TEACHING HER PREACHING: NONPROFIT TRAINS, INSPIRES WOMEN IN MINISTRY

GRAND RAPIDS, - ¡V As a growing number of women step to the pulpit for the first time, many are overcome with intense physical and emotional feelings that have more to do with stage fright than being moved by the Spirit of the Lord.

Even in church, public speaking is intimidating. Unlike many of their male counterparts, few women in ministry get formal training on how to develop sermons, preach the Gospel or walk in their calling. That¡¦s especially true in newly formed congregations or denominations struggling to define women¡¦s roles in the church. As a result, many women in ministry don¡¦t feel fully equipped to preach or embrace their ministry.

This Saturday, a group of women pastors and educators will teach nearly 100 women to embrace their calling and sharpen their sermonizing at an all-day seminar in Grand Rapids, Mich. Priscilla¡¦s Purse Ministries, a nonprofit that helps train women ministers, will host a first-ever conference for women in ministry this Saturday, October 20, at the Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids, 5700 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids.

¡§The notion that many are called but few are chosen takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to women in ministry,¡¨ said conference organizer Rev. Gwendolyn Gaines Moffitt, MBA. ¡§Women face a variety of unique challenges in developing a ministry, from lack of formal training or their own insecurities, to the belief by some denominations that a woman¡¦s place on Sunday is with the children or in the church kitchen. We¡¦ve put together this conference to help women in ministry answer their calling and to do so with tools and support to make it prosper and grow.¡¨

The conference, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature four speakers and a panel discussion on topics of interest to women pastors, and other ministering women, such as ministry workers serving specific church groups, missionaries, deaconesses and pastors¡¦ wives. Topics include:

„X Where We¡¦ve Come From ¡V examining the historical context of women in ministry from the Old Testament to present day, featuring Dr. Linda L. Belleville, Ph.D., a professor of religion at Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

„X The Minister As Her Message ¡V insights into ¡§walking the talk¡¨ and leading a life that truly reflects your ministry, including how to deal with a life under the microscope that many women ministers experience, featuring Rev. Chana¡¦ Edmond-Verley, associate minister at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries and the executive director of Jubilee Jobs, Inc.

„X The Minister As She Develops Her Sermon ¡V practical tips and tools to use in researching, reflecting on and writing a sermon that delivers your message and serves your ministry, featuring Dr. Michelle Loyd-Paige, Ph.D., a dean at Calvin College in Grand Rapids and the founder of PreachSista! Inc.

„X The Minister and Her Calling ¡V practical advice on how to recognize if you¡¦ve been called to serve, where to turn for support and how to decide if it¡¦s right to launch a ministry, featuring keynote speaker Pastor Denise Suttles, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Woodland Park in Woodland Park, Mich. and former associate minister at the Bethel Pentecostal Church Abundant Life Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The conference is still accepting registrants. The pre-registration fees start at $55; fees escalate to $65 for walk-in registrations on the day of the conference. Fees include speakers, conference materials, continental breakfast and lunch. Vegetarian meals are available. To register, call 616.634.6794 or visit www.priscillaspurseministries.com. Registrations may be faxed to 616.363.2021.

The conference is presented by Priscilla¡¦s Purse Ministries, with sponsorship and donations from the following organizations: Zondervan (Corporate Supporter), Baker Book House, and Kregel Parable Christian Stores.

About Priscilla¡¦s Purse Ministries
Priscilla's Purse Ministries was launched in February 2007 through a series of monthly ¡§Kingdom-Building Forums¡¨ featuring five women preachers who have been called, licensed or ordained as Five-Fold Word Ministers in West Michigan. These five ministerial offices are based on Ephesians 4:11 which references Christ¡¦s Gifts to the Church in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
To date, more than 40 women ministers ¡V diverse in terms of church size, Christian tradition and ethnicity ¡V have presented at the Forums. The organization, co-founded by Pastors Gwen and Lewis Moffitt, welcomes all women, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, age, background, religion or culture. For information, visit http://www.priscillaspurseministries.com.
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