Answering the Call

I was made for this, but I didn't prepare for it. That seems to be the biggest thing that keeps me from going after anything I ever feel called to do. I'm not qualified! I didn't go to school and earn a degree in event planning. But God prepared me in other ways.

About five years ago, my sister took me to a women's conference in Central Minnesota. I loved it! I loved it so much, that I brought the idea to my employer at the time and proposed we host a similar event in our region. I would do all of the work on it , and I was certain it would be popular in our area and good for our business! My boss turned it down outright. He said, "Something like that will never catch on here."

Another year went by, and I was still dreaming of this women's conference. Somehow I knew I was going to make it happen. Women in our region deserved an opportunity like this to connect with one another! Southwest Minnesota is a very rural, agricultural region. Everyone is very spread out and with that isolated. This conference would be a new opportunity for women to connect. At this moment in time, our world is more connected than ever through social media. But as rural women it seems we've never felt more alone.

I decided to go for it. I did not have an employer backing me on any of it. I relied solely on ticket sales and sponsorships, and of course, my own determination and the faith of those supporting me.

"God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called."

Let me remind you that I did not have a degree and event planning. But that does not mean I was unqualified to do this. Back in high school I was part of a student lead organization called FCCLA. During my senior year as a state officer, I was part of the team that planned organized and executed our state conference. We hosted hundreds of students from across the state and plant it with the support of ours. This women's conference was basically the same thing! When I first shared my idea for empower her, my old advisor reached out to me and connected those dots for me. She said it sounds like you used the planning process!

Alongside my goal to connect the women in rural Southwest Minnesota, I wanted to be the stage for women who had a message to share. And I knew that our neighbors, our sisters, our friends all had a story. Empower her was going to be their opportunity to spread their message. Through empower her, 16 keynote speakers and workshop leaders have spread their message. All of them are women just like you and me. Some of them have spoken on stages before. Others gave their first speech and empower her. All of them were called to share their story.

And I was called to start this event.

I'm so thankful to foster community for women and share God's message with them. We were created to live together and to create when we are called.

XO, Courtney