NACC Women”s Conference Returns for a Second Year

by Jennifer Taylor

Last year, Judy Russell led a team that planned a new event at the 2008 NACC””a “conference within a conference” just for women. This first NACC Women”s Conference included special events, a “Gathering Place” for conversation and connection, and special promotion. From the workshops to the tea just for minister”s wives, the 2008 team did a great job creating something new for ladies at the North American.

Because of the positive response to this programming, the women”s conference will continue at this year”s convention! We”re keeping the best from 2008, adding a few new touches, and planning a wonderful time together in Louisville.

 

Familiar Favorites

Like last year, a Gathering Place in the exhibit hall will serve as a hub for the week”s activities. Ladies will also want to stop by to enter the giveaway for one free deluxe trip to the NACC Minister and Spouse Retreat in August!

Ministry by and for women receives a workshop track again this year, with sessions by Patty Miller, who leads a dynamic outreach to Muslim women; Karen Diefendorf, who has served on the Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission and is now the academic dean at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College; popular speaker Love Lockman; and others. Sarah Huxford, wife of 2008 NACC president Cam Huxford and women”s pastor at Savannah (Georgia) Christian Church, will lead a two-session study of the book of Ruth and its theme of grace.

Last year Judy”s team honored ministers” wives with a special tea just for them. This year we”re celebrating women in ministry with a tea exclusively for ladies on staff at churches and parachurches. Karla McElroy, whose many roles include wife, mother, missionary, Christian college faculty member, graduate student, and board member will be our speaker. In addition to her many other ministry experiences, Karla developed and taught a “Women in Ministry” course at Puget Sound Christian College in Seattle, Washington.

And of course, every year the NACC plans a ticketed luncheon open to all women. This year”s event will feature Tammy Trent, a popular recording artist and speaker. Visit www.gotonacc.org for more information and tickets for both events.

 

What”s New?

Because we know many women lead Bible studies or small groups, this year we”re working with the NACC Resource Center, presented and staffed by Standard Publishing, to offer the latest material.

We hope to also include resources from the Daybreak ministry; Daybreak, created by Karen Aroh from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, provides DVD and print curriculum to help churches of any size provide life skills training and mentoring to single moms who need help. (To read more, visit www.standardpub.com and search for “daybreak.”)

 

Trading Cards

We also know many ladies arrive at the NACC discouraged, tired, and in need of hope. So this year we”re recruiting women to serve as encouragers and mentors. To participate, each woman just provides us with a little background information including her church, life stage, and gifts. We”ll create small cards, five per mentor, summarizing these details and providing her e-mail address or phone number. During the NACC, women can visit the Gathering Place to take the card of any one of these mentors””just one!””and initiate a relationship.

We hope the guidelines surrounding this experiment will add to its success; since each “mentee” may take only one card, more women will have the opportunity to connect with a mentor, and since we”ll create only five cards per mentor, none of these women has to worry about responding to dozens of requests for help. Most of all, we hope this informal program will add to the NACC”s mission as “the connecting place” by creating connections among the women in our churches.

 

Help Wanted

We hope to see you in Louisville. And much more needs to be done””we”d love to have your help! If you”d like to serve as a mentor or as a volunteer on the women”s conference planning team, or if your organization would like to donate giveaway items or participate as a ministry partner, e-mail Jen at [email protected].

 

 

Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

 

 

Related 2009 NACC Articles:

“Still Amazed!” by 2009 NACC President Jeff Stone

“Why Is the NACC Important? I Go for My Family” by Brent Storms

“Why Is the NACC Important? Let Me Count the Ways” by Ken Idleman

“2009 NACC Program”

“Other 2009 NACC Events”

“The Minister & Spouse Retreat” (Aug. 11-13 in Ridgecrest, NC)