This monthly feature will give you the inside scoop on our events from backstage passes to interviews with our speakers, here’s what happens In Any Event.
If the Lifeway Women Live event isn’t on your radar, clear your calendar for July 19–20 and book a flight for Orlando, Florida. Because this event will be the party of the year.
We’re talking two full days of powerful teaching from authors like Lysa TerKeurst, Lisa Harper, Christine Caine, Jackie Hill Perry, Lisa Harper, Kelly Minter, Mandisa, Jamie Ivey, and so many more. Plus, worship with Lauren Chandler.
Not to mention, the many opportunities for in-depth conversations with your favorite speakers, live podcast recordings, surprises, and more.
But first, want to meet our main speakers? Here’s a fun Q&A from the women we’ll be studying live with this summer:
LYSA TERKEURST
What’s something you’re loving right now?
Reading about different personality types.
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
Crime scene investigator.
What are you currently reading?
The Road Back to You.
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
Playing the piano.
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
Forgiveness starts with compassion.
LISA HARPER
What’s something you’re loving right now?
I’ve gone back to school at the “mature” (ahem!) age of 55 to pursue a doctorate in ministry. As crazily masochistic as it might sound, I love the way the books and classes are challenging me to think bigger and harder and deeper about who God is and who He’s called us to be in light of the gospel! It’s also a good excuse to up my caffeine intake. 🙂
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
Landscape architect or just a plain ole’ mulch hauler and dirt digger. I love gardening!
What are you currently reading?
The Coddling of the American Mind, commentaries on the synoptic gospels, and The Pottery Barn catalog.
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
Dancing—any style really, but if I was able to nail a legit hip-hop routine, they’d hear me squealing with joy for miles! A less demonstrative, wiggly skill goal would be fluency in biblical Greek and Aramaic.
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
That He is perfectly kind and shockingly close to His children. The familiar parables Jesus taught in Luke 11, as well as the parable of the two brothers (the prodigal AND the elder, resentful brother), which depicts our Heavenly Father’s compassion as immutable and His presence as intimate. It has reengaged my heart on a whole new level this season. I’ve found myself undone by the miraculous largess of God’s grace many times over the past few months!
KELLY MINTER
What’s something you’re loving right now?
Podcasts by Tim Mackie (founder of The Bible Project). His teachings on Jesus and the Bible as a whole are so insightful and fresh. He’s knowledgeable but offers his knowledge in a practical and understandable way.
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
I would own a cozy, high-quality but reasonably priced restaurant. Or, I’d own a farm.
What are you currently reading?
Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Christ by Fleming Rutledge
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
Hands down, I would know how to play the piano. A close second is that I’d be able to speak Portuguese. A third is I’d know how to build furniture, but that’s a lot of things.
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
That His desire for me is to be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). I tend to look at all the markers of success that our culture, even Christian culture, holds up for me. I can get discouraged when I compare myself with others, but faithfulness, humility, obedience, love are what Jesus requires of us. As we work hard intentionally and strategically, He will grow us in the way He sees fit.
CHRISTINE CAINE
What’s something you’re loving right now?
In this season, I am loving being in grad school at Wheaton studying for a Masters in Evangelism and Leadership. I wasn’t sure how it would go because it has been 30 years since I was last in school. But it has been awesome. It is stretching and challenging me in amazing ways.
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
I would be running a Greek taverna on the island of Santorini. It would combine so many things I love—Greek culture, food, people and islands. And, it has the most beautiful sunsets on earth!
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading a novel called The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Moore.
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
I would love to be able to snowboard!
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
God has been teaching me to trust Him in new ways. His timing is often very different to my preferred timing, but He’s reminding me that just because I do not understand why does not mean I cannot keep trusting the Who.
JACKIE HILL PERRY
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
I honestly have no idea. Probably something super unrelated to my giftings and in accord with my not having a college degree.
What are you currently reading?
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin and Jude commentaries.
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
I wish I could wake up knowing how to play the piano.
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
How to rest.
WHITNEY CAPPS
What’s something you’re loving right now?
So I’m late to the party, but podcasts are my jam. I have several faves from a variety of genres. They have made my carpool runs pass so much faster! And I’m doing a keto diet, so guac recipes have become a new obsession.
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
Sideline reporter for ESPN (I LOVE sports, especially college and NFL football.)
What are you currently reading?
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke. HIGHLY recommend. Also, Augustine’s Confessions, Book IV.
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
I so wish I could do that lovely hand-lettering. It’s just the coolest, but I am the LEAST crafty person ever!
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
I’ve been studying the Adamic covenant and it’s been so cool!! The way God wove the story of redemption, the promise of Jesus even in the curse and fall, is fascinating and faith-building.
JAMIE IVEY
What’s something you’re loving right now?
For the first time, I’m listening to the Bible every single day. I decided that this was the year I would read through the Bible entirely from beginning to end. And having it read to me through my phone has been just the best! I’m in my car a lot (hello, I have four kids), and I love listening to podcasts, so it’s a no brainer that I would be able to find time to listen to the Bible as well. I’m using the You Version Bible app and reading (or actually listening) chronologically through the bible.
If you weren’t in your current career, what would you do?
My dream job would be some sort of television host, which some people say is lame to be a “dream job” because it’s super close to my actual day job, but nonetheless it’s my choice! I look at the ladies that work for ESPN and think that their job would be so much fun. I love sports, I love interviewing people, and so it’s the best of all my worlds! I love my job so much that I’d choose to put some cameras in my interviews, make it a TV show, and call it a day!
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading a few things right now because I’m the kind of girl that has a plane read, a bathtub read, and a living room read. I need a book wherever I might land! In my living room, I’m currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. On my flights, I’m presently reading Afraid of All the Things by Scarlet Hiltibidal. When I’m relaxing in the bathtub, I’m currently reading Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp—not too relaxing, but I am parenting four kids and need all the help I can get!
If you could wake up tomorrow morning with any skill, what would it be?
Currently, I’m looking around my house and wishing that I was a master home organizer. I would pay someone 187 million dollars to come to my house and organize every single closet, drawer, and room. Sometimes I’m looking for AAA batteries, and I think to myself, “There should be a drawer, with a label, telling me where to find AAA batteries.” But there’s not, so I keep searching and wishing that I was able to do my normal life and organize my house. I’ll keep hoping!
What’s something that God’s been teaching you lately?
God continues to show me that I’m not in control of much in my life. As a momma to four kids, I would love nothing more than to have complete control over their lives. But I’ve learned the hard way and will continue to learn the lesson of God’s control versus my control. He always wins. I’m always bending to His control and not the other way around. Sometimes I feel as though I have control over many areas of my life, but He continues to remind me that He is the one with absolute control. I think I’ll be learning this lesson until I see Him face to face!
MANDISA
What’s something you’re loving right now?
Two different people sent me Psalm 73 the other day. It’s one of those too-random-to-be-a-coincidence things that has me reading it voraciously now!
If you weren’t doing your current career, what would you do?
Maybe a talk show host. I’m inquisitive to the point of being annoying, and I think “The Mandisa Show” has a nice ring to it.
What’s something you’re currently reading?
Karen Kingsbury’s “Angels Walking” series.
If you could wake up tomorrow with any skill, what would it be?
I wish I had practiced when my mom put me in piano lessons as a child. It would be awesome to wake up and be able to accompany myself.
What’s something God’s been teaching you lately?
How important it is to process my emotions with Him, as opposed to simply not thinking about them. Sweeping them under the rug doesn’t make them go away—it just makes them start to stink.
Who are you excited to see at Lifeway Women Live this summer? Click here to learn more about Lifeway Women Live and register to join us!