Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Mark Jeske and the IF Women's Gathering and Blogs and Stuff Like That.
More GA Deception, But CT Tells the Truth


From Mark-and-Avoid Jeske:

Introducing a new blogger!
I am excited to introduce you to Diana Kerr. She will be writing weekly blogs from a perspective that we love to hear from—the perspective of the younger generation. Diana’s very real and transparent writing style is refreshing and faith-filled and reveals her love for her Savior.
Diana is a speaker and writer and also serves as an IF:Local Leader, hosting women's events and prayer gatherings coordinated by the IF:Gathering, a global nonprofit comprised of Christian female authors and speakers. Diana and her husband, Kyle, live in Milwaukee, and I am delighted to welcome her to the blogging team.  
Be sure to check back next week to see Diana’s first post. In the meantime, here’s a little hello from her:
I am honored to join the blogging team of such an amazing global ministry! I never dreamed that God would bring me to Time of Grace through an opportunity to write. I would call it a total “God thing,” which has kind of become my life’s theme. My battle with rheumatoid arthritis since my teens has continually turned my plans and intentions for my life upside down, causing both pain and growth as I’ve watched God orchestrate my life according to his perfect purpose.
I can’t wait to share triumphs and joys with you through this blogging adventure. I’m especially passionate about topics related to health, personal growth, and wrestling with what it means to live as a Christian in today’s world. Just like on my personal blog, you can expect me to strive to bring value to your lives through transparency and honest conversations. I’m excited to get to know all of you readers, so please reach out to me via social media!  


The IF Gathering is linked and demi-semi-explained here.

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What Guru Jeske didn't say!


If a Brand-New Christian Women's Conference Goes Viral, Then What?

FEB 112014
The story behind the success of the IF: Gathering.
Kate Shellnutt
READ AS MULTIPLE PAGES
Ask author and Bible teacher Jennie Allen how she came to create the most popular interdenominational Christian women's event in years, and she'll stumble to answer.
Ask how she gathered tens of thousands of Christian women—live in Austin, Texas, and online across the globe—around the idea of pursuing spiritual calling, and she won't have the words.
Like the people who witnessed miraculous outcomes in the Bible, all Allen can do to explain the success of last weekend's IF: Gathering is point to the work of the Holy Spirit. "The whole thing has been completely unexpected to me," she said. "It felt like fish and loaves."
The first-time event had a vague premise—If God is real, then what?—and no speaker lineup when announced this fall, but sold out in 42 minutes, forcing organizers to coordinate local watch parties across the U.S. and 22 other countries to accommodate interest.
During the simulcast over the weekend, 40,000-plus locations streamed the women's conference, while 1,200 people attended the event at the Austin Music Hall—pumped with worship songs and decorated with crafty, Pinterest-inspired details: farm tables, mason jars, and strings of twinkling antique lights. #IFGathering trended on Twitter throughout the weekend, ranking among the top hashtags used around the world.
The two-day event featured discussions of calling by women across workplace and ministry settings, plus biblical teachings from women like Christine Caine, international speaker from Hillsong Church; Jen Hatmaker, Christian blogger and author of 7; Ann Voskamp, author of A Thousand Gifts; and Shelley Giglio, a leader alongside her husband Louie Giglio at Passion City Church.
IF: Gathering combined a unique scriptural message with viral marketing through online networks. Several months before the event, Allen brought together 60-some influential bloggers and leaders from across churches, denominations, and theological positions, convinced that God was calling her to rally for unity among the splintering factions of the church. Those women, including Hatmaker (a friend of Allen's and fellow Austinite), generated interest among their readers, enough to fuel the event's popularity throughout Christian blogs and social media.
Posted by Ichabod the Glory Has Departed at 11:14 PM
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