Conference Planner Extroidinaire!

Or not.  I’m actually a STRONG  “p” on the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator personality tests.  That means one thing: us “p’s” generally speaking, struggle don’t what in the heck is going on or know how to organize in a structured way because we prefer to live a life of chaos adapt.

My current position in InterVarsity is to coordinate all the work we do with African-American students in at Colleges & Universities in our region (MI, OH, W.VA & Western PA).  That means part of my job is that I get to organize conferences to equip, build & grow our work amongst black students.

It’s been great fun to plan the IGNITE! conference which is why I’ve been moaning all over my blog about how busy and scatterbrained I feel.  Since planning a conference isn’t in my natural gift set -I’m more of a speaker, writer, blogger, relational savy type ‘o’ gal- it’s been at times ridiculously frustrating challenging and at other times shockingly entertaining.

In any case, like it or not, the conference is exactly one week away and there is much to do!  It really does feel like planning a wedding!  I bit the bullet & hired a registrar because Microsoft Excel (or anything similar) & I are frenemies.  We should be friends, we should work together well, but the sad truth is we don’t. I am extremely convinced that Microsoft Excel hates me & will not ever work for me.  You know what Excel?  I don’t need you, go pick on the registrar I hired.

I recently sent out an email to folks who financially and prayerfully support the ministry Dave & I do at Western with prayer requests for the IGNITE! Conference.  Because I know some of you are of the praying type, I’d love if you’d prayed for me and my students in the next week.

Here’s a copy of that email:

Dave & I are deeply grateful to be part of an organization whose core values include ethnic reconciliation and justice.  Because of this we seek to thoughtfully & prayerfully reach every student and faculty of the campus for Jesus Christ.

It is with great joy that I (Grace) am called to help InterVarsity reach reach the  African American community on campuses in our region.  Despite having only 3 black IV staff in our region, the black student numbers continue to increase!  As I step into the role to begin a 3 year strategic plan of multiplying our black students and staff it is obvious that God is doing a great work amongst black students who are increasingly finding a home in InterVarsity.  Thanks be to God!

Next weekend I am organizing, leading and speaking at a conference called IGNITE! for African American students from all over our region.  Students will be coming from Wayne State, Western MI, Youngstown State, UPitt, Ohio State, U of M, MSU & more!  IGNITE! is a part of my strategy to build momentum for our work amongst black students in calling them to live a missional life on their campuses.   I’m not a “natural” conference planner & I covet your prayers for the conference in following week:

Please take a moment right now to pray in the following ways…

• Pray for our recruitment efforts.  Pray for 54 students to register by Wed. Feb. 17.
• Pray for Shaylen (my assistant program director) & I to plan with wisdom and insight.
• Pray for the safety of our family (Dave, the kids & my mother), several staff and volunteers and all the students as we travel through snowy conditions to Cleveland, OH.
• Pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to be convicting hearts & moving students to embrace the call to live as a missional Christian on their campus.
• Pray for me as I preach on Gideon on Saturday morning.
• Pray that students will celebrate the rich history of African Americans in mission and joyfully commit to becoming a world changer for Christ.
• Pray for God to move powerfully in any way He sees fit!

It is with great expectation that we hope to report to you what God did at the IGNITE! conference. (Friday, Feb.19- Saturday, Feb.20).

Thanks all!