Women’s Ministry Leadership Training 2022

Atlanta Airport Marriott – 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337 – 404-766-7900

Hotel rooms are $129/night. All rooms have refrigerators.

Below you will find the reservation link your guests may use to make online reservations or call reservations at (1)-404-325-0000 until the cut-off date of February 8, 2022.

Here’s your reservation link to make reservations:

Schedule:

Thursday, February 24:

11 am-Noon – Registration and Bookstore Open

Noon-1:30 pm – Welcome Lunch for First Timers

2:00-3:15 pm – General Session – Abby Hutto – Vitality: Cultivating a Home (John 14)

• During difficult times, we take comfort from the promise that Jesus is preparing a place for us in Heaven. We should joyfully anticipate that day, but how often do we meditate on the second half of that promise made in John 14? We will not be left as orphans while we wait—through the Holy Spirit, the Father and Son have made their home in us. Let’s explore what this means to us now—how this communion affords us deep, soul rest and the inner strength that comes from knowing that we belong to God.

3:45-5:15 pm – Regional Gatherings #1

5:30-8:00 pm – Dinner and General Session – Abby Hutto – Vitality: Cultivating a Garden (John 15)

• What does it mean to abide in Jesus, the True Vine? Abiding goes against the grain of our culture which places ultimate value on our achievements. In a world that assigns worth based on what we produce, how do we slow down long enough to hear the call of the Vine and value the work of the Vinedresser? The garden that God longs to produce in us is full of joy, but it takes courage and commitment to leave behind the frantic and frenzied ways of the world to embrace the life of the Vine.

Friday, February 25:

Breakfast on your own

9:30-10:30 am – General Session – Abby Hutto – Vitality: Cultivating a Peaceful Presence (John 16)

• In this world we will have trouble, but our struggle is not in vain. Like a woman in labor, we are called to fix our eyes on the prize at the end. As we consider our own anguish in light of the “Birth Travails of the Messiah”, we can truly take heart! The One who has overcome the world has said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The Spirit helps us cultivate a peaceful soul in the presence of the Prince of Peace.

10:45-12:00 am – Workshop Session #1 (Choice of 6 workshops)

12:15-1:30 pm – Lunch and Perseverance Perspective with Tasha Chapman

2:00-3:15 pm – Workshop Session #2 (Choice of 6 workshops)

3:00-5:00 pm – Break – Time to network and fellowship

3:30-5:00 pm – Optional Affinity Groups: Writers, Arts, Pastors’ & Elders’ Wives, Presbytery Women’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry Revitalization, Diversity, Foster Care and Adoption, Q&A Session, Paid Church Staff Women

5:30-8:00 pm – Dinner and Perseverance Perspective from Susan Hunt; Songs and Stories of Grief and Grace with Lori Sealy

Saturday, February 26:

Breakfast on your own

9:00-10:00 am – Regional Gatherings #2

10:15-11:30 am – General Session – Ellen Dykas

Keynote Speakers:

Abby Hutto is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Story Presbyterian Church in Westerville, Ohio. Abby loves to study and teach God’s Word and delights in helping others experience and know their Heavenly Father better. Abby is married to Ken, and they have two teenage children, Hannah and Harry. Abby is also the author of God For Us: Discovering the Heart of the Father through the Life of the Son, (P&R Publishing). You can get more information about her book, check out her upcoming speaking events or read her blog at www.godforusministries.com

Ellen Dykas serves as the Director of Women’s  Ministry at Harvest USA, a national ministry focused on gospel-centered discipleship and teaching regarding sexuality and gender. She has authored Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual & Relational Brokenness, Sexual Faithfulness: Gospel-Infused, Practical Discipleship for Women, and most recently, a 31-day devotional, Toxic Relationships: Taking Refuge in Christ. Ellen is a member of New Life Dresher PCA in Dresher, PA, and enjoys teaching God’s Word and spurring others on to know, love, and serve Jesus.

Lori Sealy

“Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come ….”  John Newton’s words are an apt description of Lori Sealy’s life. Conceived in adultery, nearly aborted, graciously adopted, and later abandoned by her adoptive parents, Lori traveled the road of atheism before being met by Christ’s mercy – and all of these things happened while she has borne the unrelenting albatross of autism. Most recently her beloved husband of 25 years (PCA church planter, Phillip Sealy) died of metastatic melanoma.

Having lived a life of trial upon trial, Lori has had a front row seat in the school of suffering for several decades. Thankfully, she has had a tender teacher in Jesus – the Man of Sorrows who is intimately acquainted with grief and overflowing with “amazing grace.” Her deepest desire as a songwriter, speaker, and worship leader is to make much of the Savior who has shown Himself sufficient in every scene of her story.

Lori and her two teenaged children have recently moved from the coast of Mississippi (where Phillip was planting Hope PCA in Ocean Springs) back to the mountains of Western North Carolina (returning to the last church Phillip planted – Redeemer PCA in Sylva). In spite of the “many dangers, toils, and snares”  that frowning providence has painfully placed upon their path, the Sealys are daily seeing examples of the certainty that “The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.”  Soli Deo Gloria!

For more information on Lori visit www.lorisealy.com.

Speakers:

Teri Anderson and her husband, Mark, are members of Spring Meadows PCA in Las Vegas, NV. They have two adult “kids,” a son-in-law, and enjoy their 5 year old granddaughter as often as possible! Teri taught high school English, Computer Technology, and Gifted Education before beginning her motherhood role and a resulting home-based Mary Kay Cosmetics business, becoming a “mompreneur“ before it was trendy! Currently, as an Independent Sales Director, she provides training and mentoring for women of all ages across the USA. In the volunteer world, she served several terms as a Women’s Advisor to the Board of Covenant College, and as an Alpha Omicron Pi VP and International Board member. Locally, Teri has served on the Women’s Ministry Team, and taught Sunday School and Bible Study. She has served as a PCA Women’s Ministry Trainer and retreat speaker since 2001.

Tasha Chapman is the wife of a NT professor, mother of two women who try to keep her tech-media savvy, and Professor of Educational Ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Previously, she served in campus ministry and church children’s and women’s ministries. Her research interests include leadership, cross-cultural learning, and curriculum design. She co-authored The Politics of Ministry and Resilient Ministry, and contributed to the ESV Women’s Devotional Bible. She enjoys serving internationally, hiking mountains, and eating ethnic foods, having never met a chili she didn’t like.

Cathe Cleveland is a former homeschool mom who is now learning what it means to be the parent of two adult married children and live as an empty nester with her husband Paul. Most recently she has experienced the joy of becoming a grandmother. Multiple sclerosis keeps her home most of the time where she works on learning how to build and design the website, books, and online courses for Boundary Stone, their curriculum business. She formerly worked at Reformed Seminary the first year it was in Orlando, and as a computer network administration trainer. She has served the PCA at the presbytery level and at the local level as a volunteer Coordinator of Women’s Ministry. She has served as a Women’s Ministry Trainer since 2001. She and Paul live in Birmingham, AL and are members of Briarwood Presbyterian Church.

Melanie Cogdill is the general editor of Beyond the Roles: A Biblical Foundation for Women and Ministry (CDM, 2019). She on the PCA’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as a Trainer and serves as an advisor to CDM’s Permanent Committee. In addition, she is the managing editor of the award-winning Christian Research Journal and the host of its weekly podcast Postmodern Realities (available on Apple podcasts). She is a member of The Pelican Project (thepelicanproject.com/members/). She is the wife to Dwayne and has a 24-year-old son and daughter-in-law, and an 18-year-old high school senior. She is a member of Christ Covenant Church in North Carolina where she lives with her family. She is also a very big fan of modern board games and likes to be a board game concierge for anyone needing suggestions for board games to play with family and friends.  

Rachel Craddock is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, a Kappa Delta, and a first-grade teacher at heart. She currently serves on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as a Regional Advisor to women in Mid America. She is the author of Slowly Unraveled (CDM, January 2019), a contributor to Hinged: Vitally Connected to Christ and His Church (CDM, January 2020), and looking forward to a forthcoming Bible study on the names of God—jointly written with her husband—to be published by CDM in early 2022. Rachel enjoys speaking and teaching at events and women’s retreats—her heart is to encourage and equip leaders while weaving in the importance of the gospel in everyday life. Rachel is married to Michael (PCA Teaching Elder); together they have four children: Ezra, Asher, Caleb, and Lydia Jane.

Christina Fox received her Master’s in Counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Her passion is to help women see how the gospel intersects with their daily lives, bringing light and life to the darkness of life in a fallen world. She is a retreat speaker, writer, and author of multiple books, including A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord, Tell God How You Feel: Helping Kids with Hard Emotions, and the forthcoming Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for our Parenting. She serves on the national team as Regional Advisor to the Southeast and is the editor of the enCourage blog. She and her husband have two teenage sons and attend East Cobb PCA in Marietta, GA where she helps coordinate women’s ministries and is at work developing a counseling ministry to women in crisis. You can find her at www.christinafox.com.

Vanessa and Marcus Hawkins by David Russell Photography

Vanessa K. Hawkins (MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary) is the Director of Women’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Augusta.  She is a Bible teacher and conference speaker who is currently pursuing her DMin in Cultural Apologetics and Communication at Covenant Theological Seminary.  She serves as Diversity Advisor for the PCA’s Women’s Ministry and co-hosts a podcast called Something To Talk About where she and a few Bible teacher friends talk gospel application for current issues.  She is honored to be the wife of her third grade friend Marcus, and together they are the parents of three daughters. You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter and wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Susan Hunt is the widow of retired PCA pastor Gene Hunt. Susan lives in Marietta, GA surrounded by their three children and their families. She is the former Coordinator of Women’s Ministries and the author of several books for women and children.

Meaghan May is grateful for the gospel and loves inviting women to live in light of the good news of the steadfast love of God in their current season. She currently serves on the PCA’s Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as a Regional Advisor to women in the Northeast. She is also a trainer with Parakaleo and leads the local network with the Potomac Presbytery. She has been in ministry for two decades: serving in children’s ministry, youth ministry, special needs ministry, women’s ministry, conference planning, retreat speaking, coaching, and church planting.

Meaghan and her husband Reverend Paul May moved to Ashburn, VA to plant their second church out of McLean Presbyterian Church six years ago. They have five children  who remind her what a gift it is to be part of God’s family. Over the past nineteen years of their marriage they have also lived in Florida, South Dakota, and Kansas. Meaghan loves to invest in the lives of women, listen to podcasts, hike with her family, read books, laugh, go on road trips, and experiment with new recipes.

Paula Miles is wife to Kevin, a ruling elder at Clemson Presbyterian, mother of Wimberly Johnson (married to Charlie), Janie Gotfredson (married to Duncan), Clary, and Judy, and grandmother to Miles Johnson. She grew up in Anderson, SC and graduated from Clemson University. Paula has experienced the joy of being both a full-time homemaker and public school teacher. Studying and teaching God’s Word is her passion, as well as coming alongside women to encourage them to understand their unique design and fulfill their individual callings. Paula is on staff at Clemson Presbyterian as women’s ministry coordinator since 2014, is a conference speaker, and serves on the PCA’s Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a trainer. She enjoys regular exercise, a good cup of coffee, watching sporting events, and investing in the lives of her family and friends.

Connie Miller just celebrated 42 years of marriage to her college sweetheart, Mike, who is the Global Missions Pastor at Christ  Covenant Church in Mathews,  North Carolina.  Serving alongside her husband with his various roles has been a real joy as she has worn several ministry hats as a church planter’s wife, hospitality coordinator, worship leader, Children’s Sunday School and women’s Bible study teacher. They have 3 adult children, two daughters, Mary Sha and Cate and one son, Mike who is married to Megan. She and Mike love being “Nonnie and Pops” to their two adorable grand boys, Bo (4) and Grisham (2). Connie serves as a National trainer for the PCA Women’s ministry and The International Women’s Ministry Advisor. She has a passion for discipling women and equipping them to think biblically and live covenantally. She and Mike enjoy traveling, hiking, biking and kayaking.

Carrie Mills is married to PCA Pastor Brad Mills. She is the mother of four beautiful children ranging in ages 18-11 years old. She is active in her homeschool community and directs a high school class for Classical Conversations. Carrie also serves as CDM’s West Coast Regional Advisor. After graduating seminary, her family moved back to their hometown where they planted Grace Presbyterian Church in Fresno, California, where they are currently serving.

Married to a PCA Army Chaplain, Chandra Oliver travels the globe following her soldier husband. Recently, they moved from Washington to North Carolina – driving an RV for 4,000 miles was a lengthy and beautiful drive, filled with opportunities to visit many friends along the way – sweet “gifts” of military life. Loving a good challenge, Chandra enjoys studying the unique context of each military assignment to see where or how the Life-Giving truths of Biblical Womanhood can be shared in an ever-changing community. Prior to the military, Chandra served in women’s ministry in local church plants and PresWIC in the North Texas Presbytery. Currently, Chandra serves on the PCA’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a Trainer and Advisor-At-Large for Chaplain and Military Wives.

Shea Patrick is a former Alabama lawyer, now SAHM living in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She and her pastor-hubby have four children, including two adopted from foster care.  Shea loves live music, reading, and watching reruns of the Golden Girls and Designing Women. She loves her church, Trinity Presbyterian, and  serves with the kids, music, missions, and women’s ministry. Shea serves on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a Regional Advisor.

Robin Stevens serves on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as a Regional Advisor. She and Mark her husband of almost 20 years, are parents to Sam, Katie, Nathan, Lucy, and Betsy. Robin lives in Bay St Louis, MS where she enjoys running, sewing, and taking drives down the beach.

Lisa Tarplee is wife to Adam and mother to Andrew and Matthew. A graduate from Belhaven University, she is most thankful of BU as the place where her love for the Lord was ignited. Currently she volunteers in her church’s women’s ministry and loves teaching and discipling women. A creative at heart, Lisa enjoys painting with wax (encaustic) and growing as an artist who reflects God’s grace through her work. Lisa serves on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as a Regional Advisor.

Marcie Tuten is a wife to Chris and a mom to three little ladies.  She lives in Atlanta, GA where she likes to drink coffee, read, and spend time with her family. Marcie serves on the PCA’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a Trainer.

Jamie Williams currently serves on the PCA’s National Women’s Ministry team as the women’s Regional Advisor to Florida. Jamie formerly served for 11 years on Spruce Creek Presbyterian’s (PCA) Women’s Ministry Team as Discipleship team leader and then for 5 years as their Director of Women’s Ministry. In addition, she served as Coordinator to Central Florida Presbytery’s Women’s Ministry (PWM) for 3 years. Jamie has taught women’s Bible studies, Sunday school and VBS. In addition, she has facilitated Titus 2 groups, discipled Middle School and High School girls, coordinated and led women’s ministry events, and has participated as a speaker at women’s ministry conferences and retreats.

Jamie’s passion is to help women know the deep and abiding love of Christ through His Word by teaching them to think Biblically and live Covenantally. As women, being created in the image of God with the distinct purpose of our helper design, this is where our greatest joy will be found.

Jamie lives in Port Orange, FL with love of her life, her husband Gabriel who she has been married to for 20 years. They are members of Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church, PCA where Gabriel serves as a Ruling Elder. Together they have four children (Brandon, Kimmy, Courtney, and Elijah) and are Gigi and Grandpa to two grandchildren (Evan and Nora). In her spare time, you will find Jamie relaxing on the beach or poolside with a good book, spoiling her Golden Retriever, Scout, or connecting with family and friends over a meal and conversation.

currently serves as the Women’s Ministry Director at Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church in Port Orange, FL and serves on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry team as Regional Advisor to Florida. She has taught women’s Bible studies, Sunday school and VBS. In addition, she has facilitated Titus 2 groups, discipled Middle School and High School girls, led women’s ministry events, and coordinated women’s ministry conferences and retreats. Jamie has been married to Gabriel, a Ruling Elder in their church, for 18 years, and together they have four children and two grandchildren.

Workshop Sessions (Choose 2 workshops):

Leadership in the Key of D (Tasha Chapman)

What is uniquely challenging about ministry leadership? What are some practices to prevent burn out and strengthen our wellbeing? There is a tune that can help us pursue healthy, sustainable ministry leadership. The beat is foundational to the rhythms of gathering people, organizing events, and leading Bible studies. The music is jazz, requiring lots of practice playing the basic melody before we launch into the needed improvisation. Come rehearse this in the key of D major (a key of victory and rejoicing, so we will need to keep our sense of humor with us): discernment, disappointment, discipline, and differentiation.

LT Premium Classes offered in March/April 2022:

The Vitality and Heartbeat of a Peacemaking Leader (Connie Miller)

Even in the healthiest context and best of circumstances in a women’s ministry, there can exist differences of opinion, misunderstandings, or even disputes that can often turn into unresolved or unverbalized conflicts. Does the vitality of your leadership model cultivate peace and unity among those around you? To understand the “theology” of what it means to be a peacemaker and embrace the biblical means of utilizing practical tools, encouraging and promoting reconciliation into broken relationships is a vital role for every Christian leader. This workshop will express a compassionate message for those who have a desire to glorify God in the way conflict is managed and stewarded. Perhaps our time together can help better challenge and equip you to address conflict in a biblical manner that will help foster a culture of peace in your sphere of influence whether in the home, the church, or marketplace.

Lunch for First Timers:

On Thursday at 12:00 noon, we are offering lunch (additional $17) for first-timers!  Find out what to expect at Leadership Training and hear tips for getting the most from your LT experience. Enjoy an informative (what DO all those acronyms mean?), high-energy, and personal introduction to LT, complete with give-aways! Plus, it’s a great place to meet people. Last year, it was exciting to see women interact as if they’d known each other for years, but they had just met the day before at the luncheon.

FAQs to Print:

Here is some information that will be very helpful for you to print ahead of time so that you have this information for traveling!

Hotel: 

Directions: Traffic in Atlanta is heavy…allow plenty of time!

How much is parking? Parking is discounted at $12/day.

How do I get to the hotel from the airport if I’m flying? There is a free shuttle from the airport.

Are there refrigerators in the rooms? Yes, there are refrigerators in each room (no microwaves).

Is breakfast included at the hotel? No, breakfast is NOT included. There is a restaurant and a Starbucks. You may want to bring breakfast bars or something to fix in your room.

Where should I eat lunch on Thursday? If you are not attending the lunch for first timers, there is a restaurant at the hotel.

Can I fly in to Atlanta on Thursday morning? Yes, if your flight arrives by 1:00, you should be able to arrive at the hotel in time for the first session.

Writers –

Calling all writers! Join writer and author Christina Fox to talk about all things writing. Be encouraged in the craft, make connections with other writers, and learn ways to develop and grow as a wordsmith. And be sure to bring your writing questions for a time of Q&A.