2020 Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Welcome

2020 Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Welcome - August 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019 by Cindy Sproles

Welcome to the Asheville Christian Writers Conference – August letter

Well, the time has arrived.
It's the end of our travel season and time to gear up for the 2020 Asheville Christian Writers Conference.

I know many of you have registered early and have waited patiently for me to begin contact. Truth is. . .I'm only one person. I have to wait until travel time has ended so I can manage the work behind this conference.

So here we are. Our first email. I am excited to welcome you on board. So let's begin with some instruction. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. You'll save us both a lot of work. :)

If you pre-registered at the Cove in February and paid $25 then I need you to do the following:
EMAIL ME AT [email protected] and tell me 1) do you still plan to attend 2) your room preference (single or double) 3) if you choose a double do you need me to assign a roommate?
If I do not get this information from you, by Sept 15 that you are attending, your room reservation will be deleted by October 1.

Now don't think I'm mean...you've known since the conference in February, I'd be contacting you. If you could just let me know by verifying you are coming and what room you want...it helps with registration so much. We sell out so fast and if I have unclaimed rooms into November, conferees are not getting to attend. So help me out by following this simple instruction.

If you have registered on line then I have your registration deposit and room preference. All I need (from those married couples attending) are the names of both husband and wife and an email for both. (Please note that if your spouse does not plan to attend the full conference they are required to attend the full group sessions in order to stay on campus and wear their name badges at all times. The Cove is a non-profit and everyone that stays on campus MUST BE REGISTERED and ATTEND the conference. I cannot force you to attend all sessions, but to qualify you must attend the general group sessions in the morning and at night. You can email me at [email protected] with that information.

When will I pay the remainder of my conference fee? Conference fees will be invoiced to you in October and must be paid by January 5. We are required to pay bills so we must receive your payment in full by January 5. I will send notices to you with the total you owe and a link for you to pay the invoice in Pay Pal. If you wish to pay sooner (LOVE YOUR HEART) then let me know and I will send you that invoice earlier. I know this falls in October and you are looking at Christmas, but knowing this now, gives you time to prepare. You don't want to miss being at the Cove. It IS AMAZING.

Finally, I need a photo and short bio (50 words or less) that includes your email address and web or blog page. We do prepare a roster for our conferees so the sooner you send this...the better.

Oh, one other thing. You can check the website monthly at https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/newsletters. Each of these newsletters will be posted there. If you miss one, go to the site. They will be there. I encourage you to mark this email address as "Safe" in your internet security so it does not throw these into spam or trash. BUT CHECK THE WEBSITE Under the Conference UPDATE tab and then NEWSLETTERS. Everything you need will be posted there.

We are in the process of receiving classes from our faculty and hopefully we will have those up in a month or so. Again, continue to check the site. We will update the classes and the schedule as we receive the information. In the meantime, check out our contests, critiques, and mentoring. These are in addition to your conference fee and are available to purchase as you decide to participate.

I am available via email at [email protected]

YOU HAVE HEARD AND OBEYED

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2 NIV

Our biggest call at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference is to be sure we pray. Believe it or not we have 400 people who pray for this ministry and this conference on a daily basis. Our main prayer is simple - "Lord send those you would have attend. Let them hear your call and obey."

You are getting this letter which means you have heard and are obeying. That in and of itself is a major ordeal. Do you realize how many do not respond?

I, better than any, know the fear of stepping into a call from God. It's a little scary especially when we are not able to control the direction or result. Still, God calls us to write for Him. He asks two things of us: Do the work to the very best of our ability and pray. When we do that - when we give our work to Him...loosen the grip and let God control things, then He uses us. And He uses us to HIS GLORY not our own. He understood that when we say yes, God listens and as long as we continue to call on Him in faith with a willing heart and a teachable spirit, He will do incrediable things through your writing.

God has placed within you the burning desire to write. It may be one story, it may be hundreds. But it's there. You have taken the first step. You heard the voice and responded. When you cry out to Him for guidance and direction, GOD WILL ANSWER. His ear is turned to you. Wasn't the psalmist amazing as he penned these words?

And so...we begin this new journey together. You and I. Are you ready? Because God is waiting on us.

Much love,
Cindy Sproles
Director, Asheville Christian Writers Conference
Eddie Jones, Christian Devotions Ministries President
Beth Fortune and Dee Dee Parker, Conferee Care Representatives
Bennie Jones, Kevin Spencer, and Wendy Leech, Conference Bookstore
Sara Thomas and Terri Kelly, Sparrow Award and critiques/mentoring