She Speaks 2011
July 11, 2011 | Just me, Ministry Life
I’m preparing for one of my favorite conferences. I first attended She Speaks about four years ago. When I walked in the door I knew this was a different type of conference. From the top down it appeared that the heart of this team was to serve.
Two years later I joined the team. I didn’t do this lightly. I wanted to be a part of a ministry or team that genuinely sought the heart of God and encouraged others, rather than an organization that groomed speakers, or showed you how to build a platform, but failed to center on growing as a believer and a disciple of Christ.
I found it. ♥
Serving on this team has been challenging. We work hard and each team member volunteers a lot of hours. It’s humbling at times as we pray together, as we stretch, as we are encouraged to reach for excellence.
But I’ve grown, friends. I look back to three years ago. I was flying solo. I knew that I wanted to teach, to write, and to speak. I was doing those things.
But working side by side with these women has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a hundred different ways. It has also confirmed my calling and helped me to fine tune the unique calling God had placed on my life years before.
This week I “listened” to attendees who will be coming to She Speaks 2011 (on a FB She Speaks 2011 group page). Some are anxious. Others fearful. It’s a big step to take, and I understand the anxiety that can arise when you are sharing a message in front of others, or listening as people critique your manuscript. I understand that it’s challenging to leave your comfort zone, and it’s easy to compare yourself to others.
But I want to encourage you if you have a call to communicate — whether through a blog, through books or articles, through speaking, whether that is to crowds of thousands or a small group in your church.
Be you. The call you have is unique to you, and God doesn’t ask us to be anyone else but ourselves, with Him at the core.
Prepare, but don’t forget to prepare your heart first. Business cards, one sheets, proposals… all important, but vastly unimportant compared to what God wants to do inside of you.
Make friends. There’s nothing more exciting than sharing with another person who “gets it”. If you don’t get a contract, don’t hear amazing reports, etc., but you make friends who love what you love, and who will encourage you as you take steps of obedience, and as you grow in your craft, that’s a huge step in a positive direction.
Last, relax. For me, the prayer room is the most vital room at the She Speaks conference. I love this room. It’s a quiet alone place where I can just spend time in the presence of God. Everything rolls away, and I realize that Suzie Eller is just a girl in love with an amazing Savior, and whatever I get to do, or don’t get to do, it’s that relationship that is foundational and who I am. His.
That prayer room exists outside of She Speaks. It can be in my own home. In the altar at my church. On my back porch. It’s just as vital in my ministry as a mom, as a wife, as a friend, and as Suzie.
For those of you attending She Speaks, I look forward to meeting you. For those of you who stop by this blog each day, I just want to say thank you. I love hearing your heart, meeting new friends, and how we can encourage each other.
Suzie
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Thank you for this reminder. I’m in need of some serious time in the prayer room. It’s easy to get lost in all the things we stress over before an event such as this, but what does any of it matter if we lose focus on the One we love and the One Whom we are called to serve? So, thank you. I needed this today.
July 11th, 2011 at 10:53 amWonderful thoughts you have shared. Thank you! I look forward to seeing you there.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:10 amThank you Suzanne for this post. I had been doing great until this morning when I was overwhelmed at all I had to do this week. What a great encouragement on keeping my eyes focus on the Lord! I look forward to meeting you next week.
July 11th, 2011 at 1:37 pmThank you so much for your encouragement, especially for those of us coming to She Speaks for the very first time. I sure hope I get to meet you!
July 11th, 2011 at 4:57 pmThese words are music to my ears. Thank you for confirming that this event is not about “grooming speakers” but about encouraging those with a call to communicate Truth. Praise God for this opportunity! I look forward to meeting you, Suzie, in the speaker evaluation group.
July 11th, 2011 at 5:24 pmThanks so much for your encouraging words. Everyone is talking about how much they are preparing for this and I haven’t the time except to be still before God and know that He will guide and direct me through the conference and to have contact with the right people. Looking forward to seeing what God has in store for each of us!
July 11th, 2011 at 8:15 pmThanks for the wonderful reminder! I’m looking forward to seeing what God has planned for His dearly loved daughters next week. I appreciate your gentle encouragement!
July 12th, 2011 at 3:35 amSweet blessings ~
Cindy
As I prepare for this conference, I’m remindin myself of the self-same things. As much as I want to learn and soak in, I know that all of my dreams and plans are going to have to be deposited at the door. This is God’s weekend, not mine! And I’m perfectly okay with that! To have Him shine through me and make this a conference to remember is my goal…thank you for encouraging me to do that today!
Blessings,
July 12th, 2011 at 9:37 amRachelle
Thank you, Suzie. You still bless me, even today.
I had the pleasure of meeting you at last year’s She Speak conference. You are an amazing person, and the lessons of grace, love and humility that you have shared with me and with others are priceless. You rock!
I pray you guys all have a blast in the LORD.
Blessings,
July 12th, 2011 at 1:51 pmKim
One of these days…….I’m going!
July 12th, 2011 at 5:29 pm