Do you have a story to tell that’s begging to find a place to land? Does the publishing industry seem like one giant mystery? If you are a writer or speaker or have a burning inside to head in that direction, the Speak Up Global Missions Military Scholarship may be the nudge you’ve been waiting for to take you to the next level.
The Speak Up Conference, a Carol Kent Ministry, exists to equip, educate and empower Christian communicators. Next year’s conference will be held July 9-11th, 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With writing and speaking tracks available, this conference is committed to helping Christian communicators hone their craft and further their reach.
Besides spirit-filled worship and dynamic keynote speakers, Speak Up offers breakout sessions led by professional faculty members. Taking the mystique out of publishing, the faculty breaks down everything from book proposals, platform-building and how to tell your story for the benefit of others.
For aspiring authors, 15-minute appointments are available with publishing industry experts such as acquisition editors, literary agents and mentors. Pitch your book or idea for immediate feedback during valuable face-to-face conversations.
Carol Kent, bestselling author, international speaker and Speak Up Conference founder understands the unique position of military-affiliated speakers and writers to further the gospel. Because of a generous donation, nearly 20 military spouses attended the Speak Up Conference in July 2019.
Air Force spouse Kennita Williams was one of these attendees, having found out about the conference the day before she flew into Grand Rapids from Alaska. “We have a story! We have a unique life and voice that needs to be heard. The Speak Up Conference 2019 made this possible for me! This conference has changed my life and has allowed me to use my gifts and talents to change others’ lives. It’s a must for all of you who want to walk in purpose and spread the good news!”
Ashley Gammon, Army spouse and public relations executive USA at MUTU System, also attended Speak Up for the first time in 2019. “As military spouses, we are used to community-building, but Speak Up was next-level empowerment. You didn’t see cliques; instead, everyone was there to encourage and support each other.”
The Speak Up Conference fosters relationships between faculty members and attendees through dedicated networking time as well as informal opportunities during meals, between sessions and in the hallways.
Three-time Speak Up Conference attendee, Lita Norsworthy, sees incredible value in the “gather and scatter” nature of this event. As a former military spouse herself and Director of Women’s Ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Bishop, California, she believes wholeheartedly in the scholarship’s mission.
“Military spouses serve in a unique ministry. As milspouses, they can minister to each other and to the military community at large. The Speak Up Conference is designed to train, assist and encourage believers in verbal and written communication. The Conference also provides for many additional networking opportunities where believers can come along side each other for support, listening hearts and relationship building. Recognizing the value of all this, special scholarship funds have been made available to those milspouses who wish to attend the conference. Our challenge is to get the word out and encourage as many as possible to take advantage of this opportunity.”
What are you doing next July?
Apply now for the Speak Up Global Missions Military Scholarship, which reduces conference registration fee from $550 to $100. Applications will be accepted from September 15, 2019 to November 15, 2019. Scholarship recipients will be notified on January 6th, 2020.
