Christian Obligation: A Bible Study/Table Discussion – Deb Devine
Have you ever wondered exactly what our obligation is to the Lord? To other believers? To non-believers? In this session, we will use Scripture passages to spark some great conversations about what King Jesus expects of us under His rule and reign.
Deborah (Deb) Devine lives in Apple Valley, MN with her husband, Steven. She has five grown children and seven grandchildren. Her home church is Faith Covenant in Burnsville, MN. Deb is a writer of Women’s Bible Studies. Deb also works with various restoration ministries, sharing the Gospel with women recovering from crisis.
Women Ministry in Your Church—Sheryl Schanil & Rachel Kleinschmidt
This breakout session will be an open forum to ask questions, share ideas, and troubleshoot issues within your church women’s ministries. If you are wanting to grow your ministry or are looking for new ideas, this session is for you!
Sheryl Schanil is the President of Women Ministries of the Northwest Conference. She has been active in Covenant Women/Women Ministries since graduating from high school. Her two greatest passions are working with children and equipping women to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. Sheryl enjoys being a ministry partner with her husband, Brian, who is pastor at Vista Covenant Church. She is loving the new role of being Grandma to 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Sheryl is known for baking bread and other goodies and running everywhere she goes.
Rachel Kleinschmidt is the Ministry Consultant for Women Ministries of the Northwest Conference and the Director of Operations at Riverwood Covenant Church in Rockford, MN. She is passionate about women ministries and is available to meet with your church women’s group to start new programs or revamp existing ones. She lives in Rockford with her husband Micah and 2 corgis, Waffles and Mocha. She enjoys reading, cooking, and singing with the worship team at her church.
Estudio Biblico en Espanol – Pastor Maria Alarcon
Financial Strategy 101 – Steve Allison
3 Strands Strong: A Biblically Based Look at Personal Finances. The Bible has a lot to say about money, how we should think about it and manage it. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us that a cord of three stands is not easily broken. In this presentation we will look at and explore the 3 strands of a personal financial plan that provide a financial foundation that is not easily broken.
Steve Allison has been with Covenant Trust for 12 years and serves here in the Northwest Conference working with individuals and ministries to establish and manage long-term financial plans. He lives in Duluth, MN with his wife Kelly, two boys Derek and Dane, and their labrador retriever Zoe.
Gen Z & Gen Alpha – Who are these Kids and Why Does it Matter for Your Ministry? – Ginny Olson
In this seminar, we’ll delve into the distinctive characteristics of girls in Generation Alpha (born 2010 onwards) and Generation Z (born mid-1990s to 2009). We’ll explore their worldview and attitudes toward faith and spirituality and discover what makes these tech-savvy, socially conscious generations tick. Learn practical tips on how to effectively connect, disciple, and empower these generations within your ministry context.
Ginny Olson oversees training and support for conference youth workers, as well as facilitates current and new conference-wide youth events.
Menopause & Beyond: Changing Perspectives on the Change of Life (Session 1)
Independence in Aging; How to Do Advanced Health Care Planning with Heaven in Mind (Session 2) – Dr. Ruth Bolton
Ruth Bolton is a graduate of Mayo Medical School and has spent her career in Family Medicine. She has a heart for teaching and research as well as incorporating her Christian faith into her medical practice. She has been a Director of a residency program at the University of Minnesota for eight years and then started a Christian non-profit medical center in 1997. She moved to Mankato to help start an Urgent Care Center which is affiliated with Mayo Clinic. She has been involved in the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) since her first year in medical school and has served on the national Board of Trustees for CMDA for 17 years and as its president from 2005 – 2007. She is presently retired and living near Mankato, Minnesota.
When Trauma Interrupts: The Impact of Trauma on Child Development – Seeds of Hope
If you are a parent or work with children, you know that even the most well-adjusted and emotionally healthy child can, at times, be a challenge! This is even more true for kids who have experienced trauma, particularly abuse or neglect. In this workshop, we share information that every parent, teacher, youth group leader, and anyone who interacts with kids should know about how trauma impacts the process of childhood development. You will also learn specific techniques for effective and compassionate interactions with kids who have experienced trauma.
Facilitated by Amy Anderson, Angie Fogal, Krista Brandt, and Kate Knutson, the leadership team of Seeds of Hope, a summer camp for kids in the social services system from southern Minnesota.
Loving our Neighbors/Cross-Cultural Relationships – Clarice Esslinger & Sarah Kane
Learn how to love your neighbor, including those who are from different countries and cultures from your own.
Sarah Kane spent many years teaching senior high English and reading before retiring in 2019. Since then, one of her volunteer joys has been in the adult classroom with immigrants learning English. Sarah and her husband Mark have also learned about God’s larger kingdom by hosting international college students for dinner.
Clarice Esslinger has been an ESL teacher in Mankato’s Adult Basic Education Program for more than 20 years. In addition to teaching English, she has facilitated parent groups and prepared newcomers for citizenship. Before coming to Mankato, Clarice and her family worked to facilitate community development in rural Nepal for seven years. That experience helped her understand what it’s like to be part of a different culture and deepened her empathy for the challenges her current students face in learning a language and navigating a new community.
Prayer Box Craft & Prayer – Ruthan Miller
The “Prayer Box” concept is an interactive devotional tool that is an easy, creative art challenge using mixed media. It is designed to become a home for prayers and heart desires that we have asked for on our inward journey. It will hold our celebrations, praises, and thanksgivings…it will hold our heart.
Ruthan Miller lives in Mankato with her husband Bob. She uses mixed-media collages as a devotional tool. Whether it is a prayer box or a visual journal, it becomes an expression of her time with the Lord. She has found that the Bible is the best road map there is to guide us, and with the Holy Spirit as our companion, we won’t be lonely along the way.
Sourdough Demonstration – Kelly Youngbloom
Kelly6 is a wife and a mother of 3 young men. She has a passion for cooking and baking, especially for a crowd! Her kitchen is her happy place. She will walk through the basics of equipment, feeding, baking, etc. She will also show a video of the process, start to finish, of a basic artisan sourdough loaf. Each participant will receive a dried starter to take home and start their own sourdough adventure!