October Newsletter
Thursday, October 30, 2025 by Cindy K. Sproles

We Honor Linda Gilden

The writer community has tons of folks, but what is so unique is that we are close-knit. We know one another, keep in touch, and support each other. We love our friends so much that we call them FAMILY.

Linda Gilden has been a part of Christian Devotions Ministries for 20 years. She has served with us at ACWC for 19 years, but we are not the only place Linda has served. She and her husband worked the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Florida Christian Writers Conference, and she headed her own, Carolina Christian Writers Conference. Linda Gilden is a servant.

This month, Linda must have had a close conversation with God, and they decided it was time for her to come into the arms of Jesus. So, she left us for a far better place. The writing community was shaken. We all felt her loss because when the gates of heaven swung open to welcome her, the earth shook. Needless to say, selfishly we wanted her to stay here, but lovingly we would never ask her to change her mind.

Christian Devotions and the Asheville Christian Writers Conference honor this warrior and celebrate her new life, free of illness and enjoying a new body. Linda, we love you, and there will be a hole in our hearts for your love and support. Our prayers and love go to John and your family. - With love, Christian Devotions Ministries and the Asheville Christian Writers Conference.

We have MENTORS!

One of the things we are excited to offer each year is our mentors. If you want 1 hour of private mentoring, this is available. Mentors will spend 45-60 minutes with you (depending on your needs). If you have a manuscript, a screenplay or play, devotions, a ministry, fiction, or non-fiction that you would like some additional guidance with, then sign up for a mentor. These slots fill FAST! Visit the critiques and mentoring page. There is a small cost but trust me, this is well worth your investment. Check our our mentors for 2026

We are excited to add Beth Fortune to our group of private mentors. Beth is a speaker/author/ministry leader, and we are thrilled to have her.

Eddie Melson joins us again with social media and blogs/websites. She is a wealth of information.

Denise Loock and Andrea Merrell are award-winning freelance editors. They work on fiction and non-fiction.

Larry Leech returns as a writing coach. He is amazing.

Billy Wayne Arrington and Lori Marett return. Billy with ministry plays, lyrics. And Lori with screenplays and fiction.

This is something we recommend you take advantage of if you can see your way clear.

The Lord is my Shepherd

Isn't that a wonderful comfort? We are all too much like sheep who can't seem to find our way at times. We need guidance. We need a shepherd.

I realize preparing for a conference is hard. It brings on a little anxiety. After all, sheep can't rest if they feel uneasy. They need to know they are safe. They need to drink from a stream that is quiet and still. So, little sheep, fear not. We have a shepherd.

As you begin to prepare for our conference, know that the shepherd has called His sheep to this place. We pray that God will send those He would have attend. Here you are. See, He called and like good sheep, you heard His voice and came. We ask that you continue to pray for other sheep to fill the fold. Pray they hear the shepherd call and that they come.

When you attend the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, you gain exceptional training in the craft of writing, but you also gain a flock that huddles with you and supports you. We are your stepping stone to learning writing, understanding how a conference works, so that you can follow the Shepherd where He leads you in your writing career.

When it gets hard, and trust me, it will. The enemy will try to distract you, try to separate you from the flock, but you listen. You huddle tight with your shepherd and your flock. Work hard, prepare, and get ready for the experience of your life.

The Lord is YOUR shepherd. He calls. Don't ignore Him. Follow and see where He leads.

Pray for this conference that God will continue to bring those He'd have to attend. We have 18 available rooms on Campus. And there are still off-campus spaces available. Invite your peers. Share the news about the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Help us bring more into the flock.

Photo Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay