Speaking Topics: For Women

Prayer – Don’t Try Parenting Without It! –   Gretchen examines the need for covering your children in prayer, incorporating prayer into your already busy lives, and the powerful effects of prayer on your family.

A Decade of Diapers – Surviving the Early Childhood Years – Gretchen will share basic survival skills learned from her 13 years as a stay at home mom of four, including finding time for yourself, dating your spouse, maximizing household chores, and including your children in daily tasks.

Who Am I Now? –  As a P.W. (pastor’s wife) and mom, Gretchen discusses the shifting of our identities with the onset of motherhood, and once again finding the “me” in Mommy.

A Perfect Blend – What happens when God combines your personality and problems, mixes in your messes and mistakes, blends your bitter and the sweet moments, and adds a heaping helping of the Holy Spirit? The result is a Royal recipe; a potion with a purpose. We will explore how God takes our imperfect lives and prepares a perfect blend, a drink offering to quench a thirsting world.

Being a Chocolate Missionary in a Craving World – “Make mine a mocha!” If your group has already done a coffee themed event, this topic is a re-write of A Perfect Blend. We’ll uncover the ingredients in your own recipe, prepared especially for your personal candy shop.

Digging Into the Bible – God’s Word for your Life – The relevancy and authenticity of the Bible is being challenged more and more in today’s society.  Whether the Bible is new for you or an old friend, this talk will give you a fresh look at the Holy Scriptures.  You’ll discover answers to questions such as “Who wrote the Bible? How do I know it’s true?  Is it really relevant for today?  Is it relevant for me?”

Gardens of Faith  – As women we are caretakers of many gardens – home, work, ministry, and more. Gretchen discusses the elements of garden care including tilling the soil, planting , and harvest in each area of our lives, scattering Scripture throughout.

Abiding in Him – Jesus Himself provides the beautiful imagery for this topic from John 15. Using the vine as our object lesson, we’ll discover the value of drawing near to Christ, not only for survival but to bear the abundant fruit He desires.

Our Mess * His Masterpiece – Does your life resemble the serenity of a Claude Monet? Or is the surrealism of a Pablo Picasso a closer description of your world? When black and white are replaced by shades of grey…and colors fade, where does one find peace and purpose?In our sessions we will take a close look at where we began, and just what has added the myriad of color to our canvas. We’ll discover the plan and purpose of the Creator when He turns our mess into His masterpiece.

Sisterhood: Spiritual Sororities in the School of Life – Friendship can be both precious and precarious. This focus on friendship includes a close look at Job’s friends, Jesus’ friend-group, and our own girlfriends.

Your Value in Christ  – (based on the PLI “Full Value” series by Jackie Oesch)  Gretchen will take you through the story of the woman in Luke 13 who spent 18 years bent-over.  You’ll explore what “bends” you, burdens you, and together, discover God’s PHP – “Personal Healing Plan.”

Christmas Light * Christmas Life – There are two kids of light, thermal light and artificial light. Which are you? How can you be a light in our dark world? This talk based on Matthew 5:14 is perfect for your Advent or Christmas event.

Pray?  Who Me?  –  Does prayer work? How should I pray? Still feel uncomfortable praying out loud?  How can I teach others to pray? Gretchen will address these and many other questions you may have regarding the power of prayer.  Based on the book, “What Happens When Women Pray,” Gretchen will teach you about effective prayer, its power, and its influence in your life.

The Hidden Leader – Many of the great leaders in the Bible showed no outward signs of special talents or speaking abilities.  In fact many of them had no desire to be used by God in that way!  God chose and equipped for them leadership.  Similarly, Gretchen never thought she’d ever be the “leader” of anything!  Always the follower, the compliant child, the peacemaker, and too shy to stand out or stand up for anything, Gretchen shares what God can do with the most unlikely of leaders.