YOUR INVITATION This past April, the Designed for Life team and I traveled to Los Angeles to capture images for the invitation that you are holding in your hand. Together, eleven of us crammed into two vehicles and crisscrossed the city with clothes, shoes, camera equipment, and sleepy eyes - getting up before dawn and staying out late to capture the light of the setting sun. It was a labor of love! And as we made our way through that expansive city, navigating six lanes of traffic to scout out the best shooting locations, I felt a stirring in my heart that the vision and scope of the conference was expanding right before my eyes. It wasn’t that the message was changing, it was a call to go to another level in our faith – to rise up, to take a stand, to share, to shine brighter, and bolder than ever before.
Arise, shin e, f or your li ght has come, t he glor y of t he L o r d rises upon you. Isaiah 60 The picture on the cover was taken on the rooftop of a very old parking garage, off Broadway and 9th Street, overlooking the LA downtown skyscape. What you can’t see towering behind the camera – is a red neon sign perched atop the backside of the iconic Ace Hotel, glowing with the words “JESUS SAVES”. I was struck by the profound impact of those two words, as they shined brighter and brighter with the setting sun. It was as if they were desperate to shout out the truth of what they symbolized, that the hope of the whole earth is embodied within their message – a message that carries the best news ever.
J esu s sai d,“I c a me so t ha t y o u can have r ea l a n d et er n a l li f e , a more an d b et t er li f e t h a n you ever dream ed of . ” John 1 0: 1 0
I am a firm believer that our Creator God is actively involved in the life of every single girl on this planet – and that my friend includes you.
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He purposefully interrupts our thinking, and the news that fills the airwaves of our minds with His truth. He longs for you to understand that He loves you, that He cares about you, and that He intentionally created you to have a relationship with Him and to be connected to a life-giving, believing sisterhood. Whether you know it or not, you were destined to encounter the message within these pages. A message that, simply put, has the power to not only encourage you for today and to impart truth to your soul, but to change the course of your life. We live in days that are filled with remarkable opportunity for connection, movement, and invention… and at the same time, within the landscape of these days, we see an incredible challenge – a growing need for genuine love and connection that build us up, strengthens our faith, and gives us courage
You a r e n ot a lone . W e ar e in t h is t o g e t h e r . T h a t i s t he mess ag e I w ant y o u t o h e ar and be l ie ve ! Unity brings strength. Every year, as we grow in numbers, we grow in strength. That strength coming from a commitment to stand side by side. To cheer each other on. To not compare ourselves with one another but to believe that God intentionally created each and every girl to be a part of this mighty and glorious movement – that is shining brighter and brighter for Him. So, we reach out and welcome one another and I welcome you to experience all we see happening. This is God’s heart for every girl, because after all, He reached out to us – outsiders and insiders coming together! And that is what Designed for Life is all about – girls of all ages, all nations, all colors, all backgrounds, joining hands, uniting as one, rising to stand bold and brave and strong TOGETHER. As I wrap words around this invitation, and invite you to come and be a part of this incredible adventure we call Designed for Life, I don’t want you to miss it. I so want you to experience the wonder of it all. Whether you, once again, are coming to add strength to the vision, or this would be your very first time to join hands with us … I would love for you to share in all that God has planned for us this year. I promise you this, from the first time you walk through the doors, you will feel like you belong, because you do!
W I T H LOVE ,
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for the journey.
UNITED. TOGETHER. GATHER.
UNITED. TOGETHER. GATHER. UNITED. TOGETHER. GATHER. UNITED. TOGETHER.
UNITED. TOGETHER. GATHER. UNITED. TOGETHER.
GATHER.
THE DESIGNED FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE L a u n c h e d 16 y e a r s a g o , t h i s m o d e r n - d a y gathering of women carries a mandate and messa g e from hea v en – “ Tell ev e r y gi rl that she is b ea ut ifully a nd ma g nificent ly de si gne d by her Crea t or a nd t ha t He ha s a n i ncre di bl e pl an a nd p ur p ose for her life! ” Tod a y, ov er 10,000 g ir ls from arou nd the na t ion a nd t he w or ld a re a p a r t of thi s growi ng mov ement – insp ir ing w omen from al l wal ks of life t o flour ish in w ho t hey we re cre ate d to b e, connect ed t o a sist er hood t hat re fl e cts the feminine hea r t a nd cha ra ct er ist ics of God. This t w o d a y / t w o nig ht ev ent is fu l l of su rpri se s, encomp a ssing b rea t ht a king p rodu cti on, worl drenowned speakers, power ful worship and p ra y e r m o m e n t s , s p r i n k l e d w i t h j o y, l a u g h t e r , a nd life -g iv ing sist er hood conne cti ons. Fro m t h e O p e n i n g N i g h t C e l e b ra t i o n t o t h e C o n f e re n c e F i n a l e , t h e a t m o s p h e re re s o u n d s w it h t he g lor ious sound s of hea v e n – re fre shi ng, encoura g ing , a nd insp ir ing us t o l i ve the l i fe we were designed to live with faith, confidence, a nd g ra ce.
IT WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU!
GATHER
RUTH NORDSTRÖM As a prominent Human Rights Lawyer in Uppsala, Sweden and a busy wife and mom of three, Ruth is passionate about the call of God on her life and determined to use her position to fight for what is right. She lives life with a fierce determination, committed to be a voice for those who have been marginalized by the culture around them. She is making a global difference! Her stories and her faith will inspire you to believe that God can use you to change the world. You are going to love her!
DEBBIE LINDELL @d eb l i n d el l Pastor Debbie leads with an enthusiastic love for life, for people, and for the Church. One of her greatest desires as a leader is to see women of all ages come to believe what God’s Word says about them and to fully embrace who they were created to be. This flourishing Designed Sisterhood that she is positioned to lead reflects the passion of her heart – encompassing women from all around the world who celebrate one another through a life-giving and authentic connection. And if she were standing beside you right now – she would embrace you and say
YOUR CONFER ENCE HOST
“Welcome to the sisterhood – you belong here!”
MEE T THE
@ruthnordstrom
BRANDI CARRANO @brandi carrano
This girl has a heart of gold, is crazy fun, and has the gift of making every girl she connects with feel valued and loved. Brandi and her husband, John, and their three kiddos live in Spain, where together, they serve as the lead pastors of International Church Barcelona – a vibrant community in the heart of the city. She is passionate about inspiring girls of all ages to live life with confidence – believing that God’s plans for them are beyond their wildest dreams. I can’t wait for you to hear what she is going to share!
SPEAKERS
DAWNCHERÉ WILKERSON
@dawnc here (vi deo s essi on )
We are over-the-top excited that DC is going to be with us again this year. She is definitely a part of our Sisterhood, and we love her to pieces! Her journey in waiting for her miracle has encouraged and inspired us along with thousands of women across the nation and around the world. She and her husband, Rich, with the help of their one-year-old, Wyatt Wesley, pastor VOUS Church, in the heart of Miami, Florida. Her love for people and her down-to-earth approach to life as a wife, mom, leader, and friend will refresh your soul and motivate you to walk by faith!
LISA HARPER @ lis adh ar pe r
Lisa is the personification of JOY, and she has the best laugh ever! She and her daughter, Missy, are some of our favorite people on the planet – we are so excited they are going to be with us! Through her hilarious storytelling gift, Lisa brings the Bible to life – masterfully opening hearts to the truths in God’s Word. Although she travels the world sharing the Gospel, she would say her greatest accomplishment was becoming Missy’s momma – whom she adopted from Haiti in 2014. Lisa is a best friend of our Sisterhood, and we can’t wait to hang out with her again this year!
JEN + JEREMY FOSTER @j enny l foster1 @j eremy foster This dynamic duo is graciously taking time from their busy lives and family to come and share their wisdom and relationship secrets (oh yeah!) with us. Jen and Jeremy are friends of our James River Church family, and we are thrilled that they are going to be a part of Designed for Life for the very first time. Along with the global platform they carry, this incredibly gifted couple serve as the lead pastors of Hope City Church, in Houston, Texas. They have an amazing story, and I believe God is bringing them to us for a very special purpose!
LOVE IS IN THE DE TAILS CONFERENCE DATES AND LOC ATI ON S Designed for Life is hosted on two weekends in the Springfield, Missouri area. CONFERENCE 1 | OCT 10-12, 2019 | JQH ARENA CONFERENCE 2 | OCT 17-19, 2019 | JAMES RIVER CHURCH
CONFERENCE S CHED ULE Two nights and days set aside just for you to enjoy. The conference begins on Thursday night at 7pm with the Opening Celebration and ends on Saturday at 3pm. For a detailed schedule visit designedforlife.org
CONFERENCE REGIS TRATI ON Individual and Group Registration details and rates are available online. We encourage you to register early to guarantee your seat. To register visit designedforlife.org For registration questions, call the DFL Registration Office at (417) 581-8636 or email us at registration@jamesriver.church To request a promotional packet or to reserve DFL Leader’s Lunch tickets, call (417) 581-8083.
CONFERENCE HO S TS The leadership of James River Church, along with a host of volunteers, tirelessly give of their time to lovingly prepare every detail that brings the conference to life. From those behind the scenes to those who share the platform, each one adds strength and value – creating an environment that welcomes you and opens your heart to be refreshed, encouraged, and inspired to embrace the life you were designed to live. For more information about James River Church and our four locations, visit jamesriver.church
S O CIAL MED IA I nstag r a m - @designedsisterhood @deblindell @jamesriver Fac ebook - Designed Sisterhood, Debbie Lindell YOUT UBE - Designed Sisterhood #dflconf2019 #unitedwerise #designedsisterhood
IT T A K E S J U S T O NE C OU R AGE OU S ST E P T O B E GI N AN ADVENTURE THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE.
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UN IT E D WE LOV E E ACH OT H E R T OGE T H E R WE CH AN GE T H E WORL D At the core of Designed For Life is a passionate and genuine commitment to rise up with resolve and grace to shine the light of Salvation to those in need. TOGETHER, we are on a mission to bring a revolution of hope to women who are desperate to know that they are loved and valued. We endeavor to use our connected lives; our individual talents, passions, and the resources God has blessed us with to reveal the light of Heaven to our communities, our nations, and into the farthest corners of the earth.
S E E T H E ON E – B E T H E S I ST E R H O O D God has called us to see the one – the precious lives He places in our path each and every day. Those who are longing for someone to show them that they too have value and worth! Through Project 12, we have the privilege of partnering with strategic ministries that are laboring to address the heartbreaking and complex issues we are facing today. From the cries of abandoned infants to the plight of impoverished children, to young girls trapped in the web of sex trafficking, to women who are imprisoned and alone… each and every one represents a daughter, a sister, or a mother who is crying out for someone to care, someone to reveal the heart of God to their souls.
T H E D E SI GN E D F O R LI F E S I ST E R H O O D I S M A K I N G A DIFFERENCE. God is using you – He is moving in response to your generous, gracious hearts, and using our collective faith and generosity to rescue and bring freedom, healing, and salvation to thousands of women and children in our communities and beyond.
EVERY GIRL DESERVES TO KNOW THAT SHE IS BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED FOR LIFE!
I BELIEVE WAS PERFECTLY D EVERY INTRICATE DETAIL T -MY BODY SHAPE, PERSON WAS PURPOSEFULLY WOVE MAGNIFICENTLY CREATE REFLECTION OF
MY LIFE ESIGNED BY GOD. HAT MAKES ME WHO I AM ALITY TYPE, AND INTELLECTN TOGETHER BY HIM. I AM E D TO BE A BEAUTIFUL MY CREATOR.
I WAS CREATED TO BE CONNECTED
TO A HEAVEN-DESIGNED SISTERHOOD, AN EVEREXPANDING, MULTIFACETED COMPANY OF WOMEN WHO BOLDLY STAND UP FOR TRUTH, BELIEVING THAT GOD CAN DO IMPOSSIBLE THINGS!
When we come together and are side by side, something wonder ful w ill be released. We can expect to be encouraged and comfor ted by each other ’s faith! R o m a n s 1: 12 T P T
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UNITED HEART+ SOUL
TOGETH WE WILL RISE AS ONE
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D ESI GN ED FOR L IFE 2019 de si gn edf orlif e.org j am e sr iv er.ch urch