
[email protected]
Chrystal Maxwell
I love speaking to women! I believe that God uses me to do just that, I have spoken several times to the women here at our church. I have spoken at our annual retreat along with two other ladies every year for the past 5 years. I love to encourage women in their walk with God. I also believe that I am to write, but I don't even have a clue as to how to go about it. I would LOVE the opportunity to come to this conference and learn what a blessing it would be and an honor. Thank you so much for considering me. God Bless, Debbie Myhre
I met Holly today in Abilene Texas where Lisa spoke. I am blessed and as she and I spoke I am called to speak and write I just am not sure how/where to get started. I know I need training and mentoring and honestly a good kick in the bottom to get started and hope to attend the She Speaks conference either by winning the contest or finding a way to be there.
Blessings – Leah Holamon
[email protected]
http://ninetydaysofsolitude.blogspot.com/