Collective Conversations

ATTENDEES: As part of Tuesday's program, everyone will sit at 2 different tables for a conversation-style discussion facilitated by a leader. (One table discussion at 11am and another at 12pm.) Please review the topics and facilitators below, and sign-up in advance to reserve a seat at your preferred tables.

TABLE 1:

11am + 12pm | Arlene Pellicane – Covenant and Calling: Nurturing a Joyful, Healthy Marriage in Ministry

When you are doing ministry, marriage can take a backseat. Working for God seems more spiritual and important than tending your marriage.  How do you keep your most important relationship healthy and strong? How do you keep connecting to your husband while book writing and/or traveling?

TABLE 2:

11am + 12pm | Carol Kent Lifting Each Other Up – How Women in Ministry Can Support & Strengthen One Another

In a world where ministry can feel isolating and competitive, God calls us to be like “iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17), building each other up rather than competing for platforms or recognition. We’ll explore how we can genuinely support one another in our callings, moving beyond surface-level networking to deep, kingdom-minded encouragement. Together, we'll discover practical ways to celebrate each other's victories without comparison, create collaborative opportunities that amplify our collective voice for the Gospel, and establish accountability partnerships that help us stay grounded in our identity as daughters of the King. Join us for an honest, hope-filled conversation where you'll leave equipped with specific tools to build a supportive community and get renewed in your calling to serve with humility and joy.

TABLE 3:

11am + 12pm | Debbie Alsdorf – Restored and Refueled: Tending to the Emotional and Spiritual Tank of Women in Ministry

Ministry is a fulfilling calling, but it can also lead to a false platformed identity that defines, drives, and depletes us. Jesus invites us into a better story, but it takes getting ruthlessly real with ourselves, pulling back the layers of pride, and accepting God's invitation to live in His presence, serve in His power, and experience a fullness that is dependent on who we are as His, not what we do to serve people.

TABLE 4:

11am + 12pm | Saundra Dalton-Smith: Identity Before Impact—Find Rest in the In-Between Seasons

I know what it feels like to be caught in the in-between—when the vision is clear but the doors feel closed, when you’re pouring out but wondering if it’s making a difference. In this discussion, we’ll lean into what it means to be fully grounded in your God-given identity even when your impact isn’t immediately visible. We will discuss how to rest in being, rather than striving to produce. You’ll leave with practical ways to embrace these waiting seasons with purpose while staying spiritually aligned, emotionally steady, and mentally resilient as you grow slow and deep. Join me in rediscover the beauty of becoming, even before the breakthrough comes. 

TABLE 5:

11am + 12pm | Lisa Saruga – Compassion Fatigue: Caring for Others Without Losing Yourself

As Christian communicators, we are often entrusted with the sacred stories of others’ pain, while carrying our own burdens along the way. The demands of travel, the weight of continuous exposure to trauma, and the call to set aside our own struggles to minister to others can leave us emotionally and physically depleted. Let's talk about realities of compassion fatigue, how it uniquely affects Christian communicators, and practical ways to guard our hearts, renew our strength, and continue serving from a place of wholeness and grace.

TABLE 6:

11am + 12pm | Edie Melson – How to Pray for Yourself and Your Writing

As women who serve—prayer for others is a big priority—often praying for ourselves takes a backseat. But just like putting on the oxygen mask first in case of a plane crash, we can’t help others if we don’t give praying for ourselves a place of importance as well. Giving ourselves the prayer left-overs leads to burnout and will affect our ministry efforts. In this Table Talk we’ll discuss the challenges—and some tips—for how to pray for ourselves.

TABLE 7:

11am + 12pm | Sue Schlesman – Hearing God's Voice During Hard Seasons

When God leads us through difficult places, it's easy to doubt our calling or wonder why He isn't answering our prayers. We'll discuss creating rhythms for hearing God's voice so that our hearts, minds, and emotions remain strong during our wilderness seasons.

TABLE 8:

11am only | Sue Duffield – Don’t Quit Now!

Join Sue Duffield with a lively (and more than likely) humorous discussion and problem-solving insight on the concept, “Don’t Quit NOW!” After over fifty years in ministry of all kinds - from music, to speaking, to writing books, to producing radio shows, to blogging and podcasting, it’s become quite evident that being “seasoned” has its benefits in reaching this generation for Christ. Sue will hope to engage with you her secrets in maintaining and thriving in the longevity of anointing, creativity and purpose. “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).”

12pm only | Ruthie Gray – Sacred Work: Balancing Ministry, Family, and the Care of Aging  Parents

If you're an elder-caregiver, mom of adults, grandmother, or perhaps all three, you know the angst of juggling family and ministry. Let's discuss practical ways you can steward your ministry while serving your family as a multi-generational caregiver!

TABLE 9

11am only | Honey Wiggs – Breaking through Burnout

Burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It slowly builds, through stages, draining your joy, energy, and purpose. Let’s talk around the table about the signs of each stage, many of which you will probably recognize once identified.  Burnout doesn’t have to be a part of your pattern. Together, we will explore ways to shift, heal and restore, because your purpose is worth protecting. 

12pm only | Oletha Barnett – Agents of Peace: Turning Conflict into Connection; Reflecting Christ in a Divisive World

Conflict often disrupts our lives and ministries. In this table topic, participants will interact and gain greater insight into living in peace and harmony despite differences. Helpful to the discussion and managing conflict will be the benefit of: God’s Word, Holy Spirit, displaying love and grace, forgiveness, and confession. 

TABLE 10:

11am only | Becky Harling – Clarity in the Chaos: Finding Peace When You’re Pulled in a Thousand Directions

Do you ever feel like you’re good at too many things—a woman of many talents but not sure where to focus? Unsure where to truly pour your heart? This conversation is for the multi-passionate woman who’s tired of feeling scattered and longs for a sense of calm clarity. Together, we’ll share what it looks like to release the pressure to “figure it all out,” and instead be encouraged to lean into God’s gentle invitation to discern, simplify, and savor the season we’re in. We’ll reflect on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) and what it teaches us about faithfulness—not in doing everything, but in stewarding the right things with courage and peace. This table will chat about finding clarity and offer encouragement, spiritual reflection, and space to breathe for women who are gifted in many ways but unsure where to plant themselves next.

12pm only | Cherie Nettles – Laughter is the Best Medicine

Ministry is such a rewarding gift from God but that does not mean that it is not a hard journey. During this refreshing and humorous time we will talk about the benefits of laughter. How we can use laughter to lighten our emotional ministry load but also how we can use laughter to reach into the hearts of our listeners. Laughter gives you and your audience the opportunity to heal but most importantly based on Proverbs 17:22, laughter gives us permission to heal.