SAVE THE DATE!

2027 Virtual Speak Up Conference

You don’t have to travel to experience the inspiration, training, and community of the Speak Up Conference!

Join us online from anywhere in the world on July 8-10, 2027, to learn how to spread the gospel and build up the body of Christ effectively through speaking and writing.

Learn From Dynamic Keynote Speakers

Attend six powerful keynote sessions and six breakout sessions to take your ministry to the next level.

Join the live-streaming event from anywhere in the world

Virtual attendees have the flexibility to attend from the comfort of their own environment, save money on travel and housing costs, and enjoy the breakout sessions at any time!

You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from faculty from behind-the-scenes interviews with our virtual director.

As Christ’s followers, we have the opportunity of a lifetime…

We get to use our gifts to share stories and experiences that can transform the lives of others all for God’s glory. If God has called you to write, speak or lead, the SpeakUp Conference is for you!

Here’s what makes Speak Up Virtual truly unique:

Full Access, Real Connection
Interactive Workshops – Not Just Watching
Community You Can Feel
Personalized Coaching Opportunities
Everything at Your Fingertips
Replay and Reflect All Year Long

Experience all this and more…

Live-Streamed Access on YouTube – All keynotes, panels, and workshops from the main stage
Exclusive interviews with onsite faculty
6 Exclusive Virtual Faculty Zoom Workshops
Downloadable General Conference Notebook
Prayer Room
Giveaways during main sessions
Pre-Conference Zoom Workshop (Your Message Matters)

1:1 Industry Professional Virtual Appointments

If your registration level includes 1:1 appointments with virtual faculty, you’ll receive a special scheduling document prior to the conference. From there, you can review faculty availability and sign up for the time slots that work best for you.

Appointments will be available during the Speak Up Conference and also throughout the following week, giving virtual attendees plenty of flexibility to connect.

Scheduling is first come, first served, so the earlier you reserve your spot, the more options you’ll have!

Once you’ve selected your appointment time:

Simply return to the same scheduling form.
Click the Zoom link listed next to your appointment and your faculty member’s will meet with you at your scheduled time.
That’s it! There’s no need to contact your faculty member beforehand—everything you need is right on the scheduling form.

We’ll also email the full list of appointment links so you’ll have direct access from your inbox.

Each 15-minute session is your opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback, and gain insight from a faculty member who’s eager to help you take your next step with confidence.

ONLINE Experience

Get Your Virtual Ticket

Select a ticket option below to save your seat for the Virtual Speak Up Conference on July 9-11, 2026, from anywhere in the world. Use Shop Pay at checkout for no-interest monthly payments!

Basic

$99

Includes

Live-Streamed Access on YouTube – All keynotes, panels, and workshops from the main stage
Exclusive interviews with onsite faculty
6 Exclusive Virtual Faculty Zoom Workshops
Downloadable General Conference Notebook
Giveaways during main sessions
Pre-Conference Zoom Workshop with (to be announced)
Prayer Room

BEST Value

All Access

$299

Includes Speaking, Writing & Ministry Development Tracks

Pre-conference Zoom session ($100 value)
Live-Streamed Access on YouTube – All keynotes, panels, and workshops from the main stage
Exclusive interviews with onsite faculty
6 Exclusive Virtual Faculty Zoom Workshops
Downloadable General Conference Notebook
Giveaways during main sessions
Pre-Conference Zoom Workshop with Carol Kent, Debbie Alsdorf, and Carol Teltzlaff
Prayer Room
PLUS
TWO 1:1 Appointments with Industry Professional
Access to all 42 Pre-Recorded Breakout Sessions specific to the speaking or writing track selection
Zoom Small Group Coaching Session with Virtual Workshop Presenters
(Attendees can ask follow-up questions and get targeted advice in a live group setting)
Downloadable Speaker or Writer Track Notebook

Deluxe

$149

Includes Either Speaking or Writing Track

Pre-conference Zoom session ($100 value)
Live-Streamed Access on YouTube – All keynotes, panels, and workshops from the main stage
Exclusive interviews with onsite faculty
6 Exclusive Virtual Faculty Zoom Workshops
Downloadable General Conference Notebook
Giveaways during main sessions
Pre-Conference Zoom Workshop with Carol Kent, Debbie Alsdorf, and Carol Tetzlaff
Prayer Room
PLUS
One 1:1 Appointment with Publishing Professional
12 Pre-Recorded Breakout Sessions specific to the speakers or writer track selection
Zoom Small Group Coaching Session with Virtual Workshop Presenters
(Attendees can ask follow-up questions and get targeted advice in a live group setting)
Downloadable Speaker or Writer Track Notebook

From The SpeakUp Community

This conference can be life-changing, but don’t just take our word for it!

I was very blessed, prayed over, and loved on. I’m still working through the breakout sessions, so far they’re wonderful.
~ Laura B.
Excellent information for newbies and great opportunities for seasoned speakers and writers. Definitely would recommend it. Spectacular networking opportunities.
~ Rosemary S.
SpeakUp is an incredible conference for writers and speakers! I met some of the most genuine believers with some amazing God stories that have inspired me to continue to share my own stories.
~ Ree B.
I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t expect it to be so encouraging and comfortable…I felt as though everyone was there to cheer one another on.
~ Kyla C.
God used the SpeakUp Conference to complete a healing work in me that has freed me to enjoy writing, speaking, and teaching in ways I never have before.
~ Shellie A.

Virtual Workshops

Click one of the session titles to learn more about what each session will cover.

view schedule

Pre-Conference Session

Your Message Matters: A 3-Hour Hands on Workshop

virtual workshop

presented by: Bethany Jett & Chantel Mathson

We could approach it from both sides of the relationship: the writer’s perspective and the agent’s perspective. We’d talk about how to find an agent, what to look for beyond simply getting “a yes,” what makes a good agent-author relationship, and what writers should be asking and considering before signing.

But we’d also take it beyond the signing.

What does it actually look like to pitch a book together? To navigate rejection together? To work through contracts, revisions, publishing decisions, and all the things that happen after you’ve signed with an agent? And perhaps most importantly, what does it mean to build a relationship where the agent and author genuinely feel like they’re on the same team?

We could share both the practical side and the personal side of the relationship what we’ve learned, what surprised us, what we wish we had known, and encouragement for writers who are currently seeking an agent or wondering what happens once they find one.

I love the idea of doing this together because our own story actually began at Speak Up. So it feels a little like coming full circle and giving other writers a behind the scenes look at what can happen when the right author and agent find each other.

visit Bethany’s bio

visit Chantel’s Bio

Presented Live During the Conference

Create Your Dream Website

VIRTUAL WORKShop

Presented By: Katy Boykin

In this session, attendees will discover the essential steps to design a website that not only looks stunning but also functions strategically to grow their business or ministry. This session will guide participants through best practices for building user-friendly, high-converting websites, with tips on content structure, navigation, and customization. Whether you’re just starting or looking to revamp your current site, this session will provide the insights and tools you need to create a site that reflects your brand and engages your audience effectively.

Visit Katy’s Bio

The Adaptable Author: Give Your Book a Life Beyond Launch

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Presented By: Teresa Jansen

Publishing your book is only the beginning. In today’s crowded, rapidly changing media landscape, successful authors must think beyond release week and even beyond the book itself. Learn how to build long-term momentum by strategically relaunching your book, connecting it to new audiences and opportunities, and adapting its core message across video, audio, speaking, partnerships, courses, and emerging media. You’ll discover how to recognize new reasons for readers to find your work, multiply the content you have already created, and build a practical twelve-month opportunity plan. Stop treating your book as a finished product and start developing a message that can travel, adapt, and continue serving readers for years.

Visit Teresa’s Bio

Social Media Boot Camp

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Presented By: Courtney Doyle

Ready to feel confident on social media? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of creating engaging content using your smartphone. From recording Reels, Stories, and posts to lighting, camera setup, teleprompters, and on-camera confidence. We’ll also cover simple editing tips and best practices so you can create content with ease. You’ll leave with practical skills, greater confidence, and a Reel ready to publish.

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Podcasting 101: Launching Your Show with Confidence and Purpose

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Presented By: Rachael Adams

Podcasting is a powerful way to share your message—but getting started can feel overwhelming. This beginner-friendly session will walk attendees through the process of launching a podcast that aligns with their calling, from clarifying their show’s purpose to structuring episodes and choosing tools to start strong.

Visit Rachael’s Bio

From Instagram to Inbox: 7 Ways to build an email list

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Presented By: Ruthie Gray

Learn to grow your email list by leveraging your unique personality! It’s part of the secret weapon for building a powerful list of eager subscribers excited to hear from you and support your creative endeavors.

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From Performance to Presence

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Presented By: Cherri Bornman

Abiding Before Doing

Our platform was never meant to be about what we do for God, but about abiding in Him so that what we pour out comes from the overflow of His presence.

After a season when my title, platform, and familiar ways of serving were stripped away, God began breaking the cycle of striving and performing in me. In this workshop, we’ll explore what it means to lay down the pressure to produce for God and return to the invitation of John 15: abide in Me. Because our speaking, writing, and ministry were always meant to flow from being with Him.

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Recorded Breakout Sessions

Click one of the session titles to learn more about what each session will cover. Watch these sessions on your own during the conference or purchase the full access ticket to have access for one year!

TBA

Speakers

Speak Like a Pro

Speakers

Presented By: Carol Kent

The fear of public speaking is the #1 fear of people in the U.S. today. But people who learn to communicate their message have the opportunity to give hope, courage, truth, and inspiration to others.

This session will give you a start-to-finish overview of how to prepare a talk on any topic. You will learn how to analyze your audience, select a topic, write out a specific, measurable aim, and conclude with appropriate applications.

Visit Carol’s Bio

Speaker Mistakes to Avoid

Speakers

Presented By: Cindy bultema

Twenty Years of Lessons Learned the Hard Way

After more than twenty years of speaking at conferences, retreats, women’s events, and leadership gatherings, Cindy Bultema has learned a few things the hard way. Some lessons came through great successes. Others came through mistakes she’d rather not repeat.
In this honest, practical, and encouraging workshop, Cindy shares the biggest lessons she’s learned, along with common pitfalls she’s watched other speakers make. From undercharging and over-committing to neglecting follow up and comparing yourself to others, participants will discover practical ways to avoid unnecessary setbacks and build a speaking ministry marked by excellence, integrity, and longevity.
Participants will leave encouraged, equipped, and ready to move forward with greater wisdom and confidence.

Workshop Objectives
Participants will:
● Identify common mistakes that can hinder a growing speaking ministry.
● Learn practical strategies to avoid unnecessary setbacks.
● Gain confidence in making wise ministry and business decisions.
● Develop a healthier mindset for long-term faithfulness rather than short-term success.

Visit cindy’s Bio

Speaker Mistakes to Avoid

Teaching the Bible with Confidence

Speakers

Presented By: Lee Nienhuis

If ever there was a time when people needed to be taught the Word of God, it’s now. What is the difference between a Speaker and a Bible Teacher, and how can your disciplined study of Scripture ignite others to study for themselves? Join Lee as she explores the wonders and warnings God gives to those who diligently teach His word. Learn new methods, discover new tools, and take home a new vision for the Word at work in your ministry.

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Maximizing Your Platform as a Speaker

Speakers

Presented By: linda Goldfarb

In this workshop, Linda helps you identify your God-designed speaker style; she also shares audience engagement strategies to grab and hold attention, plus key elements to prepare ahead of time so you can own the platform you will speak from. Linda’s bonus L.I.S.T. outline will get you out of your notes and keep you on schedule.

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Make Bible Characters as Exciting as a Netflix Original!

Speakers

Presented By: Jennie afman dimkoff

We all have photo albums, right? What type of memorable occasions do we record in our albums?….Weddings, vacations, birthdays and more—and in almost every picture the people in the photos are smiling.

We have an extraordinary album available to us. The Bible introduces us to the lives of some amazing ancient characters—and surprisingly, not all of them are smiling. We get the good, bad and beautiful, plus the obedient, wicked, faithful and the rebellious! Many of the stories are more exciting than a movie script and the scripture tells us that they are there for “our instruction in righteousness.”

The biblical characters workshop will teach you how to research these fascinating people and show you where to get information about their culture, politics and customs. You will also hear a biblical story brought to life in a powerful and entertaining way, and learn how to make applications for your audiences.

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ARE YOU READY TO SPEAK?

Speakers

Presented By: Becky Harling

This session includes five questions you should ask yourself before you ever head to the platform. The goal is to help each person prepare more effectively so that you can let go of your notes and focus more on your audience.

*Have you spent time in prayer preparing your heart?

*Can you summarize your message in one sentence? (What is the felt need you are addressing?)

*Do you know your audience?

*What stories will you use to illustrate?

*What is the main scripture passage you will use, and do you know it?

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Your Story Matters: Sharing your Personal Testimony

Speakers

Presented By: angela Donadio

Do you ever feel unsure about how to share your testimony in a way that truly reflects God’s power in your life? In this engaging session, you’ll gain the confidence to tell your story with courage and clarity—anchored in Scripture and grounded in purpose.

Learn how to connect your personal story to the greater narrative of Scripture.

Discover what to say—and how much—when sharing your testimony.

Gain practical tools to speak with authenticity and boldness in any setting.

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From Stage to Page: Turn Your Talks into Captivating Written Words

Speakers

Presented By: Dawn Scott Damon

You already have valuable content—you simply need a strategy to convert your spoken words into a written legacy. Learn how to mine your speaking content for book ideas, identify the themes hidden within your talks, and organize your material into chapters, articles, devotionals, or an entire manuscript.

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just beginning your writing journey, you’ll discover that you don’t have to start from scratch.

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Outline with Pizzazz!

Speakers

Presented By: Bonnie Emmorey

Eeeeek! Outlining? Many people get a headache just thinking about it, but this session will make outlining FUN! Learn to put your messages together so they are creative and memorable. Learn the secrets of outlining, and take home the tools to make it happen without breaking a sweat.

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Captivate Your Audience

Speakers

Presented By: Peg Arnold

Why are props important for speakers? Jesus delivered memorable messages using visual aids, metaphors, stories, and other powerful methods. In this interactive session, learn how God formed our minds and why creative strategies matter. You’ll be equipped with a variety of teaching techniques and tools you can implement immediately to ignite your own God-given message, and you’ll leave with a toolbox of creative techniques to put to work in your very next talk.

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Speaker Mistakes to Avoid

Speakers

Presented By: Cindy bultema

Twenty Years of Lessons Learned the Hard Way

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The Next Level Illustrations

Speakers

Presented By: karen porter

“Show, don’t tell” is advice everybody has heard—but many writers and speakers still don’t know what to do. Find the story behind the story. Sometimes the real story is hidden because the tangible and meaningful essential is the decision, realization, reversal, loss, or longing. Learn the actual tools: scene construction, sensory selection, dialogue, compression, pacing, emotional restraint, narrative distance, and where telling is actually better than showing. For speakers and writer of both fiction and non-fiction.

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Writers

How to Craft a Winning Non-Fiction Book Proposal

Writers

Presented By: Cindy Lambert

A book proposal that catches the attention—positive attention—of an acquiring editor and other publishing professionals needs more than just the inclusion of the right items. It needs to be based on a unique and winning idea; it needs the right tone; it needs the right ingredients, and it needs to be the best possible example of your writing ability. Learn how to create a compelling proposal from an editor responsible for discovering and publishing some of the most admired Christian authors writing today.

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What a Literary Agent Really Does

Writers

Presented By: Debbie Alsdorf

Behind the Pitch: What a Literary Agent Really Does

What exactly does an agent do, and do you need one? Will having an agent guarantee a book deal? Does an agent help with your platform, marketing or ministry visibility? In this practical, behind-the-scenes workshop, literary agent and author Debbie Alsdorf will demystify the author-agent relationship and help writers understand what healthy representation looks like. Attendees will leave understanding the agent’s role, value, limitations and place in an author’s publishing journey. Come discover how a partnership with an agency can help to move your publishing career forward when the time is right—and how to determine if you are ready to be agented.

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Fiction Techniques to Make Your Nonfiction Sing

Writers

Presented By: Joel armstrong

Stories are sticky. We remember them better than facts, we connect emotionally with characters, and stories speak to a broad range of learning styles. In this session, explore fiction techniques such as characterization, dialogue, description, and plotting to hook your readers and help them remember your nonfiction content.

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How To Get a Publisher

Writers

Presented By: Blythe Daniel

Which publisher should I work with? There are more choices for writers, and it can feel uncertain to navigate what is best for you. Self-publishing, hybrid publishing and traditional publishing. What are the differences? What are the advantages of each? Do I need an agent? Do I approach an editor? What are the expectations of me in these scenarios? I’ll give you tips on publishing paths, where they lead, and how you can be prepared!

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The Story Steward Method™

Writers

Presented By: Athena Dean Holtz

Your 7-Step Guide to Turning Story into Message

Your story does not have to become a memoir to matter. It may become a devotional, Bible study, Christian living book, curriculum, teaching series, or narrative nonfiction project. The key is discerning not only what story God has entrusted to you, but also how that story can best serve the reader He intends to reach.
In this highly practical one-hour workshop, Athena Dean Holtz introduces:

The Story Steward Method™, a seven-step framework designed to help writers move from meaningful experiences and scattered ideas toward a clearer understanding of their message, reader, and potential book direction.
Through teaching, examples, and focused exercises, participants will learn how to identify the redemptive thread within their experiences, uncover the message beneath the story, and consider which type of book or teaching project may best communicate it.
They’ll also discover an important distinction many writers miss: your story is not always the book, it may be the doorway into the message God has given you to share.

Key Takeaways
✔ Find the thread running through your experiences and identify the transformation and truth that give your story purpose.
✔ Separate story from message so you can distinguish what happened to you from what your reader needs to receive from you.
✔ Identify your reader and the problem, question, struggle, or longing your message is intended to address.
✔ Explore the right genre direction for your material—whether memoir, devotional, Christian living, Bible study, curriculum, narrative nonfiction, or a blended approach.
✔ Recognize the role personal story should play so it strengthens your message without overpowering it.
✔ Learn what belongs—and what may not belong in the project you are developing.
✔ Leave with the beginnings of your own Story Steward Map™—including your redemptive thread, core message, intended reader, genre direction, and next step.

This workshop is ideal for writers who know they have a story or message to share but are not yet sure what kind of book it should become. Attendees will leave with a practical framework they can continue using to develop their project with greater clarity, purpose, and confidence—faithfully stewarding both the story and the message God has entrusted to them.
Map Your Story. Discover Your Message. Choose Your Direction.

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Your Memoir Can Be the Basis for Your Non-Fiction Book

Writers

Presented By: shawn kuhn

Your life story, however compelling, is limited to how well you are known. In the midst of your story there are often principles that are applicable to readers whether they have heard of you or not. Jesus spoke in story and then drew out the application. Your story can serve as the narrative for life lessons. Learn how to structure your story beyond a memoir.

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Crafting Your Book to Meet the Felt Need

Writers

Presented By: Rob & joanna teigen

You have a message inside of you that you can’t wait to share with the world. It aligns with the unique mission God has placed on your heart. Yet one of the most important steps to take before crafting your message is to not just write from your passion, but to the felt need of your audience and to the space in the marketplace that publishers are eager to fill. Rob Teigen brings 30 years of experience as both a publishing professional and bestselling author to help you create the book that readers and publishers are excited to discover.

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7 Habits of Intentionally Committed Writers

Writers

Presented By: Carol mcleod

Have you ever wondered how to establish a lifestyle or create a mindset that will enable you to become an effective writer? This workshop will present several habits that will enable you to grow into a writer of substance and significance. These habits will not only bring meaning to your craft but will also prepare you to be a writer that will certainly make a difference.

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Big Buzz, Small Budget

Writers

Presented By: maggie rowe

Successful book promotion isn’t reserved for authors with large marketing budgets. Creative thinking, strategic relationships, and a willingness to step outside traditional approaches can generate meaningful visibility for your work beyond the traditional book launch. This workshop by veteran book publicist Maggie Rowe offers practical, low-cost publicity ideas to help you connect with readers, attract media attention, and create ongoing momentum long after launch week has ended. Participants on any budget will leave with a toolbox of creative, actionable ideas they can implement immediately.

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Writing Devotions: Your Heart, Their Hope, His Glory

Writers

Presented By: sandi banks

Your stories can impact the world, one heart at a tim

Join Sandi Banks for this interactive, inspiring, informative workshop. Here you will learn key elements for effectively writing devotions, then getting them into the publishers’ hands and the readers’ hearts.

What’s so intriguing and rewarding about devotional writing? It communicates truth, heart-to-heart, and points the reader upward for encouragement and connection with God—all in a five-minute-or-less read.

Sandi defines devotional writing as a “nugget of truth, wrapped in a story, immersed in insight, served with grace.” Come discover what that means, and how God can use your gifts and experiences to honor Him and offer hope to a hurting world.

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Developing a Well-Crafted Christian Living Book

Writers

Presented By: janet mchenry

Writing a Christian living book that attracts the attention of an agent, editor, and audience requires careful planning. It requires a shift from our personal experience to an understanding of those needing help and hope. In this session Janet will teach the following:

• Understanding potential audience and felt need
• Crafting a winning title, hook, and summary
• Evaluating the potential competition
• Planning the chapter outline from a problem through a process to the promise behind the book
• Understanding how to design chapter material through a hands-on practicum
• Preparing correct citations
• Storyboarding an entire book through a dynamic group exercise

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Write From Your Scars, Not Your Wounds

Writers

Presented By: nicole langman

Every writer has a story, but not every story is ready to be published. Our stories have the power to inspire, encourage, and point people to Jesus, but only if they’re shared from a place of healing and not from open wounds.
Drawing from over twenty-five years as a therapist, personal experience, and the story of the woman Jesus straightened in Luke 13, this breakout explores the intersection of theology, emotional health and storytelling.
Participants will learn to distinguish writing from a wound vs writing from a scar, set healthy boundaries, and steward their stories to offer hope, point people to Jesus and invite deeper connection with their audiences.
This breakout invites participants to a deeper exploration of their own story. It will integrate quiet times of reflection, writing, and assessment.

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Ministry Development

Podcasting 101

Ministry Development

Presented By: linda goldfarb

Benefits of Podcasting

Podcast Hosting Basics

The Best Time to Begin Podcasting

Linda is a 10-year talk-radio veteran and current host of the two-time award-winning podcast Your Best Writing Life on iTunes and numerous podcasting platforms. Before you step behind the mic, gain an insider’s insight into the world of podcasting—shorten your learning curve before investing your finances.

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Listen to Connect More Deeply with Your Audience

Ministry Development

Presented By: Becky & Steve Harling

Everyone communicates, but not all connect effectively. Yet, to speak and write, you must master connecting with your audience and other influencers. Learning to listen is the first step in building trust. Steve and I, together, will teach the ten commandments for listening well so that whether you are preparing for an event, networking, pitching your next project, or speaking from the platform, you are communicating effectively. As a result, your leadership and speaking ministry will thrive.

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Humor as Healing in Difficult Stories

Ministry Development

Presented By: Cherie Nettles

Humor is a powerful tool in storytelling and message delivery. When used with respect and intention, it can make the unbearable feel bearable, deepen the emotional impact of a hard story, and create a meaningful connection with the audience. A well-placed moment of laughter or joy gives listeners space to process difficult subject matter without becoming overwhelmed. It can also open the door to healing—and for those who are hurting, it can offer gentle permission to begin healing.
Session Focus:
1- Making the unbearable bearable – Comedy can act as a “life raft” within a difficult story, allowing the audience to connect with the speaker rather than simply feel pity. Moments of humor or joy give the audience time to process the message, breathe, and find relief along the way.
2- Humor is a universal language – It connects people by revealing the speaker’s humanity. Whether through a thoughtfully presented joke, a gesture, or a well-timed pause, humor allows the audience to meet the speaker in a fresh and engaging way.
3- Releasing tension – Humor gives the audience a needed release valve. It creates moments of lightness that make difficult material easier to receive without minimizing the seriousness of the story.
4- Teaching reliance – This is the key point in the teaching because it reflects the truth of Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Humor can become evidence of a deeper reliance on God’s joy, especially when life is hard.

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Reach New Readers through Podcast Interviews

Ministry development

Presented By: Janet MChenry

Would you like to extend your audience reach by interviewing on podcasts? Janet interviewed on 100 podcast, radio, and TV programs to promote her last two books, and she will teach you how to gather podcasters’ information, make an appealing query, prepare for the interview, and execute it well.

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Using AI to Manage and Grow Your Social Media Platform

Ministry Development

Presented By: susan call

This workshop teaches writers and speakers a practical system for using AI to manage social media more efficiently. Learn how to build reusable content templates, plan a week of posts quickly, and use AI to review your analytics and identify what’s actually driving reach and engagement. This session gives you a repeatable process for growing your platform with less time and more clarity.

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10 Revenue Streams for Christian Communicators

Ministry Development

Presented By: Katie Reid

Discover ten different ways to generate income with your writing and speaking so you can financially sustain your ministry or business without tapping into your personal finances. This interactive session with seasoned author, speaker, and creative coach Katie M. Reid, will help you move forward with courage, clarity, and confidence so you can continue to minister without breaking the bank.

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How to Become an Irresistible Podcast Host

Ministry Development

Presented By: dawn scott damon

Learn the Art of Listening, Responding, and Asking Powerful Questions to create a deeply insightful and captivating show. Questions unlock the deep thing of the heart and soul. Don’t just stay on the surface, become a host who creates transformational episodes.

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Making Courageous Decisions – Meet at the back door

Ministry Development

Presented By: jeri howe

Sometimes we avoid making decisions because the issue seems too difficult – or too important — and we get stuck. Come to this relaxing session in the beauty of a natural setting in the trails behind the Prince Center to take a break from screens and media to quiet yourself as you consider the decision before you. Jeri will lead you through a discernment process based on time-tested principles used by spiritual directors. We will go beyond listing pros and cons to checking in with our hearts, considering the effect the decision will have on others all as we quiet ourselves to listen to the Lord’s guidance. Come with a decision you need to make and leave with some insight–even if that insight is that you need more time to discern God’s will in the matter.

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Invited to the Table

Ministry Development

Presented By: Jenn Hand

Remember the eighth-grade cafeteria? Walking in with your lunch tray, wondering where you belonged, hoping someone would save you a seat? Most of us thought we left those insecurities behind in middle school, but the truth is many speakers and writers still wrestle with the same question: Do I really belong at this table?

In this encouraging and practical workshop, Jenn Hand helps participants identify the lies of comparison, imposter syndrome, and rejection that keep them from confidently embracing their calling. Through biblical truth, personal stories, and practical strategies, attendees will learn how to silence the voice that says they don’t belong, confidently take their seat at the table God has prepared for them, and, when necessary, create a new table where others are welcomed, encouraged, and given a place to belong. Participants will leave equipped to communicate with greater confidence, lead with generosity instead of competition, and build a ministry that makes room for others.

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Being Your Best You

Ministry Development

Presented By: jennifer jackson

Being Your Best YOU, Broadcasting Professionalism

Practical help for TV, radio & podcasting.

• Have you ever wanted to highlight your ministry, book or message on television or radio? Perhaps you would even like to host your own. Join Jennifer as she walks you through how to find the perfect opportunity for you. You will learn material preparation techniques, follow up plans, growing professional relationships and how to maximize your on airtime. She will boost your confidence as we talk about on-screen makeup, green room and wardrobe tricks. present and prepare yourself for radio and television openings. She will also walk you through being fully prepared with the necessary items in your portfolio and numerous practical tips when an opportunity for television or radio arises. Some of the areas she will cover are:

how to scale to the next level & writing daily relevant content

finding opportunities, tweaking your resume, tools for memorization, tips on appearance, public relations, follow-up and so much more

preparing to be a guest, being a host, getting interviews to be booked or how to interview guests, Professionalism with bosses, co-hosts, anchors and guests

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Finding & Organizing Your Own Unique Content

Ministry Development

Presented By: Karen Ehman

As a communicator, you have a continual need to create new content. Don’t let this reality unnerve you or – worse yet – tempt you to merely compile and tweak material you find in books or online or employ AI to ghost write for you. This workshop will empower attendees to unearth relevant material in their own daily lives that will not only make it unique but will punctuate their messages in a memorable way. Key topics covered in this workshop are:

• How to live life as a “noticer”, looking for impactful lessons in your ordinary life
• Ways to revisit the past via a simple timeline exercise that will help them identify lessons that they have already learned in life but may have forgotten about.
• Daily questions to ask themselves that will help to keep the content flowing in a natural manner
• How to categorize and organize different writing ideas, as well as identify where they could best be used whether it be in a book, social media, in a spoken message or for a piece of bonus content they might offer to their readers
• Ways to maximize content, using it in several areas to various degrees, and how to keep track of what you have used and where it was presented.
• The importance of not going to Scripture just to find material to speak or write about, but going to scripture to deepen your walk with Christ, and then let the lessons naturally flow later, when God gives you permission to take them from private to public

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Brave Boundaries

Ministry Development

Presented By: lisa saruga

This session will focus on the importance of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in ministry. Some fear that setting boundaries will limit ministry opportunity, but healthy limits create space for your most effective, impactful work. Yes, this takes courage, but simple tools will help to remove the fear of setting limits.

If we find ourselves thinking these thoughts, we may not be setting healthy boundaries:
“I can’t disappoint them.”
“No one else will do it.”
“If I say no, they’ll stop inviting me.”
“Good Christians always serve.”
“My ministry will disappear if I slow down.”

Jesus Himself set healthy boundaries in His ministry. He withdrew to pray, didn’t heal everyone, didn’t explain Himself to everyone, entrusted ministry to others, and even slept through a storm or two. No one has lived out a more perfect ministry than Jesus.

Attendees will learn how to view boundaries as property lines in order to determine what is ours to address, and what is not on our property. This technique is highly effective in teaching us to identify appropriate and helpful limits in guarding our time and energy. By the end of this session, attendees will identify a few areas where they can, and should, firm up boundaries, as well as techniques on how to set these boundaries in a loving, respectful tone. They will also have tools to determine which boundaries are not theirs to set. Because, let’s face it, sometimes the boundaries we set are to keep us on our own property.

Boundaries are necessary for us in our personal lives, and within our ministries. We can lighten the load and increase effectiveness with the basic tools taught in this session.

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How to Become a High-Value Podcast Guest

Ministry Development

Presented By: Angela Mackey

Every podcast interview is a ministry opportunity — but most guests show up unprepared to maximize it. In this practical, encouraging breakout, Angela Mackey walks Christian communicators through three essentials: serving the host, loving the audience, and stewarding every interview as a Kingdom partnership. Grounded in Scripture and drawn from real experience on both sides of the microphone, this session gives attendees a clear, actionable framework for showing up as a guest who is remembered, re-invited, and genuinely useful to the people listening.

AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS
– How to bring something of lasting value to the host’s listeners
– How to honor and serve the host before, during, and after the interview
– How to prepare content that serves the audience rather than just promotes yourself
– How to treat every podcast opportunity as a shared ministry partnership

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Ministry & Mental Health

Ministry Development

Presented By: Brenda Yoder

How do you manage your mental health when deadlines, audiences, and organizations depend on you for inspiration and stress-driven deliverables? In this workshop, licensed mental health counselor, speaker, and author Brenda L. Yoder speaks honestly about ministry and mental health, offering attendees space for authentic questions and conversation. Attendees will leave with strategies to protect, nurture, and care for their mental health, along with guidance on ministering to others while caring for oneself.

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The Network We Need to Succeed

Ministry Development

Presented By: kathe wunnenberg

What are the obstacles or opportunities you are facing now?
In what area of your life or ministry do you need practical help, hope, expertise, prayer or provision?
In our journeys as speakers, writers and leaders, we need a network of people to support us as we step forward.

Come learn from biblical role models like Moses, the priests at the Jordan River, and the paralytic with four friends and also be inspired by stories of real time people.

In this interactive workshop you will learn encouraged to:
• Recognize your unique role and your needs for a reason or season
• Strategize your plan of support & who can help
• Mobilize a prayer team or a prayer director to cover you, your project or event

Come ready to share your greatest need and leave energized with prayer, practical hope, and a next step for people to support you.

Leave armed with your next step to cover yourself and your ministry to make a difference for God’s Kingdom.

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Turn One Podcast Conversation into a Content Ecosystem

Ministry Development

Presented By: Dawn Mann Sanders

This session helps podcasters turn one conversation into strategic emails, articles, social posts, short-form videos, and listener resources, without having to build every asset from scratch or repeat the same thing five times in five places. Participants learn to identify the strongest threads in an episode, choose the right format for each, connect every piece to a clear next step for the listener, and build a workflow they can actually repeat without burning out.

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Don’t Rent Your Audience: Build an Email List You Own

Ministry Development

Presented By: Rachel Wojo

Did you know your social media followers aren’t actually yours? The platform owns them, the algorithm decides who sees you, and one change to the rules can erase your reach overnight. There’s only one audience you truly own: the people on your email list.

Author and Podcaster Rachel Wojo explains the single most valuable asset you can build. The good news is you can start today, wherever your platform stands.
You’ll learn:

What and how often to send so subscribers stay, open, and trust you
You don’t need a huge following to build a faithful one.
Why your email list out performs every social platform for real book sales, event registrations, and lasting connection
Simple, sustainable ways to grow your list that don’t depend on going viral or gimmicks

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God is Our Partner

Ministry Development

Presented By: Darlene Larson

Do you long for a partner in ministry? Do you fear doing it on your own?

Whether we are widowed, single, divorced, or married—yet on our own. It is doable for each one of us.

The Lord is waiting and willing to be our companion. Allow Him to partner with you.

Step into this Breakout to Discover Seven Ways to partner with God in ministry!.

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Our Virtual Team

The virtual conference would not be possible without our incredible virtual & tech team!

Carol Tetzlaff

Virtual Producer

Carol is co-owner and associate publisher at Redemption Press. She partners with authors to publish and market their books with excellence. Her passion is to bring their message to print for God’s glory as we build the kingdom together.

Heather & Scott Rider

Virtual DIRECTORS

Scott and Heather have been married for 28 years and love serving together as worship leaders. With a shared desire to draw people closer to Jesus through music, they have led worship at retreats and conferences, while continuing to cherish the opportunity to lead weekly in their local church.

Bethany Jett

Marketing Workshop, agent

Bethany Jett is a multi-published nonfiction author, associate literary agent with C.Y.L.E Agency, and a seasoned marketing strategist (MFA in Communications). She launched her career with a Writer of the Year award and a book contract, and now helps writers pitch, build platform, and reach publishing success. Known for guiding clients from ideas to published books, she’s passionate about marketing copy and proposals

Ruthie Gray

Workshop

Ruthie Gray is a former marketing coach turned Sandwich Season guide and knows what it’s like to have a plan and watch life reroute it. She hosts the Sandwich Season
Sanity Podcast and is the author of Empty Nest Awakening and a forthcoming Revell Books release in 2027. Ruthie and her husband Jim have four adult kids, five
grandchildren, and split their time between Florida and WV. Find her at RuthieGray.com.

Courtney Doyle

Social Media Workshop

Courtney Doyle is a dynamic speaker, podcast host, coach, and published author passionate about equipping women, especially moms, to embrace their God-given identity. She is the founder of Courtney Doyle Ministries and host of The Mom Show podcast, where she has created a trusted space for authentic, faith-filled conversations about motherhood and life’s hardest seasons.

Teresa Janzen

Author Hacks

Teresa Janzen is founder and editor-in-chief at Abundance Books. An award-winning author, speaker, and writing and speaking coach, she equips writers and creatives to develop compelling messages, strengthen their craft, and navigate publishing with clarity and purpose. With more than twenty-five years of leadership experience, Teresa teaches at conferences, workshops, courses, and mastermind groups. She is completing a Doctor of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary, focusing on adaptive leadership.

Katy Boykin

website workshop

Katy is the founder of DIY Dream Site, a boutique website design agency that helps creators, ministries, and small businesses build thriving businesses online through beautiful, strategy-driven websites. She’s passionate about making the DIY website process less overwhelming and more empowering so that every business owner can show up with clarity and confidence.

Rachael Adams

podcasting workshop

Author of A Little Goes a Long Way and Everyday Prayers for Love, Rachael Adams, hopes to help women realize God’s love and purpose for their lives. She and her husband, Bryan, live in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, Today Parenting, and YouVersion. Connect with her by visiting rachaelkadams.com.

Cherri Bornman

Ministry Prep

Cherri Bornman is a worship leader and teacher, speaker, and author whose heartbeat is simple: Know Him. Be Known. Make Him Known. With 18 years of faithful service as a worship pastor at one church and 16 years leading worship at Grace Adventures women’s retreats, she brings experience rooted in everyday faith.

Joy Wendling

Online Hostess

Becky Antkowiak

online hostess

Wendy Tacey

online Hostess

Janelle Neuman

online hostess

Shelley Picard

prayer team

Sarah Griffiths Hu

prayer team

Holli Aparicio

Prayer team

Anastasia Corbin
ONLINE TEAM

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions that have not been answered, please get in touch with us.

The virtual conference follows the same schedule as the in-person event. During workshop sessions, the virtual audience will have access to live Zoom workshops happening at the same time.

All live session links will be emailed to you and shared in the official Facebook group. You’ll also receive a PDF schedule with clickable links to every session.

Breakout sessions are pre-recorded by the faculty. You’ll receive access links before the conference, and you can watch them anytime from the moment they are released up to one year after the event.

Speak Up Virtual is fully interactive—not just a livestream you watch from your living room. You’ll participate in live workshops, join one-on-one coaching sessions, and engage directly with faculty and other attendees. Before each main session, you’ll enjoy exclusive interviews with in-person faculty, giving you a front-row seat to their insights and encouragement. With opportunities for prayer, coaching, and connection, Speak Up Virtual makes you part of the conference, not just an observer.

All main sessions and main-room workshops are streamed live on YouTube, where you can interact through the chat with our virtual hosts. Workshops with our virtual faculty, one-on-one appointments, coffee chats, prayer sessions, and coaching sessions all take place on Zoom.

Our virtual faculty host live workshops on Zoom during the same time that in-person attendees are in their workshop classes. You’ll be able to choose which session you’d like to attend.

The Coaching Zoom brings all our virtual faculty together in one space! You can move between breakout rooms to ask questions, get feedback, and connect directly with faculty mentors.

We have a very generous cancellation policy. If you cannot come this year, you can transfer your registration to next year without penalty or problem if there is a price increase or change.

If you would rather just cancel, all your money is returned, except for a non-refundable $25 charge from Shopify.

No refunds after June 1. You can still transfer to next year or gift your registration fee to another person or to our scholarship fund blessing someone who would not be able to attend without assistance.

Yes! You can upgrade at any time by paying the difference between your current package and the All Access price.

Pre-conference sessions are pre-recorded and will be sent out a few weeks before the event. You can watch them anytime before Speak Up begins.

The Coffee Chat is a special time hosted on Zoom by our virtual team. It’s designed to help attendees connect, share, and build relationships through both large-group and small-group conversations.

The Facebook group is the central hub for the virtual conference experience! Every session link will be posted 15 minutes before it goes live, so everything you need is easy to find and access. You’ll also find all downloadable materials there—plus opportunities for interaction, updates from the in-person conference, and connection with other virtual attendees. It’s the best way to stay informed, engaged, and part of the full Speak Up community.

Yes! On Wednesday, there will be a special Pre-Conference Session just for virtual attendees. During this session, you’ll meet the virtual faculty, learn how to connect with all the virtual activities, workshops, and main sessions, and get your questions answered. Afterward, join the Virtual Meet & Greet on Zoom with our hosts and fellow attendees—it’s a fun way to connect and get to know each other before the main event begins!

Prayer Sessions are small-group or one-on-one Zoom gatherings led by Speak Up faculty members. It’s a meaningful time to pray together about your calling, your needs, and how God is working in your life.

You’ll receive a link to a scheduling spreadsheet with available times for each faculty member. Simply add your name in the slot that fits your schedule. This will be sent out 2 weeks before the conference.

Each faculty member’s time slot on the spreadsheet includes their Zoom link. When it’s time for your meeting, click the link to join. One-on-one appointments are available during the conference and throughout the following week to accommodate our virtual audience.