One of my favorite speaking gigs last year was at a conference called The Well, right here in my very own city. The crowd was young and vibrant and fiercely in love with Jesus. It was exhilarating! This conference combines an awesome worship experience with transformative teaching and specialized clinics. Last year, it was primarily for worship leaders; this year it’s for all leaders.
I’m so excited to be speaking a main stage session for The Well again this year (along with Andrew Palau, Phil Wickham and my favorite band, Elliot), but here’s my favorite thing ever: I’ll also be leading a ministry track on Friday called Preach Like a Girl. This 2-session clinic is for every woman, young or old, paid pastor or support staff, overworked or underutilized, who feels the Word of God burning like a fire in her bones. These sessions will cover topics like:
- Respect: why giving it always precedes receiving it.
- Opportunity: find out why so many women feel called while it seems that so few are chosen.
- Essentials: mastering the dance of leading while submitting.
- Resources: learn the most effective communication strategies and study tools for preaching, teaching & writing.
- Skills: craft a good message without losing your mind.
- Pitfalls: discover the things men can get away with from the platform that women cannot.
- Turn Friction into Traction: stop fighting for your right to be heard and start using your voice to change the world.
- Don’t do this: enjoy hearing the stories of Bo’s top 15 ministry mistakes.
Teaching on this topic has long been a dream of mine and so I hope that…someone shows up. I know this isn’t something usually included in conference teaching, but I think it’s really important so we’re rolling the dice, believing that there really are women out there with these questions brewing.
I love the vision behind The Well and I love that it’s the most affordable conference of ANY kind I’ve ever seen ANYWHERE. Just $35 to attend the whole shootin’ match! Are you kidding me, Bo? No, I’m totally serious! Three general sessions, three incredible worship experiences and the leadership track of your choice for three Hamiltons and one Lincoln. Brilliant.
The dates are May 2 & 3 (yes, it’s a Thursday & Friday), and online registration is open now!
I want to give away one conference ticket today. If you’d like to win a ticket to The Well (even if you don’t want to attend the Preach Like a Girl track – there are six other fantastic tracks to choose from), just leave a comment here with an answer to the question: what is the best conference you’ve ever been to?
Can’t wait,
Bo
The best conference I have ever been to was In September. I had the opportunity to go to an autism conference where Temple Grandin was speaking! So insightful, so amazing, so incredible to see where an autism person is labeled as being a burden on society and where she now is today because her mother pushed her!
To see an autistic person who is labeled as being a burden* that what I meant to say
It was a conference/retreat at Holden Village, July 2009. I’ll be honest I think the greatness of the conference had less to do with the conference and most all to do with my circumstances and Gods greatness for that moment in time. It was a time that led my mind to clarity and made my heart right and brought peace to my life. God spoke directly to my innermost parts and I’m sure that no one else left that conference with the same message God gave me.
Long story short, in my opinion, conferences are only as good as God ordains them to be and those will be completely pertinent to your life, no matter the topic, if you choose to open yourself up to hearing God speak into the specific details of who he is creating you to be!
Tracy – I totally agree! I am amazed every time I hear the stories from ladies at the end of a conference. I expect to hear how the word shared or the worship was just what they needed, but it’s usually something that God said to them in exactly their language through non-human sources (like the scenery surrounding them or the presence of their favorite tea at the breakfast table.) I’ve come to the conclusion that God rewards our commitment to set aside the spinning plates of our life in order to see and hear Him and He blesses it with His own special brand of favor.
Is there any chance that these sessions will be recorded?
Miss you Bo!
Keri – yes! There is every chance they will be recorded!
The best conference I have been to was a youth conference with my daughter. There is nothing like seeing your teen excited about the Lord. I am actually hoping to take my daughter to hear the Preach Like A Girl track. She has a call to ministry but was shot down and told by someone she respected, that “girls don’t preach” Hannah has a passion for the Lord and I am excited to see how He uses her.
Yes, Amy, I have heard that one myself a few times.
I would love to meet your Hannah!
(Best conference: Love Is A Decision, Gary Smalley, October 1989). Was asked out on a first date with my now husband, Dirk, but told him I was going to this conference. Told him if he wanted to go out with me that night, the date would have to be this conference with me. Dirk said, “I wil”, The rest is history!
Haha – oh, Joanie, I love this story!
Living the distance I do, from your minstry Bo, this conference would be a bit of a stretch for me to attend. However… I WOULD come, if I received a ticket because I would know that God is calling me to this. I give my trust and life to Him. I will hold His hand and follow Him.
Bo,
One of my favorite conferences would have to be a ‘Ladies’ Retreat” where I helped lead worship with your dear Mother-in-Law. I remember being so young and inexperienced and in awe of Eleanor. I can’t tell you who the speaker was, but I grew in God that weekend because a heroine in the faith took me under her wing!
It is so hard to pick “the best” because different conferences at different seasons are “the best”, HOWEVER, right now I would pick the Open Heavens Conf at Bethel in Redding. The Holy Spirit shows up in such power and might in that place and you can’t help but finish it out being refreshed, renewed and on fire. win this ticket or not to The Well, I will be going! Last year’s was super.
Sure would love to hear this Lord. Just saying. You hear my pray and provide a way. Words for all hearts to hear.
Well I have to say I been to a few amazing conferences but one of my favorites was back in Oct, 2010. It was our women’s conference (Canby Foursquare). We were introduced to YOU, Bo!
And boy am I so thankful for that. Your life and story is a gift and brings glory to Jesus. And I thank you for sharing it will us all.
Bo,
I am SO SAD to see that this conference is on May 3rd because it conflicts with my daughter’s 10th birthday…especially since I am so nearby in Albany, OR! I would LOVE to hear your ministry track, Preach it Like a Girl. Will it be available online to be listened to after the conference?
This is thrilling and will be right before I leave to see new grand baby on the 7th.
My favorite conference was a Beth Moore conference in Portland several years ago. Actually, it’s the only one I have ever been to and it was inspiring
My favourite conference was a leadership conference given by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. This energetic speaker has given me more than I could have ever imagined in the world of leadership. Little gems such as “You can’t lead others until you can lead yourself” and “sometimes the best leaders go unrecognized.” He also tells you to sit by someone you don’t know in the conference and that in itself is truly exhilarating. It puts you out of your comfort zone and really gets you to focus on other things. I’ve been to this conference three times and every time I get something new out of it.
It’s hard to pick a favorite but one I will never forget was over 15 yrs ago with Mountain Park women’s group. The speaker was Stephanie Fast, a Korean born woman who lived on the streets as a child and was miraculously adopted by an amazing American couple, and the rest is history. I dig out the tapes whenever I need to be inspired by God’s goodness!
Hi Bo!
The best conference I’ve ever been to was The World Mission Summit in Dallas, Texas. It was a conference that included 5,000 college students, interns and pastors, all of whom had a passion for the Lord and chose to spend a weekend learning about things that are happening all over the world. It was a time of knowledge-seeking, encouragement and awakening. We were challenged to look not just to our own corner of the globe, but to other corners, too, and everywhere in between. I think it was so impacting because 1. God was there, working the way only He can and, 2. because my generation is longing (begging, even) to be challenged to move outside of themselves to further the Kingdom. Blessings and blessings to you, Bo.
P.S. SO excited to learn how to Preach Like A Girl.
The Selah conference at George Fox was awesome!
So it’s going to be recorded?! I would LOVE to hear your Preach Like a Girl! Everything you listed – it was like you peeked into my heart and around the love for sweet potato fries and saw those questions and insecurities lurking there. I will make a note on my calendar to check The Well in May!
I have not attended the conference yet but my anticipation is getting the better of me and I want to answer the question today with a resounding “Weekend to Remember” marriage conference this coming weekend in Sunriver.
So while I haven’t attended the conference I hope the anticipation for attending the conference will qualify. (ha ha)
My husband and I have had an incredible 13 months and this marriage seminar is God’s timing for 100% absolute sure. NO question. To have a 13 month separation after 23 years of marriage in a sizable interruption in our lives. However, God is so good and He heals and binds things that we as humans in our humaness (not really a word, huh?) can never imagine. We recently started “dating” again and have been praying fervently that this conference speaks volumes to our hearts. Let the healing continue.
So looking forward to the The Well conference as well.
The best conference I’ve been to has been Generation Unleashed in Portland when I was in college. It was completely moving and encouraged me on as I prepared to go to my amazing year at Bible college. I can’t wait to hear this “preach like a girl” class as this totally describes where God has been leading me. So excited!
I loved The Well. The only other real conferences I have been to were related to my work – Psychology.
Global Strategy Conference in Seattle, WA at The City Church, 2006.
Probably around 1990 Camp Tadmore near Sweet Home. Gary Smalley was the guest speaker for the weekend. He was great. On the final night there were approximately 1000 in attendance anxiously waiting to hear Gary’s final message. The MC just before introducing Gary asked if anyone would like to share what the Lord had spoke to them that weekend concerning confession and forgiveness. The next two hours were taken up by testimony. The Holy Spirit took over the service. Gary Smalley’s final service was amazing and he did not speak a word.
Bo Stern!
I am hoping to bring some of our top notch young women with me to this. So many need to hear your wins and learn from your struggles too! As I looked over the topics of your workshop, I just got so excited that you are willing to be honest, open and intentional about sharing your journeys in ministry with other leaders out there – both men & women. So, thank you!
The best conference I have been to was the first “RED Student Leader Conference” Canby Foursquare hosted at Crestview. The reason it was so impacting was because I was a participant in the planning, strategizing and running of the event. Having grown up in church, I learned quickly that it’s way more fun to engage rather than just consume! Red provides opportunity for student leaders (those already serving in leadership in some capacity in our churches, ages 14-college age) to be challenged in Refinement of character, Enrichment of their personal journey with God and Direction for a focused future that starts now! (Hence the name “RED” – gotta show some love for acronyms) I loved being a part of something that gave other younger students the opportunity to grow in a way that I felt I was able to as well.
I look forward to hopefully attending The Well with some of our young women leaders from West Salem in May!
Blessings to you, Bo.
-Kristina
The Revolve Tour! I went with my mom back in high school and we had such a fun time! Great bonding experience for us!