re:garding Him Speaker Spotlights

The re:garding HIM Women’s Conference is just 2 weeks + 1 day away!
We hope you have enjoyed meeting the women who will be speaking at the event. Today we introduce you to two more dynamo ladies who love the Lord and the people in their lives well.

Julie Van Wormer will be giving a talk on loving your husband in good times and bad. Having heard her speak before, Julie is sure to have many practical encouragements and challenges for married women! And Melissa Franklin will be one of our main event speakers that day. There will no doubt be much Melissa draws out from scripture that you can sink your teeth into. Her talk is called Insecurity Banished.

You might be wondering, why all the excitement? Why go to a conference like this? I can’t give up a Saturday! Let me assure you, it will be time well invested!

This conference is designed to strengthen Christian women in their faith and to share Christ with others. On October 3, you can expect to receive teaching founded on the Bible, and then practical, hands-on ways to take it home and apply it to your daily life. Besides that, there will be food, fellowship, worship, and fun!

Please join us and sign up today!

The Dame: Loving your Knight
Whether his armor is shining or tarnished, wives must love their husbands. Scriptural truths encourage us and offer real-life direction in our marriages.

with Julie Van Wormer

Describe your topic in 10 words or less?
[JVW] This is a “how to” talk on loving your husband no matter whether he is easy to love or not.

What have you found challenging about preparing for this talk?

[JVW] I think the most challenging thing has been to live out what I am telling women to do.

What is a scripture or quote that has helped your preparation?

[JVW] Many to choose from, but I was encouraged by 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14. It is not directly a verse for marriage, but it is a good reminder to encourage those who labor among you. How I can either encourage my husband or discourage him in a few short words!

What is a book you’ve recently read that you would recommend to others?

[JVW] I stumbled upon Dorie, The Girl Nobody Loved which was a bio of a woman who was placed in the foster care system by her own mother, bumped around from home to home and was abused who found Christ through some college students who came to share the Gospel message. Her life was forever changed and she went onto marry, have children, become a missionary and live to old age.

Favorite Hymn? Or worship song?

[JVW] Probably my fav is Be Thou My Vision. It is loaded with strong true lyrics that bless my heart to sing.

Introvert of extrovert? How do you know?

[JVW]I am often recharged by being with people so I guess an extrovert. I love to laugh and have fun, but I love to be alone with my family too. I need this down time just as much.

Finish this sentence, “If I had two hours of free time I would…”
[JVW] Oh, my! I have no idea! Part of me thinks I should sit down and rest or read a good book, but I think I would probably work on something on my never ending to-do list. It feels sooooo good to cross items off. Honestly, sometimes I write down something that I have already done just so I can cross it off.

Favorite smell? Worst smell?

[JVW] Best smell is Captain Black tobacco. I know, I know, I do not smoke a pipe, but my father did for years. When I smell this, I am transported back in time to when I was a little girl holding his hand. Worst smell is – oh there are soooo many! Probably, anything having to do with a dead animal. Yucky!

What woman do you most admire in scripture and why?

[JVW] Esther! She did the right, hard job for her people even thought it might mean her death. God protected her!

What was your most memorable birthday?

[JVW]I have had many. . . but I do remember the year, my cake read 10 but I was only 9. My dad was the one who figured it out.:) I guess I have never been good at math.

What would you say is one of your weaknesses and two of your strengths?

[JVW] I often over load my schedule with too much. But I am organized and faithful to which I commit.

Insecurity Banished
God is a good and tender Father. His daughters have been adopted into His royal family. Our security as women must come from a right relationship with our Heavenly Father.

with Melissa Franklin

Describe your topic in 10 words or less?
[MF] Know the King. Then live as His daughters.

What have you found challenging about preparing for this talk?
[MF] My greatest challenge was seeing past my own weaknesses. When my eyes finally focused on God and His goodness and power, it became clear what I needed to share.

What is a scripture or quote that has helped your preparation?
[MF] “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”
J. I. Packer, Knowing God

What is a book you’ve recently read that you would recommend to others?
[MF] The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief by Larry Taunton

Favorite Hymn? Or worship song?
[MF] It is too hard to choose just one favorite! One hymn that has been speaking to my heart recently is “Arise, My Soul, Arise” by Charles Wesley, and more recently arranged by Indelible Grace.

Introvert of extrovert? How do you know?
[MF] Introvert. I love being with people, but I need alone time to recharge.

Finish this sentence, “If I had two hours of free time I would…”
[MF] I would take a walk through a metropark or peruse a used book store.

Favorite smell? Worst smell?
[MF] Favorite smell – “Hot Now” off-the-line Krispy Kreme donuts or wisteria in bloom
Worst smell – our garbage cans in the summer

What woman do you most admire in scripture and why?
[MF] It is hard to choose one. I do admire the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. She met Jesus. He told her about her sin. Agreeing with Him about her sin, she goes and tells everyone she knows about Him. John 4:39 says, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’”

What was your most memorable birthday?
[MF] One year, maybe when I was turning 10 or 11, we got a couple of inches of snow on the day of my birthday slumber party. We thought no one would be able to come to the party. No one in Alabama drives in snow, and we lived at the bottom of a big hill. But my friends’ parents dropped off each girl with her sleeping bag at the top of the hill, and we sled down to my home. We played in the snow and had hot chocolate. It snowed on the day I was born in Alabama, too! Maybe I was being prepared for my future snowy birthdays in Ohio.

What would you say is one of your weaknesses and two of your strengths?
[MF] Weakness – I can sometimes sacrifice the good in search for perfection.
Strengths – I’m punctual — I really can’t stand being late for something; and I can usually find a silver lining in less-desirable situations.