Empower Retreat!
Come for refreshment, renewal, refilling, repositioning, repurposing, revealing and reframing.
When the aforementioned happens Empowering begins! Calling to the deep things of our heart. Bringing you to a place of peace and rest amidst the dailies of our lives! Come join us ALL denominations. All ministry Wives and women in ministry! Come away to the beauty of the Cove @ the Billy Graham Training Facility!
Get ready, sisters!
For all ministry wives and women in ministry! Come join us and witness the beauty of the Cove @ the Billy Graham Training Facility!
Worship Leader
Jenna Cowart and husband Benji, from Franklin, TN. After graduating from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Music, she and Benji married in 1997 and began leading worship for various events and the local church. They have been in ministry now for 20-plus years. Jenna and Benji are writers with Word Publishing and hvs also been part of writing songs for their own EPs as well as having cuts with Selah, The Isaacs, and Housefires Worship Band. She is passionate about leading people in worship and training up future leaders. Jenna and Benji have three biological children Braden, Kyndall, Zac, and Maisy, adopted from Africa in 2014.
Speakers
LeighAnn Mccoy is an author and speaker who help people develop a never fail faith. Leighann’s books and online courses are born out of real-life experience. The week after she began writing Spiritual Warfare for Women, her 18-year-old daughter left home to live with her boyfriend and became pregnant. As Leighann lay on the floor of her daughter’s bedroom crying out in desperation, she put her own teaching to the test. Two years later, Leighann began work on A Woman’s Guide to Hearing the Voice of God, when she was diagnosed with the recurrence of colon cancer in her liver. Through it all, she remained certain that God meticulously and methodically works all things together for our good and His glory. Leighann knows that a never fail faith is possible because she’s stretched it, exercised it, and tested it in the trenches of life. Her most recent books, Spiritual Warfare for Your Family and Taking Responsibility for the Choices We Make continue to deliver wisdom and practical action steps to enable you to develop your own faith that never fails. Leighann has served in ministry for over 25 years alongside her husband, Tom, who is the senior pastor at Thompson Station Church in Thompson Station, TN. During that time, their congregation has grown from 8 to over 2000. Leighann serves on staff developing The Prayer Clinic.
Rachel Lovingood and her husband Jeff have been married and in the ministry for the past 29 years. They have three children, a son in law and a daughter in law, who keep her life busy. On top of that, she is a published author and speaker who enjoys every opportunity possible to teach and share what a difference God can make.
As a popular speaker and Women’s Ministry trainer for LifeWay, Rachel has the privilege to work with women’s groups and church events across the country.
Rachel’s sense of humor and her love for the Word combine to make her a favorite with women everywhere. She has a knack for using everyday situations to relate Bible truths to real-life issues. Her passion is for people to realize the transforming power of the Word of God and to experience the abundant life that comes with surrendering to the Holy Spirit. You will laugh, maybe cry, and definitely be challenged by the message that Rachel will bring.
Ruth Ripken her husband, Nik are mission veterans of 35 years with the International Mission Board, SBC, having served in Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Germany, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Currently, they are directing and serving with Nik Ripken Ministries (NRM). Ruth has a BA and Masters in Education and she taught school while Nik pastored before they went overseas.
Along with her husband, they have done extensive research among believers living in the midst of persecution in over 70 countries. This research has been shared in numerous articles and three books, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected and The Insanity of Obedience: Walking With Jesus in Tough Places. They spend their time sharing the truths they have learned from these believers in persecution with churches, schools, and mission organizations.
One of Ruth’s greatest joys is spending time with Muslim women, listening to their story and seeing how God can break into their lives. Another blessing is helping women across the US connect and fall in love with the nations in their midst.
Nik and Ruth are the parents of three sons, two wonderful daughter-in-loves and an amazing grandson.
Diane Nix Your Host, Founder & Director
Diane is the director and founder of Contagious Joy 4 Him, a network of encouragement to ministry wives around the globe. Diane shares her journey of lessons learned while being a Pastor’s wife for 21 years. She and her family experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina where – after living in New Orleans for only three weeks – they lost every daily living thing.
Author of the book, “When God’s Woman Wants to Give Up!” Diane sheds light on “never giving up” in the midst of trials! Her husband, Dr. Preston Nix, is professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. Serving in ministry together for 35 years, they have two biological daughters, two spiritual grown daughters, two special grands and two sons-in-law. She is an author, speaker and blogger. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @nixheart, cj4h.org.
Jacki King, Pastor’s Wife, Bible Teacher, Podcast Host & Taco Addict.
A native Texan who now lives in Conway,AR with her husband Josh, Jacki is the Lead Pastor of Second Baptist Conway, along with their 3 boys Haddon (10) Leland (9) and their youngest Amos (6) who was adopted from Ethiopia.
Jacki holds a BA in Biblical Studies and Women’s Ministry from Criswell College in Dallas, TX and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has the privilege of leading the ministry to women at Second Baptist as well as speaking at women’s and girl’s conferences and retreats across the South. She has a passion for seeing women fall in love with Jesus and His Word while challenging them to be on mission in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
In her spare time, Jacki hosts a podcast called “At The Table” which interviews and shares stories of women leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention. One of her big heartbeats is to champion, cheer on, and help develop other women leaders as they chase after the calling God has placed on their lives. We are all so much Better Together.
To connect with Jacki follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @JackiCKing
Anita Cook, a spunky Texas native, serves in full-time ministry alongside her husband Sandy. They have pastored together at Deep Creek Community Church in sunny, southwest Punta Gorda, Florida for 11 years.
Anita passionately leads a support group for women who are survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Her heartbeat is to see women discover who God created them to be and to walk passionately with the Lord. Nothing brings her more joy than seeing women walk victoriously with their King.
Her story is one filled with restoration, new beginnings and the grace of God as He turned ashes of pain into a beautiful, vibrant ministry. Anita is a mother to three incredible young men, three amazing grands, a beautiful Daughter in Love and one fur baby. She loves cold weather, cooking for her houseful of fellas, belly laughs and playing goofy games with family and friends.
Anita’s current roles are Wife, Mother, Teacher, Human Resources Director, Director of Benevolence & Care Ministry, Support Group Leader and Women’s Ministry Mentor. Additionally, Anita is a Feature Writer for Contagious Joy, a global ministry to Minister’s Wives & Women’s Ministry Leaders.
Jodi Aiken is a Pastors’ wife, speaker, writer, and podcaster. She is driven to help women enlarge their faith, conquer their fears, and become the women God designed them to be. Raised in a small South Carolina town, Jodi grew up in a non-Christian religion, the youngest of five children to divorced parents. She is a “mom” to two adult sons.
Thirty years of marriage to her husband Chris have provided innumerable adventures, including life as a military spouse, a police officer’s wife, and now the wife of a pastor. Chris and Jodi have served churches in South Carolina, Florida and North Carolina, as well as church planting missionaries with the North American Mission Board in upstate New York.
Jodi and Chris currently live in Nashville, North Carolina, where Chris serves on the staff of Englewood Baptist Church. Jodi is a gifted teacher, evangelist and disciple-maker and has led dynamic women’s ministries for over fifteen years. Jodi’s teaching is engaging and well-illustrated with practical life stories gleaned from her own experiences.
Jodi holds a degree in Business Administration from Pensacola State College. She has a background in banking, ran a successful small business as well as a real estate practice in Florida. She is an integral part of her church leadership team alongside her husband Chris. Additionally, Jodi has previously served with the Florida Baptist Convention as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Properties Committee. You can learn more about Jodi at www.JodiAiken.com
Brenda Croston holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia and a master’s degree in Special Education from Regent University. Brenda worked as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines for several years before responding to an inner longing to fulfill personal education and career goals. While furthering her studies, Brenda climbed the educational ladder working in the Portsmouth Public School System as a Teacher’s Assistant and then an Office Manager. Holding a master’s degree in Education, she has worked as a Special Education and English teacher in both Virginia and Tennessee.
A sought-after conference presenter, Brenda has had the privilege of teaching and speaking across the United States and abroad in places like Kenya, Haiti, and Sint. Maarten. She recently joined LifeWay’s Women’s Ministry team as a trainer.
Currently, Brenda is in the process of publishing a new book about successful women’s relationships, entitled, The Strange Language of Ducks: A biographical journey through the female experience via Simple Truth Publishing, LLC of which she is the CEO. She also serves as the Women’s Ministry Leader at Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville, TN. Brenda has published chapters in From My Heart to Yours with The Benchmark Group, Nashville and Big Results, LifeWay Christian Resources. Additionally, she has served as a contributing writer for YOU, an Urban Bible Study curriculum also published by Lifeway Christian Resources. Eight years ago, God was gracious in joining Brenda and Mark A. Croston, Sr. in holy matrimony. This blended family has four children, Candace, Juliette, Mark, Jr., and Antonio and two granddaughters, London and Phoenix. Brenda has two deceased children, Shaquayla and Mya.
Marshelle Wilburn, has partnered with her husband, Port Wilburn, Executive Director of Missions of San Francisco Peninsula Baptist Association and Pastor of Rock Harbor Christian Fellowship, in multiethnic and urban church planting, missional family and spouse care. Together and individually they provide coaching, training, and conferences for couples, families, leaders and others to a diversity of audiences.
After seeing the dire need for support, Marshelle created a collaborative network for urban church planter and ministry wives, Hephzibah’s Haven, providing a safe space for them to connect, be affirmed, encouraged, and equipped. Her commitment to spouse care has expanded as a member of church planter assessment teams, church planter trainer, spouse care advocate, and ministry leadership trainer for organizations such as North American Mission Board’s SEND Network and LifeWay Christian Resources.
Marshelle’s passion for people of all ages to discover their identity, value, and life purpose is manifest in her inspiring, contextual messages delivered nationally and internationally, boldly challenging a diversity of audiences, both Christian and secular, to live authentically and practically as positive contributors of their communities. Her love of God’s Word and teaching it inspires audiences encouraging them to deepen and strengthen their relationship with Christ for exponential Kingdom impact and to live their purpose fully with STRONGLife. She writes for LifeWay, NAMB Spouse Care Network, and other publications.
Maureen Gray has over 30 years of experience as a pastor, mentor, and counselor, Maureen has a desire to see people—women specifically—walk in freedom, healing and filled with the fullness of God. Her passion has led her to serve on the Prayer Team and the Freedom team at her home church, to volunteer as a certified Mending the Soul facilitator and complex trauma mentor and to co-found a media ministry that reaches millions of people across 5 continents with the gospel of Jesus. But being a mom to 5 daughters and one son has given her the most challenging and rewarding experiences—along with an incredible amount of grey hair!
A few years ago, Maureen hit her rock bottom which began a journey of emotional, spiritual and emotional health leading to her realize her calling…take as many people on this journey with her.
After many moves around the country, this Canadian has found herself at home in Grapevine, Texas, with her husband of 35 years, their six children, four sons-in-law and 3 grandbabies. When Maureen isn’t busy working/teaching/mentoring, she can be found shopping for a cute pair of boots, doing a Bible study with her toddler grandson over french fries and root beer or at home watching Columbo reruns.
Katie Orr is passionate about equipping busy women to experience God daily. She is a gifted writer and speaker, and her innovative Bible study methods are used by thousands around the country. She is the author of Secrets of the Happy Soul: Experience the Deep Delight You Were Made For, seven Bible studies, and contributes regularly to online and print publications, including LifeWay Voices. Katie and her husband and their three children live near Orlando, Florida. Learn more at www.katieorr.me.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekatieorr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatieorr
Bible Study Hub Online Group: http://www.BibleStudyHub.com
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