Marketing is KEY to building ANY business, and a speaking and writing ministry is no different. S.H. Britt said, “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” Indeed, we must let others know what we have to offer. But how can we do this effectively without looking like we are “marketing ourselves?” One of the best ways to organically advertise your ministry is to establish both a speaking and writing platform. This allows your voice to be heard, your face to be recognized, your message to be magnified, and creates a “breadcrumb trail” to your door. This workshop will help you (1) Craft a strong speaking bio that will leave a lasting impression, (2) Identify the most common psychological road blocks hindering the marketing success of any minister, counselor, coach, writer, or speaker, as well as strategies for overcoming these road blocks, and (3) Explore unique marketing strategies familiar only to the most experienced professionals.

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The Essentials of Sharing the Gospel in Writing, Teaching, & Speaking

The message of the gospel is the most profound truth in human history and the central focal point of Christian communications. In this workshop, participants will learn the essential components of the gospel, how to connect the gospel to their message, and methods of sharing the gospel in their writing, teaching, and speaking. 

With over 1 Billion monthly active users, Instagram is the platform where writers should have a presence. The trick is to create content that your readers and audience will eagerly consume. 

Topics include “Content Six,” how to use hashtag “top nines” to purposefully engage, color schemes and filters, how to microblog, how to use IGTV, Stories, Highlights, and the new Reels feature, connect with influencers, and more.

Please note: This workshop will be best suited for writers who have a basic understanding of the Instagram platform. If you a) have an account, b) know how to post a picture, then great!

Readers and audience members crave a communicator who is authentic and relatable, one who makes them feel understood and at ease. Learn the art of relatability, authenticity, and how to connect with your audience. In this session, counselor and authentic communicator Brenda L. Yoder helps you connect with your audience no matter the topic or setting.

Iron sharpens iron, and one (wo)man sharpens another (Pro. 27:17). Our society is riddled with the perspective of “my way is the only way.” But like my grandma says there is more than one way to skin a cat. How do we learn those ways? Mentoring. There’s power in mentoring others. Scripture has a great deal to say about mentoring. Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” We are to help each generation prepare for life, skills, and gain knowledge in all kinds of areas. However, many of us don’t know how to mentor another person. We shy away because fear of messing up has paralyzed us. Join me as we look at scripture together and go over practical skills on how to be a mentor or what to look for in a mentor. 

Every believer has a God-given purpose, but do you know what His purpose is for you? In this workshop, we will walk through how to find your God-given purpose and develop your personal mission statement by addressing these five areas: 

1. The importance of knowing your purpose (mission)
2. The Scriptural basis for a believer’s purpose
3. What purpose (mission) is not 
4. What purpose (mission) is
5. The steps to finding your purpose

Once you know your purpose, you will know where to invest your time and energy. Participants will leave this workshop with the beginning stages of a personal mission statement and five steps to guide them in discovering God’s purpose for them.

Too often the latest books and leadership trends send the signal: “You aren’t enough. You need to work harder, be smarter… be more!” The truth is you aren’t “enough.”  But what if that isn’t what God is asking of you as a leader?  What if you get to use that gift of leadership He’s given you, working with the power He works powerfully within you to serve Him and others… and “enough” doesn’t even figure into it? Join us for an encouraging time as we let the New Testament paint its portrait of a Christian leader. We’ll come upon surprises, including what it really means to be meek and kind as a leader. Along the way, we’ll get a renewed sense of God’s liberating and empowering calling for those who lead.

If God has called you to write or speak, your call is irrevocable.  No matter what obstacles, change, or extreme circumstances you face, God still has a purpose and plan for you and may be asking you to unleash your creativity and REIMAGINE your possibilities or your perspective to be used by Him.  In this workshop, you will be encouraged to embrace who you are and explore new possibilities for your speaking or writing or perhaps see different with a new perspective.  Leave affirmed in your calling and equipped with practical ideas to take the next step. 

Have you struggled to have a consistent prayer life? Do you wind up with a guilty conscience and a burdened feeling to pray, yet unsure of how to keep your mind focused long enough to fulfill the promises? Do you have good intentions, but time and focus get in the way? Prayer Mapping will empower you to:

Prayer Mapping will empower you to:

• Enjoy prayer time
• Utilize a flexible tool to pray for 5 or more than 55 minutes
• Have a consistent prayer life
• Create a record of prayers (time frames, answers)
• Be free to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting
• Discover a creative approach to prayer that fits your lifestyle and personality

Have you started your podcast, but don’t know what’s next, or you just really want to start with the sound, look and feel of a professional, join Lee Nienhuis for the Advanced Class. Lee has been the host of three successful podcasts and helped begin podcast for ministries around the world.  In this workshop, we will discuss podcast sponsorship, planning, securing, and conducting great interviews, taming the scheduling clutter, podcast networks, and other waves of the future.

So, you have written your book – now what? Or you have an amazing testimony, 

how do you let the world know about it? 

Find out how to pitch your story to TV shows, and once they say yes, learn how to prepare yourself for that live interview, from what you say to what you wear! Maggie John has spent the last 18 years in the world of TV. She has been an Anchor; Host; Senior Executive Producer, Chase Producer; Reporter, and Documentary Producer over the years. Maggie was one a host of 100 Huntley Street- A Canadian Christian daily program—the longest-running daily show in Canada. She now anchors a multi-faith current affairs show called ‘Context Beyond the Headlines.’ Find out from her what the do’s and don’ts are in TV and how you can ensure you get your message across.

Using Facebook Lives is a great way to give your audience valuable content while building a sustainable platform for your ministry. But it can be scary to go live!

In this workshop, you’ll learn to:

• Catch and hold your viewers’ attention
• Beat the Facebook algorithm for more views. 
• Get tons of shares and replays.
• Handle Q&A’s with confidence and panache.
• Build your email list.  

Authors and speakers understand they need to build their platform as a way to connect to readers, sell books, and get more speaking invites but they do not know where to begin.

In this session, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith shares how to use the power of broadcast media opportunities (podcast, radio, TV, and guest post articles) to grow your email list and share the message God has placed on your heart with a larger audience.

You will learn:

• The best ways to pitch the media and how to easily connect with show producers
• How to use media opportunities to grow your email list and build a relationship with new readers
• Keys to getting more speaking engagements from your media appearances

There’s never been a time where it’s easier to get a message out into the world. And there’s never been a time where it’s easier to slip into the measure-up trap of comparison, as you do so. As a Christian influencer, here are five ways to guard against the measure-up fear and get-ahead pride which is sure to distract you from God’s work or lead you into bondage. 

• Be humble
• Be vulnerable
• Recognize the enemy vs. Jesus’s voice
• Know your specific, unique calling  
• Celebrate others’ unique callings

Replacing fear and embracing faith

We all struggle with doubt, especially when God calls us to do something that requires us to step outside of our comfort zones. Using the story of Moses, we will explore common mindsets that prevent people from stepping up to lead and practical ways to move past them. 

This breakout session will guide you in:

• • Identifying and examining harmful mindsets 
  • Developing strategies to overcome doubt and live courageously

• Understanding God’s plan for your life

A vivid imagination is a powerful tool when crafting stories and illustrations. However, that same imagination turned internally can become a roadblock that holds us back when we magnify our doubts and focus on what we don’t have, or don’t know. Learn effective tips for combating internal chatter enabling you to grow as a writer and speaker and increase your impact.

As we serve the Lord and others it can be a true challenge to do those very things that will enable us to take care of ourselves.  And yet, without the freedom, tools and intentionality to do so, we can hinder our stamina and wellbeing, preventing us from being as effective as we would like to be in all we are called to.  All that we are and all that we have belong to the one who created us and we have a responsibility to steward our time, talent and resources well.  

In this workshop Tanya will teach on four foundational aspects of self-care, equipping attendees to walk away with tangible tools to facilitate the strong and healthy mindset that is necessary to continue to serve Jesus and others whole-heartedly!  

• Balance 
• Boundaries
• Behaviors 
• Beliefs

You’ve worked hard to create your product.

Whether a book, planner, journal or video series, you poured your all into it. But though you built it, they haven’t come. How do you market a product like the pros when your team consists of “me, myself and I?”

In this session, you will:

• Comprehend the importance of becoming a strategic marketer for your products
• Know how to choose the best connection tools for your customers
• Understand the difference between “pushy” and “presenter”
• Learn how to write sales copy that drives sales
• Overcome the fear of sending too many emails