HORSEHEADS, N.Y.—For the first time, the Renew women’s conference sponsored by the Northeast Fellowship took place in three locations over three consecutive weekends, meeting in Batavia, Memphis, and Rhinebeck, New York. Workshop leaders/authors and worship teams from various parts of the state participated in each.
The theme for 2023, “Read . . . Write . . . Renew,” highlighted women’s need to grow from God’s Word, as well as through reading great literature, Bible journaling, controlling their thoughts, studying doctrine, and much more, says Jeannie Vogel, who formerly served as women’s ministries coordinator for the Northeast Fellowship. Each attendee received a $10 voucher to buy a book of her choice from the many book sellers at the conference. “Women left with a beautiful journal, a book, and a heart full of praise after gathering together to learn and worship,” Jeannie says.
Jeannie herself spoke in general sessions in both Memphis and Rhinebeck. She highlighted God as the author of all creation, Who holds the absolute right to rule believers’ lives and gives them a purpose for living.
RBP has published four of Jeannie’s books. Her first was Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John (2001), followed by Accepting the Challenge (2010). This study for women in leadership led to Jeannie winning a 2011 Writer of the Year Award. She followed it with Our Sovereign God, a study of Ezra (2015), and Engage: Influencing Your World like Jesus (2021).
Also in Rhinebeck, author Dorothy Davis presented a workshop. Dorothy is a longtime writer of RBP’s Bible studies for women. Her 12 titles include The Gifts of Christ (the abundant life of Christians, 2016), Thy Will Be Done (Jonah and Habakkuk, 2017), and King over All (Daniel, 2018). Look for Gazing at Glory (Mark), coming in 2024.
In Batavia, keynote speaker Diane Scallon spoke on the renewal of the mind from Romans 12, encouraging women to prioritize God’s Word and to focus on humility and gratitude. “An outward verbal expression of thankfulness is crucial to building gratitude!” Diane says. “Feeling thankful and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and putting it in a drawer!”
Diane is administrative assistant to the national representative of Regular Baptist Churches. She is also a pastor’s wife in Ames, Iowa, and the mother of three boys. Diane’s book Against the Tide (2019) was published by RBP.
In addition to the general sessions in which Diane and Jeannie spoke, participants attended specialized workshops, led by writers, many of whom are published authors. An attendee at Emily Wheeler’s workshop, The Art of Creative Journaling, wrote afterward,
Thank you so much for making the RENEW conference happen! I can’t even begin to explain how much I needed that and how helpful it was! This journaling Bible is amazing. After church yesterday, I came home with my notes and went to my journaling Bible and spent hours in my Bible. . . . I think this is the best thing I’ve ever bought, and I’ve spent more time in my Bible since Saturday night than I ever have at one time. . . . God is so good, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity, mindset, and heart change that the conference gave me!
Attendees also gave an offering to Bibles International to provide resources that will help others grow spiritually.
