January 20, 2024 Newsletter
Saturday, January 20, 2024 by Cindy Sproles

WE ARE SOLD OUT!

This is one of the things our prayer teams prays for - that God will send those He'd have to attend. And He has done it again. That means, and take this seriously, you have been chosen. You didn't chose to come to us. God chose YOU to come. He has placed a specific call on your life. It may be a long-term writing goal, it may be magazine articles, blogs - it may be a book. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you have answered the call and that once again, our Father is faithful to us by answering our prayers.

We are more than just a writers conference. Christian Devotions and the Asheville Christian Writers Conference is a full-fledged ministry. We are a ministry, because we have been called to train up and coming writers. Our calling is just as pressing as yours. So together, TODAY, we rejoice in the knowledge that every single one of you is called and you have responded. Now, the journey begins.

Before I forget - Here is the link to your extended learning for the week. We're talking about polishing your work. Click here for your assignment.

Coming down to the wire -
We are 4 1/2 weeks away from conference day and there is so much for Terri and I to accomplish in this next four weeks. Unless you've directed a conference, you can only imagine the time and effort that goes into this. The hard part is listening to God to be sure what we are doing is well within His will. We have to make decisions, and some are tough. We have to pay our faculty, pray for provision, collect funds for scholarships, check and double-check housing, registrations, classes and schedules. It's crazy. I will be heading to Hendersonville on Tuesday to stay a night at Terri's so we can redo our schedule once again. I told you this would happen and it has. Our schedule times have changed. Sigh. But it is what it is.

So, the first thing that is affected by a schedule time is our worship time. It's because the meal times have changed, so, what I want to encourage you to do, is to be sure you drag yourself out of bed and show up for our worship. Billy Wayne is an amazing artist and if anything, you will experience the heart of God through him. Do not miss morning worship. It is such a perfect start to our day. And since God is our Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, we have reason to praise Him. He has provided the opportunity for you to attend this conference. We owe Him our hearts for thirty minutes. So plan on attending our morning worship. You will be blessed, I promise.

Keep a check on our newsletters tab on the website. You will find these letters there. Also, watch the CONFERENCE UPDATE tab which will give you all the information about check-in. Tuesday, Terri and I will visit the Cove in person, pay the bill, and then go over all the final details. We won't know which hotel we are in until Tuesday. We have requested the Shepherds Inn which is right beside the Training Center, but we won't know about this until we get there on Tues.

The book contest is closed. We only have a few mentoring slots (and by that, I mean one or two), and there are still room for paid critiques. If you want to take advantage of these, contact Terri asap at [email protected]. Terri will put you in touch with your mentor or critiquer. These appointments are golden and we hope you take advantage of them. Also, they entail a great of amount of extra time on the behalf of our faculty. If you have paid appointment, please be sure to follow-up and send that payment where Terri requests you send it. This helps our faculty who has to live with us paying them peanuts. Remember, they are giving up four-five days of their work schedules to attend. Flights don't bring us together quickly anymore and sometimes our faculty has to fly in early and fly out a day later. Please take care of this obligation for them quickly.

PLAN AHEAD

PRINT BEFORE YOU COME: Remember to print before you come. We do not provide a printer and the Cove cannot make copies for 119 people. So please, print items you need, before you come to the conference.

MP3s - Our MP3s will be available to purchase. We are charging $45 for the full conference. But that does not cover the cost for producing them. This money goes into our scholarship fund. When you purchase them, know that you are helping provide an opportunity for someone else to attend who may not be able to come otherwise. We thank you in advance. MP3s can be ordered at our bookstore, and will be ready sometime in late March or early April. We will contact those who purchase them as soon as they are ready for you to download to your computer. We ask that you not share these with non-conferees. You have paid to attend this conference, it is not fair to you or our faculty for their copyrighted materials to be handed out without their permission.

THE HARD STUFF - We will repeat for our most recent folks who signed up!
Below, you are going to read the hard stuff of running a conference. We ask that you read through these things and know that everything you see is for your safety and in your best interest. Nonetheless, it's still difficult to discuss.
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Below, you will see a copy of our liability risk form. Our event insurance requires your acknowledgment and signature. You will be asked to sign this when you check in, so this is just a heads-up and a detail of insurance requirements. Please read, and when you arrive to check-in, you will be asked to sign a copy. DO NOT EMAIL THIS TO ME. We will have in-person forms for you to sign at the conference. - Thank you.

Liability Risk

Event: The Asheville Christian Writers Conference
Date: February 23-25, 2024
Event location: The Cove, The Billy Graham Training Center, Asheville, NC
Participant's Name:______________________________
In signing below, I assume risk of harm or injury which may occur to the participant as a result of participating in the above-named event or activity. I hereby release The Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Christian Devotions Ministries & The Cove (The Billy Graham Training Center, their staffs and faculty and its officers, employees, or agents, and all 501c3 connections from any liability, costs and damages resulting this individual's participation. I accept full responsibility for myself, my well-being, my possessions while in attendance.
I also give my consent for the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Christian Devotions Ministries & The Cove (The Billy Graham Training Center, their staffs and faculty to seek emergency treatment for myself if necessary, and I agree to accept financial responsibility for the costs related to this emergency treatment.
Signed_________________________________ Date____________________

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Upright Behavior

It saddens me that I even have to mention this, but this day in time, even in the Christian community, we are forced to address the issue. That is our behavior regarding our behavior. Let me address a difficult subject by saying this: There should be no men in women's hotel rooms and no women in men's rooms unless you wear the wedding band that denotes that permission. If you want to meet with the opposite sex, we ask that you meet in the lobbies of the hotel or the Training Center. Always meet in threes. Don't place yourself in a situation that could escalate to any type of misconduct. By that same token, if you feel as though someone has crossed the line, you need to come to me, Terri Kelly, or Eddie Jones. We cannot handle a situation six months down the road.

We know that 99% of the people of upright and just and that their behavior is stellar, but we are forced to remind you. Please, please, do not put yourself in a situation that is less than desirable. Meet in the lobbies or Training Center and practice Billy Graham's rule of the THREE PERSON rule.

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Finally, the Cove is alcohol, smoke, and vape-free. Having any of these items in the hotels or Training Center, are grounds for dismissal from the Cove. If you must smoke, you will have to go to your car. The Cove employees will not hesitate to ask you to leave if you are seen with any of these things.

YOU ARE CALLED

I noted earlier, that we have prayed for God to send those He'd have attend this conference. I also told you that you were chosen. You did not choose us. I'd like that to sink in for you. YOU are chosen because that is how we have prayed. Just sit on that for a few minutes. Ponder it. I'm sure many of you have watched or are in the process of watching The Chosen.

I realize there are those of you who may have issues with that and if you do, then just put yourself in Jesus' sandals. He faced issues everyday, but it didn't stop His unfailing love nor did it stop Him from CALLING His disciples. Despite the conflict that swirled around Jesus, He kept His eyes focused and He reminded His disciples that they were chosen for a specific reason.

I love that in this series, we continually see that Jesus chose people from all walks of life to do His work. He didn't care if they had money or if they were well educated. He wanted their hearts.

By this same token, as we prayed for Him to send those He'd have attend, we realized that He would hand-pick additional fishers of men. YOU. And He did. I'll be honest, when I saw those last two slots fill, I burst into tears, because right before my eyes, God finished His selections.

Eddie, Terri, and I pray that you pour into your calling. That you will lay aside attitudes of entitlement. That you will learn to WAIT, and not rush His work when it doesn't happen when you think it should. Learn the craft, hone it. Write. Be kind. Be an encourager. Write well and write what you feel He is leading you to write. Remember, we are here for you. Myself, Eddie, Terri, our faculty and more so, God is smiling over you, waiting for you when you need Him. And you will need Him.

The worry work is done. The spaces are all filled. The hard work comes as you venture out into this writing world and keeping your eyes focused.

I know that you can because I know, God has already done what He promised for you.

Much love,
Cindy

(Photos courtesy of pixaby.com)