She Speaks Conference Scholarship Giveaway

Okay—here is the dealio:

We at Proverbs 31 are hosting a tour of blogs today where you will have a chance to win a free scholarship to the She Speaks Conference.

Cec Murphey, known as “The Man Behind The Words” is an author and mentor. He has had 108 books published, 17 of them fiction, and written 700 articles. His first book came off the press in 1975 and he now publishes three or four books a year. He is a wonderful supporter of Proverbs 31 and has graciously donated several scholarships to She Speaks. One gal will be chosen to receive a scholarship as a result of today’s tour of P31 blogs.

Since we have had a few contests lately for writers, this one will be for a speaker or want-to-be speaker or woman in ministry. (Hey….ya gotta know how to speak if you are in ministry, right?)

Simply visit any (or all) of the P31 websites listed in my sidebar and leave a comment. Here are the rules:

  • This is for women who have never attended She Speaks.
  • And, it is for women who would otherwise not be able to attend. If you can afford the conference – please do not enter to win a scholarship.
  • Comment should briefly tell us what winning would mean to you in answering God’s call to speak.

We will randomly select a winner from the blog comments. So the more blogs you comment on, the greater your chance of winning. You have until Friday at midnight to leave your comment.

Okay…..comments please. I hope to see you there!!!!!

Sweet Blessings,

72 Comments

  1. Winning a scholarship would be an opportunity I couldn’t afford any other way. I would be taking a leap of faith in what God has placed on my heart… to step out and trust in Him. I want to be used for Him and His glory and I love to connect with other women. I believe the best way to do that is by speaking with them. I think that people have the opportunity to really see who God is when you allow Him to speak through you. I want that opportunity. I need more tools. I know I have the willingness and the heart for it, I just need knowledge and experience.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

  2. Hello. I would love to be a part of the She Speaks conference. I have been doing a study that asked me the same question–“What would you do if….” ? My answer was to be a courageous, authentic speaker for Christ. I think the She Speaks conference would be a great next step. Also, I feel like many of the Proverbs 31 ladies are friends and have met a few at Hearts at Home and would love to meet these ladies in person!

    Thanks,

    Jennifer

  3. When I first got the desire to speak publically, I read the book “The Reason We Speak” by Marybeth Walen. I have read it cover to cover and it is an excellent book! The entire time I was reading it I knew God was preparing me for a much larger journey in my life. Larger than anything I had done. God spoke to me to become a speaker and minister to women to serve the needs of the brokenhearted and to help others find the intimate relationship with God that I have found. Since that time I have a God-Given purpose in my life and a clear goal at which to aim.

    I have never attended “She Speaks” nor have I ever had the funds to attend. My husband has been without a steady income since last May, so this will not be the year with a scholarship.

    If I win, it would be life-changing and I know the knowledge I would gain would give me the wisdom and the faithful instruction to pursue this heart felt endeavor I so desire. If I don’t I’ll keep on blogging at “My Faithful Living” and will continue to minister the word of God. I want to be a spiritual leader but I am also a spiritual learner. He is in charge! I can only be a tool to accomplish His purpose for us here on earth.

  4. 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

  5. I have been a single mom for almost 3 years. The night I discoverd my husband’s extra marital activities was a turning point for me wherein I finally saw Jesus as my only true security. I had always looked to my dad (who had passed away 6 months prior) or my husband. The relationship I have now with Christ is exceedingly and abundantly beyond anything I could have possibly imagined I could ever have. God has very recently called me to become a Personal Guidance Minister for Scope Ministries and I begin training for this in May. I am so excited about sharing my experiences and the love of Christ with other single mothers that I cannot right now keep up with my fingers as I type! I think that I am much more comfortable with speaking than I am with writing and I have never been to a “She Speaks” conference! This would be an amazing experience for me, especially right now during the dawning of my calling! Thanks for providing the possibility of being blessed with a scholarship to this event! I don’t think I will be able to attend without such a blessing this year, but maybe someday soon!

    Melanie Broadway
    [email protected]

  6. 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

  7. I have been praying about attending “She Speaks” for the past two years and now I feel a passion for the Lord like never before in my life. I have always had a gift of public speaking and now actually teach it at a college level but my new passion is to share my story of struggle and searching for Christ’s love while in college. I know this conference would give me so much valuable experience to help keep other young women from making the same mistakes I did in college! I long to share the love of the Lord through speaking! My husband has been laid off for over a year and while the Lord has provided me with 3 jobs…there just isn’t quite enough left for the conference. I would be so grateful for a scholarship! Thank for you the opportunity! Blessings, Michelle

  8. I have wanted to attend a She Speaks conf. for two years, but haven’t been able to do so. I have felt a calling to speak to women and ten girls for nearly two years. I have been a youth leader and got to teach many that way. I am now in a new phase of life and feel an even stronger calling to reach out to women and teen girls and just have not been able to figure out how. Getting this would be an answer to prayer of how I am to start and continue in God’s will.
    Thank you,
    Tara DeMaris
    [email protected]

  9. I am a “new” Christian and just came onboard with the Lord in the fall of 2009. I have a wonderful infertility story that was totally left in God’s hands and he worked miracles in my life… but I still struggled with coming to Him. I love to share my story and hear everyone’s story. I have been told that I am so funny and yet so sincere in my testimony that it makes other “long-time” Christians feel that same “newness” all over again. I LOVE THAT! I recently listened to Lysa TerKeurst messages through some Hearts At Home CDs my friend loaned me. I just love her and her style and her funny stories… “WHITE SHOES” I do feel called to be in front of people, sharing, being funny and bringing out the laughter in their hearts and helping them to feel “new” with God again. Let me know if you want to hear more of my story.

    Amy Dunham
    [email protected]

  10. Hi Karen,

    I am so glad you posted this on your blog today. I am eager for another chance at a scholarship.

    For years, God has nudged me to attend She Speaks. For many reasons, I have been unable to go. As my speaking opportunities have grown and my ministry increased, I know that this year, I need to be there. (And how amazing that I already have a ride!)

    I have been speaking for over 6 years and am grateful to do something I feel so passionately about. It is a blessing to be able to encourage women to live their lives intentionally, and my work with moms has been life-changing. Over the years, I have grown this ministry but am now at the point where I need additional help. The sectionals offered at She Speaks teach the very things I need to learn to do. In addition to this, I have begun to write and am interested in learning more about publishing so that I can find new ways to encourage and empower women. Every part of this conference speaks exactly to where I am right now in my work for the Kingdom!

    This scholarship means so much to me and to our family. Finding a way to afford the conference has been difficult for us. I know, however, that God will not be contained by the constraints of our economy. He is so much bigger than that! I trust Him fully to help me find a way to attend She Speaks this summer and am so grateful for yet another opportunity for a scholarship.

    Thank you so much, Karen!

    See you soon, hopefully in North Carolina!

  11. Yay! Another contest! I’m going to be like the friend in Luke 11:5-13; y’all are going to get so sick of my entering all the She Speaks scholarship contests that you’ll eventually award me one! I’m really believing that I need to keep asking for this opportunity because I know I need to be there this year and this is the only way I can manage it (I even live right in Concord, but have never been able to attend).

    I’m an accidental speaker. I never set out to speak publicly, although I’m not afraid to be in front of a crowd. I started writing a few years ago (also kind of by accident), and then people started asking me to speak on those same topics. Knees quaking and voice shaking, I have spoken a few times. I have a few more speaking engagements lined up, but I need so much help and direction to move from being an adequate speaker to being an excellent speaker.

    Thank you, thank you!

    Bethany LeBedz at gmail dot com

  12. I have been involved for many years in my local church teaching Sunday School and Girls Club. I have to say that Girls Club ministry is very special to me. About two years ago I began to feel a need for teaching on a deeper level to teenagers and new converts about really connecting with God and developing a personal relationship with Him. I am passionate about teaching Girls Club and working with teenage girls especially because I remember well my teenage years. I remember the life I led and the way I acted, the things I did, and most of all the mistakes that I made. I also remember that, even though I had Christian friends, I never felt compelled to change my ways. I never saw Christians that made me want a relationship with Jesus. I have a passion to see teenagers (and that includes my own three kids, who are not quite at their teenage years yet, but it’s not too young to begin) develop a personal relationship with God. I want to see them realize the potential and plan that He has in their lives. I wish that I had realized and developed my own personal relationship with God much earlier. I began working with some outreach ministry two years ago as well. My husband felt a call to begin driving our church van and he started picking up kids around the area of our church. I enjoyed getting to know the kids and working with them, they were special to me. The first “big” project was an Angel Tree in my local church. It was during this time that I first went out into people’s homes and met them. It really increased my desire to see mom’s and dad’s begin to come to church and get saved. God really changed my heart and how I felt about others, and how I felt about myself and what He had blessed me with, when I went into other people’s homes and saw how they lived and the situations and problems they dealt with on a daily basis. It is a humbling experience to see living conditions, trials, and problems that people and children are faced with on a day to day basis. I feel that new convert teaching is important, because so many times people get saved, but don’t know what to do next. Or, they would like to get saved, but have not been raised in church or even hardly attended church and they just need help in understanding God and His Word. I feel a special desire and need to teach new converts and teenagers about developing their relationship with God. In developing “daily walk” habits of reading their Bible, praying, studying, and living their Christian life. I would like to teach Bible studies. I don’t know where to start. You would think a person that is involved in teaching in Sunday School, teaching Girls Club, and in working with young people would know where to start, but I don’t. I have been praying, reading, studying, writing, journaling… doing all the things I feel necessary to move forward, but my feet seem stuck. The women of Proverbs 31 are an amazing and inspiring group, and I feel that attending the She Speaks conference would answer questions I have about moving forward and following this calling I feel in my life.

    Rebekah Lilly
    [email protected]

  13. Hello! I am excited for this scholarship and what it will offer for the one who wins. Confirmation! Hopefully, we all live our lives with one thing in mind – God’s plan for me! When I first felt called to speak, I have to tell you I laughed at God…. yea, right! – ME? Really? Can’t, be!!! I could never even stand up to the fast food joint who got my order wrong – I would just be disappointed and drive away! There was no way I was going to go inside and call attention to myself to get it right – what if I hurt someone’s feelings, they are just too busy and I don’t want to bother them with minor details like MY LUNCH! This was me for ALL my life, UNTIL………….I started asking God to show me who I am. The first thing he spoke to me was to speak and reach out to women. I felt FEAR immediately and completely ignored Him. Then, he started putting women in my life – I started sharing my love for God and His love for us with them and started to see why He was calling me to do this, BUT, I still did not have the courage and did not believe I was the one for this kind of path. I continued on talking, loving, and supporting more and more women that He lead into my life and began to find the courage the strength and the desire for MORE! I am eager to follow God’s plan for me and trust that I can do ANYTHING with Him at my side. I am the daughter of a miraculous king and my purpose is to share His good news with EVERYONE! I do believe that the She Speaks conference is just what I need – but if God has chosen someone else for this opportunity – I will continue to prayerfully wait his next step for me! My financial situation will not allow me to further my knowledge for my desire right now and would LOVE to win this scholarship and be filled with more of God’s instructions for His perfect plan for me! Luck and blessings to all!

  14. I have heard of “She Speaks” conference only from Proverbs 31 ministries.
    I looked up the information on the web and became very interested very quickly.

    When I was a young woman (teenage years) I had a woman minister speak into my life and tell me that I was someday going to tell the world my story, being young and naïve and I had a “Whatever “ attitude and went about my business.
    Here it is 15 years later and I remember that day like it was yesterday, because through all the pain and suffering in my life I have recently (2 years) have finally decided to do it God’s way. God has put a book in my heart to write entitled “I’m Nobody’s Secret” It is the story of my life and how God has stamped those very words on my heart and through lots of prayer and counseling I am realizing how valuable my life is to Him.

    I have looked at different resources to help me in accomplishing this God dream and because of limited money on my part I know that anywhere I go will only be by His command. Thank you for the opportunity to share. Maria Olvera – Lomeli

  15. God moves in mysterious ways. I thought my season of “public speaking” had passed. I instead have been focusing on writing, while raising my three lovely daughters. I was completely comfortable with this shift. Several years ago a friend encouraged me to attend a She Speaks conference but the cost was prohibitive. So I put it all in a “past season” category and left it at that. This morning when I read that another scholarship would be offered I felt compelled to read about the details. All while reading I was thinking “this will be so nice for someone else.” Then a small voice said “do it.” Uh-oh was my first thought, it seems God might want to take me out of my comfort zone. Since then God has led me to scriptures of confirmation that I am to enter this contest. For what purposes I do not know, but I do know that when God speaks and you follow amazing things always happen. Thank you for offering this wonderful opportunity and encouragement to so many women, who like me have a God story to share.
    Blessings,
    Amy Peterson -average Mom with an AWESOME God!
    [email protected]

  16. On July 20th, 2006, the Lord led me into a wilderness of brokenness I’ve never known before. Everything I held dear, He gently and very quickly stripped away-my calling, my home, my church, my friends, my comfort zone. God brought me to a new arena that was very frightening to me. Being the ultimate Girl Scout, I always prided myself in knowing what was going to happen next. I was serving the Lord but with a prideful resistance. I could have never foretold the pain I learned in this desert wilderness. I was so completely broken and stripped bare of any resemblance of self.
    As God ordained each aspect of how the brokenness came forth, I heard His gentle voice speak, “I am going to use your mouth to encourage women. I am going to publish things through you. Where you are is not where you are going and I am getting ready to accelerate things”. I sure wish I could say I believed Him. In the pain and the countless tears of grieving over the life I thought was mine, I was very angry with the Lord and verged on much disrespect toward our Heavenly Father. I tried to bargain with Him that I would do anything, absolutely anything if he would just give me my old life back. I yearned for the familiar for what I thought I needed and even though my calling was crystal clear, I seemed to be paralyzed by fear. Many questions stirred in my mind…How Lord? How are you going to accomplish this calling?
    Being completely and utterly honest, at that time, I didn’t even like women. In my past, I have been on the receiving end of spitefulness which included haughtiness, jealously, and fakeness to say the least. Why would you call me away from my love of being a Children’sMinister to encourage women? But Praise God, His ways are always higher than my ways.
    These last four years since my calling was revealed, I have experienced God in the most phenomenal ways. I have been an eyewitness to his grace as He is opening door after door to speak, to encourage, and to minister to all women who steal my heart. He alone, spoke Isaiah 61, “you are a planting of the Lord to display my splendor”. And from this verse, my speaking ministry, Unveiling His Splendor, has been launched as I am daily watching God open doors that no man could open. God has supernaturally used many people to bring me to a platform where I can boldly proclaim His truth, His love, and His grace. I no longer expect an ounce of self to bring forth the perfect will of the Lord.
    I eagerly await each new door that presents itself and consider it a privilege and an honor to stand on this platform hand in hand with every woman I encounter. With each new speaking event, He is daily teaching me to lean more on the Holy Spirit and less on myself. In the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker’s uncle states “with great power comes great responsibility.” I feel that way about my speaking ministry. I received power when the Holy Spirit came upon me and God has handpicked me for some unknown reason with this precious calling to love on women.
    I would consider it a special honor, another open door, if the Lord allowed me to attend this years’ conference. Being a military wife to a husband who deploys six months out of every year, I have learned to not only rely on God’s solid word, but to also trust in His timing. I have dreamed of coming to the conference for three years now but to no avail. I know and trust He will perfect those things which concern me and He will keep me in perfect peace as long as I am focused on Him.
    I would humbly accept the scholarship and would be thrilled to attend. I know I would glean much information as I come under the authority of the P31 Ministry Team and as a result, would enhance my skills and strengthen my serve :) Pun intended! May God bless you richly as we serve hand in hand with teaching and equipping all women to walk in love, to stand on His powerful truths, and to fulfill our specific purpose. Much love and many hugs.

    Unveiling His Splendor,
    Ashley Cloninger
    [email protected]
    (H) 843-871-9765
    (C) 704-408-7340

  17. God led me to the Proverbs31 site today! I am thrilled to be considered for a scholarship to SheSpeaks, as our finances on my husband’s retirement income are adequate for daily living, but certainly not overflowing. I know God has given me a passion for ministering to women by encouraging them in their personal walks with God. Whether it’s through a platform of leading Bible studies and small groups or stepping out into a broader speaking role remains to be seen, but I know God is preparing me for something more. I can’t wait to see what is in store!

    Rachel Binney
    [email protected]

  18. God has been nudging. He’s got me writing devotional blogs for women; now I’m feeling a nudge towards an eventual teaching ministry. I’m sure this will include speaking at some point. I don’t know when, but I do know it is my responsibility to become ready for the call when it comes. Scary but exciting. I was a high school teacher before I was a stay home mom, but getting up in front of a group of my peers to teach them the Word of God is intimidating. I would like to gain some confidence here, and I believe She Speaks could do that. With my husband in full-time ministry, your scholarship would allow me to attend when I otherwise would not be able. Pick me!!

    Misti Gil
    [email protected]

  19. She Speaks! I’d LOVE to attend this Conference (and win a scholarship) because, by God’s calling, I’ve been asked to ‘step up my game’ and go from writer, editor, blogger – to speaker.

    Here’s my story. I have been a Christian-genre writer, editor, and publicist for many years. I worked for my wonderful church (Lake Pointe Church, Rockwall, Texas) for six years as editor-in-chief, lead writer, for their magazine. It shared all the good stuff going on within and through our congregation. It was such a blessing to prepare each time! But God called me out – out into the wonderful world of freelance, where my ministry focus could expand to His entire Church, not just the one I attend/worked for. So, I quit my day job. I have been freelancing “on the side” for 12 years and have edited many books written by Christian authors (some listed on my new blog at writervoice1.wordpress.com). Then, one week later, my mentor (and a client) Thelma Wells, A Woman of God Ministries, asked me to do the unthinkable: she asked me to join her and others on TV and on a Webcast University that she is preparing (she’s a busy, busy lady for God!). I can’t say no – nor do I want to – but I have no speaking training. Teaching Bible study for 7 years has given me lots of confidence, but I’ve never taped a presentation nor stood in front of a crowd larger than 50. I want to take this next step – to speak – and allow God to use me as He has prepared. And, ladies, I do believe He is preparing me for Kingdom work!
    I know graduates of She Speaks!, namely author Mary DeMuth, and would love the chance to enhance my profile to include SPEAKING for Him! It would be a wonderful adventure and the fulfillment of a tugging that I’ve not been able to ignore.

    Thank you for making this contest available. I’m sure whomever wins will be the RIGHT choice! Blessings to you today in all you do for His kingdom!
    Amy Van Vleck, Rockwall, Texas
    [email protected]
    [email protected]

    FYI – being newly “self-employed” and my husband tentatively unemployed, there’s no way I could afford to attend without assistance. Thanks again for the chance to WIN!

  20. God has provided a few opportunities over the years allowing me to teach and speak. I always get a thrill from speaking because God provides such peace and guides my words. However, just thinking about the prospect of being on the “front lines” and opening myself up to the criticism and the scrutiny that one bares serving in this capacity, almost paralyzes me with fear. And though I know God equips anyone He desires to use, I still feel insecure about my abilities.

    The She Speaks Conference has always interested me but time and money kept the door closed on this opportunity. This year was no different because I was scheduled to participate in the International Hearts at Home Conference in Europe. The conference had to be cancelled due to the volcanic ash. This in turn, opened up the time needed to attend the She Speaks Conference. And now this contest has presented me with the chance to overcome the financial burden. So I feel as if God is telling me to “get out of the boat.”

    So here I am, following God’s orders, trying to keep my eyes on Him and not the fear that is threatening to overwhelm me. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

  21. I feel God calling me to start a women’s ministry in my church but I feel unsure. Attending the She Speaks conference would give me the confidence I need to get started.

    As far as my weight loss this week. I have made a commitment to get back on the wagon. I lost 2 pounds this week. I was able to exercise a lot more this week and I think that helped. I hope everyone has a good week.

  22. Hi Karen,

    I just began this journey of weight lose. I have not even weighed myself yet because I do not have a scale. However,
    I have been walking alittle over a mile everyday. I am trying to cut out sugar, like sweets and cutting back on how much I eat. Other than that I still eat what is cooked for supper, my husband bless his soul, gets home early and has dinner cooked by the time I get home so I eat what he cooks just not as much. I feel better since I began walking, my stress level is better and I do not feel as anxious. Thank you for this blog so I can express to someone who cares how I feel. The only ministry I have is teaching Sunday School. I am not really a speaker to adults unless I am testifying when leading song service. I am not sure if the She speaks conference is for me.
    But thanks for the giveaway scholarship.

  23. Funny…but a part of me wants to win this scholarship so badly I ache to my bones for it, but then there is a part of me that is terrified if I won this. I will leave it in God’s hands.

  24. I truly believe that God has given each one of us a unique testimony to tell. Whether you speak to an audience of one or one-thousand, His message MUST be shared. I am ready to proclaim the message that I have been given. This is my season to move beyond self and to God’s level of beyond beyond!

    His,
    Kim

  25. I love to read all of your stories about how God made it possible for you to attend She Speaks and how God moved. I would love that opportunity! Thanks!

Leave a Reply to Connie Johnson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *