September 2025 ACWC Newsletter
Thursday, September 18, 2025 by Cindy K. Sproles

Are you getting nosy yet?

FIRST THINGS FIRST, MARK OUR EMAIL AS SAFE SO WE DON'T GO TO YOUR SPAM OR TRASH.

I hope so. We've waited all summer to get to email time. I'd like to tell you that things have run smoothly, but it seems that every time we start something, another hiccup happens. However, this is what happens when the enemy claims we're stirring up trouble. He attacks. And that's really a good thing.

We just recognized the 24-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. Our nation felt the sting of internal attack only one day before we could appropriately acknowledge those who died on 9/11. We are under attack, under persecution, and suffering loss in the name of Jesus. This is why we stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer over our nation and over this conference. You are prayed for daily, and we ask you to be a part of those prayers.

Our prayer request is that God will send those He would have attend this conference. Why that prayer? Well, when God sends you, He's sending a warrior for us to have the opportunity to train. Your words are a mighty sword, that, when wielded, cuts to the core. It's our job to teach you writing skills that will bring into fruition the assignment God has for you to develop. Your words can change the world for the Kingdom.

So, take heed...don't jump ahead of God. Stand firm in His footprints and pray fervently to 1) see His call in your writing life, and 2) to learn the craft with determination so that you can put your words to paper and spread the word.

Now, that said. Suit up! Get ready. We hope that you will gain writing skills, contacts and peers, encouragement, and an insatiable desire to write.

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Our Faculty

Our faculty is stellar. We have some the industries best teachers with Bob Hostetler, Eva Marie Everson, Edie Melson, Julie Lavender, Pepper Basham, Vincent Davis and so many more. That's all my little pea brain could cough up on the spur of the moment. But the point is, even if I left off a name or two, which I did, we have a faculty that rivals large conferences. Between our teachers and our mentors, oh my goodness. You'll walk away with more information than you imagined you could. Click the Our Faculty heading above and see who's coming. Find out who you want to meet with and who you want to critique or mentor. Look through our classes. We have two sessions running side by side, so there's a lot to look at.

Critiques and Mentoring

This is where my sidekick Terri shines. She manages all the critique and mentoring assignments. You can choose a paid critique where you send a short piece of your work to a faculty member. They will review your work, offer you valuable suggestions, and spend 15 minutes providing detailed feedback. This is a paid critique and trust me -- well worth your time and investment. I urge you to do a paid critique.

Mentoring Appointments

If you have a completed manuscript or your pretty deep into one, a paid mentoring appointment is valuable. You'll send the work your mentor requests, and then they will break it apart into very detailed sections. They'll look at your writing, the basics, plot, characters, everything. This one-hour appointment is so worth your time and investment. These slots fill up quickly, and we can't overbook. Our faculty needs time to look at the work and then to go through it with you. So, these appointments fill fast. If you feel like you're far enough through your manuscript, fiction or non-fiction, then take advantage.

I will say we have something unique with Billy Wayne and Lori Marett. Lori is a screenplay writer, and Billy is a playwright/songwriter. What a great addition to our mentors. AND, Billy has a huge ministry, so if you are looking at building a ministry around your writing, he's the mentor to chat with.

You can visit the Critiques and Mentoring tab, choose a faculty member, and then contact Terri. Her email is right there on the page.

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Where We Stand

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (ESV)

My first email to our conferees is not usually one of this nature. However, I felt prompted to give you some guidelines that you can begin to pray over.

We believed Jesus when He told His followers that we would have troubles. Choosing Him is not always easy. But Jesus promised that He had overcome the world, and that is all the proof that we need. Our nation is wrapped in chaos, but Christ has overcome. Take heart in that promise and pray for our country. Pray for our people. Pray for our leaders. Pray that the heel of Christ will come down on the evil snake, for Jesus has overcome the world.

Christian Devotions Ministries sponsors and maintains the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Other Christian organizations across the country initiate events like our writers conference as well, and each one has guidelines they ask conferees to follow. Some even require a signed statement of faith before your registration is completed.

When you attend our conference, it's essential that you see we are fully God-centered. Christian Devotions does not play the politics game. We stand united under the cross of Christ, prayed over and fully in Him.

I realize our nation is in a state of crisis, and more than ever, we pray daily that Christ will raise His church as the standard. Therefore, we do not post political views on any of our websites, and we refrain from promoting political rhetoric at our conference. Our hearts and minds remain focused on Christ and His plan for us. Having said that, we understand and suffer the same loss as any Christian when a speaker, teacher, missionary, martyr, or minister undergoes extreme persecution.

This ministry was called nineteen years ago to train writers for the Kingdom. That is what we focus on, and that is where we pray to be successful. Christian Devotions maintains four websites, this conference, and a ministry to those in need of a home or food in Raleigh, NC. We support partners working in various areas, including helping the elderly with medication costs and personal needs, assisting young mothers, providing support for conferences, and help for teen and adult missions, as well as mission trips. We help when God places a need that He can provide through us.

We are asking you to leave your political thoughts at the foot of the cross when you walk through the doors of our conference. Help us maintain an encouraging and joyful experience, free from the controversy that often accompanies political opinions. You are very much entitled to that opinion, but we ask that our focus and yours be only on writing and how we can help you recognize your call to write with our time together.

We are so excited to meet each one of you.

Much Love,

Cindy Sproles, director

Terri Kelley, assistant director

Read at this link.

https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1063833/emails/165808288658621707