Relationships are the Key

CLASS Communiqué CLASSEMINARS.org

September 2009

CLASS
Christian Leaders Authors
Speakers Seminars

This month's line-up includes:

Scholarships Available

Win $500 Publicity!

Marketing Bootcamp

Partnering with Pros

Personality Plus for Couples

An Invitation from Florence

CLASS Reunion

Where are they now?

Founder's Advisory Board

2010 Schedule Announced!

CLASSEMINARS is pleased to announce the Keynote Speaker for the 2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference
will be:

ALEX KENDRICK

Kendrick's Movies

Award-winning writer, director and producer of Facing the Giants and Fireproof. Alex serves as the Minister of Media at Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, GA. His message:

With God, Nothing is Impossible!

Apprenticed to the Master

by William Gaultiere, Ph.D.

Imagine that Eugene Peterson was coming to your town and he was taking apprentices in his school of writing. The Master Christian writer who wrote The Message Bible and so many other helpful books on the spiritual life has space in his school for you! Wow! You'd jump at the opportunity. And so would I. What an honor it'd be for us to be in a select group of people who get to study under him as he personally tutored us, showing us how to write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, poetically and passionately, with insight and encouragement.

We wouldn't hesitate to invest our time and submit ourselves to being Eugene's student because we want to learn how to be writers who are more like him. We would relish the chance to internalize his way with words, to think and feel more like him, to hold a pen like he does, to sit at a computer like he does, to pray before we write as he does, to become like him on the inside so that we could write for God more effectively. Most of all, it'd be a joy to "hang out" with Eugene, the person behind the writer, relaxing and enjoying casual conversation over meals and coffee breaks and walks in the park in the evening and Sabbath days that stir creativity.

That's not just an illustration of how to grow as a writer who uses his or her gifts to draw people to Jesus. It's an illustration of Christian spiritual formation: growing in the character of Christ by having our inner person formed by the thoughts, feelings, will, demeanor, and posture of Jesus. The way to be formed in the image of Christ is to become his apprentice, to set aside all other priorities in order to enroll in his school of discipleship.

Where is Jesus' school for you? It's not in a seminary or other spiritual program somewhere (though he may call you to do that); it's your ordinary, daily life with all its blessings and trials, mundane things and stressful challenges. To be Jesus' apprentice means doing all that you do - not just your church life or other "spiritual" activities - with Jesus and for Jesus. Continually you ask, "Jesus, how would you do this if you were me?"

Jesus said: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men [and women] lay hold of it" (Matthew 11:12). Don't think this means that we need to take up arms and enter a holy war to follow Christ! No, in the Gospels we see examples of exactly what Jesus was talking about: people determined to be a part of the kingdom of the heavens, eager to enroll in Jesus' Master Classes. These "forceful" people were ordinary people like you and I - they were not Rambo types! Some were ambitious and others were insecure and fearful. All were desperate for Jesus!

These people shouted out at the top of their lungs and made fools of themselves to get Jesus' attention. They pushed their way through crowds or crawled in the dirt in between people's legs just to touch him. They walked across deserts to ask him a question. They skipped meals to listen to him teach. They jumped out of trees to have dinner with him, ripped the roofs off houses to sit at his feet, and gave up their life savings to fall at his feet and worship him. They left their businesses and their families and they endured ridicule and abuse to become his disciples.

Dear Jesus, I too am desperate for you! I want nothing more than to enroll in your Master Classes for my life! You are the delight of my life! Being with you to become like you is my ambition. I accept all of my life, including the boring parts and the trials, as your classroom for me. I offer to you all of my writing and speaking, all of my ministry. You are the Heavenly Writer and Anointed Speaker. You are the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Good Teacher, the Holy Servant. All I want to do is to lead people into your arms.

Amen.

William Gaultiere, Ph.D. is a psychologist, spiritual director, author, and speaker. He is the Director of Spiritual Formation Ministries at the Crystal Cathedral and with his wife Kristi has a ministry to pastors and leaders.

Bill will be the Spiritual Formation Director at the
2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference.

James Bryan Smith

A few seats left...don't miss out!

Personality Workshop

Sept. 28 - 30
Ft. Worth, TX
Fee: $575

Gain fresh perspectives and new skills on the personalities and how they interact

Benefit from dialogue and fun interaction with Personality Team members

Expand your professional and teaching portfolio

Become a Certified Personality Trainer

For more than 25 years, CLASS Personality Workshops have successfully prepared ministry leaders by giving a fresh perspective and new skills regarding the personalities and how they interact.

Speaker Joe Larson remarked, "My friends didn't believe that I could become a successful speaker.
So I did something about it.
I went out and found me some new friends."

Your relationships will define you.
And they will influence your talent
- one way or the other. Choose wisely.

- John Maxwell,
Talent is Never Enough

Don't Go It Alone

by Robin Stanley

In one of my first-ever games of Euchre, my partner stunned me with the declaration: "I'll go it alone." He explained that he held enough high trump cards in his hand to win, so he didn't need my help. I could lay my cards down and watch him out-maneuver the other team.

That's my only memory of Euchre, but it made a lifetime impression on me. How often do I take up my cards with the assumption that I can make it on my own?

It's easy to do, isn't it, especially for us writers? We even train ourselves with the attitude required to "go it alone." After all, writing is a solitary task. So we steel ourselves against outside distractions, believing we hold within us everything necessary to pull off a contract-winning non-fiction proposal, six articles in a month, a weekly blog, a facebook® fan page and next year's bestselling novel. Working deadline to deadline, we dig for every morsel of opportunity and eek out every minute in a day. We wind up spending long hours in front of a computer screen isolated and alone.

Isolation is one of the biggest hazards of the freelance life. It leads to loneliness, doubt, sleep deprivation, writer's block and more. We're created for relationship. But, somehow, we writers deny ourselves of it. We dream of quitting our day jobs and lounging in sweats sun up to sun down, tapping away on the keyboard, slamming out killer work. But, really, is the work killing us? The "us" we're created to be?

In order to combat the effects of isolation, becoming more effective and fulfilled in our calling, we need to emerge from our burrows. Reconnect with our lives and with the people in our lives.

We also need to look for opportunities to connect with other writers and industry professionals. Writers' conferences are great for that. They help to bridge the gap between isolation and fellowship, newbie and not-so-newbie, writer and agent, the unpublished and the publisher. They create space for conversation and discovery, feedback and encouragement, friendship and inspiration.

These connections offer insight to who we are and to who God is. We learn that we're not alone on our sometimes lonely journey. They lift us up, give us hope, and move us toward becoming all we can be for the purposes of the Kingdom.

Will you join me at the CLASS Christian Writers Conference? We'll leave isolation behind, reconnect with life, and be reminded that we don't have to "go it alone."

Robin Stanley is a CLASSEMINARS board and faculty member. She ministers at writers' and women's events and serves as an advocate for authors, speakers and publishers through her consulting organization o3-free.

Joseph F. Newton said, "People are lonely
because they build walls instead of bridges."

To build bridges that connect you to people
in a lasting way,
share common experiences with them."

- John Maxwell,
Becoming a Person of Influence

Look who's teaching at the
CLASS Christian Writers Conference
November 4 - 8, 2009
Abiquiu, NM

DiAnn Mills

Advanced Fiction

Jerome Daley

New Generation Writing

Bucky Rosenbaum

Nonfiction Track

Nancy Moser
Fiction Track

Craig von Buseck
Writing for the Web

Jeannie St. John Taylor

Betty Southard
with Bill Gaultiere
Spiritual Formation

Lee Warren
with Ron Benson

On-Ramp

Tama Westman

Book Proposal Blitz

Also teaching:
Terry Blackstock
Dan Penwell
Len and Carolyn Goss
Mary Lou Redding
Jesse Florea
Susan Osborn
Kathy Carlton Willis
Edna Ellison
Carol Cool
Candy Arrington
Terry Burns
Robin Stanley
Karen Jordan
and more!

To register and learn more about all the workshops
and opportunities available at the
2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference,
please visit CLASSEMINARS.

We're getting closer to this event,
have you registered?

2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference
Writing at the Ranch
November 4-8, 2009
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM
Space is limited.

Save $50 when you pay in full by Oct. 15.
$575 if paid by Oct. 15, $625 after Oct. 15.
Please register online or call 702-882-0638.

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE - APPLY NOW

See the CLASS website
details and applications.

Cecil Murphy and Dan Penwell Scholarships for writers to attend the 2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference

Deadline to apply is Sept. 15, recipients notified by Oct. 1.

Extra opportunities at the CLASS CWC:

Get Published Now!

You can arrive at the Ghost Ranch an unpublished author and leave a published author! Having a personal mentor for two days can take every writer to the next level. Limited to 24 participants. For more info, visit CLASSEMINARS.ORG.

One mentor for every two students
Daily writing instruction
Guided implementation of techniques
Lifelong friendships and networking with participants and mentors
Published credit soon after conference

Building a Successful Seminar Business

Learn the step-by-step process to re-engineer your career based on your unique background and skill set to build greater income from speaking events, to both nonprofit and corporate groups. Learn the secrets the pros use to connect with an audience and to eliminate the roadblocks that can set you back or destroy credibility. Leave armed with strategies, techniques and tools to move forward and begin a new business outreach which will generate an additional income stream and help hundreds of people in the process.

Book Proposal Blitz!

Publishing decisions aren't made only on the basis of a manuscript, but whether it's accompanied by a powerful proposal. Don't miss this opportunity to work with industry specialists and mentors to put the polish on your proposal. A bonus practice pitch session will help ensure that your time at the conference will be more productive. Walk out with a proposal you can confidently submit to editors.

Learn the elements of a good book proposal
Get an edge with insider's secrets and marketing trends
Work with industry experts and mentors in hands-on workshop
Be inspired and gain trade secrets from editor Dan Penwell
Practice and perfect your pitch so you are ready for editors

Proposals must be e-submitted by Oct. 10 to Tama Westman.

On-Ramp

On-Ramp is a way for new conferees to get up to speed before moving into the frenetic flow of the CLASS Christian Writers Conference. Those who have never attended a writers conference before or those who are new to this conference will benefit from mini classes such as:

What to Expect at CLASS CWC
Using the Writer's Bible (Sally Stuart's Christian Writers Market Guide)
Mapping Your Appointments
Understanding Editorial Needs, and Editors and Other Minor Gods
On-Ramp will conclude with a Q&A .

WIN $500 PUBLICITY!

Would you like a marketing professional to help you spiff up your book proposal or query letters? Have some help promoting your work or branding? Perhaps you've wished you could hire a publicist but just couldn't swing it.

You could win a $500 grant from Kathy Carlton Willis Communications to be used to spread the word about your writing and/or speaking.

Here's how you enter the contest:

Post the entire link (below) to your Facebook, Twitter, blog, or other social network along with a word of excitement, encouraging others to attend.

Post this link to be entered to win $500 publicity:
http://www.classeminars.org/Events/Writers-Conference/

Email the link to your post to Kathy Carlton Willis for automatic entry into the drawing for her services. Winner will be announced the first day of the conference. Kathy will meet with the winner for a one-hour consultation at the conference to determine a custom designed service package, valued at $500.

Introducing a new seminar:
Author-Speaker
Marketing Boot Camp
1-Day Event - Just $99
December 3, 2009
Holiday Inn Orange Co. Airport
Santa Ana, CA

Take a day in December to get ready for 2010!

One of the goals of CLASSeminars is to develop new programs that will provide the tools you need to enhance and grow your ministry. The new Author-Speaker Marketing Boot Camp with Karen Porter and Kathi Lipp is a one-day intensive course designed to teach you how to market your ministry, expand your horizons, get more speaking engagements, and sell more books.

As authors and speakers, Karen Porter and Kathi Lipp have spent years learning how to market their own ministries to churches and readers across the United States. Through research and study (and a whole lot of trial and error,) they have come up with the dos and don'ts for the Christian market. If you are looking for an interactive, informative, and proven way to grow your audience, spend the day with Karen and Kathi at the Author-Speaker Marketing Boot Camp.

Expand your speaking ministry's influence and increase your bookings

Define your image to reach your target audience

Make blogs, Facebook, & Twitter work for you

Increase back-of-the-room and online book sales

Reach event planners looking for speakers like you

Stop wasting time and $$ on unproductive marketing

As the former Vice-President of International Marketing for a major food company, Karen Porter brings more than 30 years of marketing expertise to the bootcamp. Karen is a popular international speaker and the author of six books including, I'll Bring the Chocolate. She owns kae Creative Solutions, a marketing resource firm and coaches aspiring writers and speakers.

Kathi Lipp is a full-time speaker and author whose first book The Husband Project has sold more than 15,000 copies in the first six months. She has contracts for three more books with Harvest House Publishers including The Marriage Project being released in December 2009. Kathi speaks to Women's Ministry Groups, Retreats, Marriage Conferences, and Mom's Groups. She also does individual coaching to help speakers grow their ministry.

Partnering with Pros - Voice Coaching
by Linda Jewell

As a speaker, a sound piece of advice is to listen to an audio recording of your own presentation. When you do, you can check for pace, volume, articulation and overuse of pesky 'hmm'-and-'you-know" filler words. As an additional bonus, you just might determine that, finally, this recording is good enough quality to sell as a product.

However, most of us are resistant to playing our audio recordings for good reasons: we don't like our voices, and, if we've been brave enough to listen, we don't like what else we hear either.

When you work with voice coach
Roy Hanschke, you won't have to listen to your audio recordings alone. Hanschke will give you objective feedback, solutions to problems, and tweaks and tips to make your presentations and recordings better.

Hanschke's voice coaching isn't limited to speakers. With his extensive radio background, he also helps authors obtain and prepare for radio interviews.

Hanschke doesn't have a canned program of voice exercises or "Ten Author Interview Questions" for you to follow. Instead, he takes a holistic approach to voice coaching. Hanschke starts with questions about your presentation needs, styles, and skills; where you are in your speaking/writing career; your professional speaking and writing dreams and goals; and your Christian calling and ministry.

Beginning with where you are now, he will then work with you to help you get where you want to be. You might work together with Hanschke in one or a combination of areas which include your voice personality, speech construction, speech presentation, ministry focus, and/or media marketing.

If you've heard Hanschke speak, attended a CLASSeminar when he was on faculty, or listened to his morning show, you'll know that he's been blessed with a great voice. (In the Denver, Colorado area, tune in to AM 910, or worldwide "Listen Live" on streaming audio at www.AM91.org ).

Hanschke has also been given another gift which helps other speakers, and even writers, make their dreams a reality. He does this with a creative approach. "I've been blessed with insights into how to help solve problems with simple solutions that don't cost a lot or take forever."

Perhaps you are an author who needs help with radio interviews. Maybe you're a speaker who doesn't like to listen to recordings of your own presentations. If you know it's time to do something about it, contact Hanschke.

Introducing a New Seminar:
Personality Plus for Couples

January, 30, 2010

Texas Disposal Systems
Exotic Game Ranch

Austin, TX

Just $99 per couple

This one-day interactive program will feature Florence Littauer, and CLASS faculty members Andrea and Gary
Chevalier and Karen and George Porter.

The focus of this event is to give couples practical tools based on the teaching of The Personalities that will help them understand one another better thereby strengthening their marriage. One of the highlights of this event will be the interactive group exercises.

Cost for the one day event is $99 per couple
and includes lunch and materials.

* We are looking for a number of Certified Personality Trainers in the Austin area who would like to help facilitate these small groups. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting new event, contact Gerry Wakeland or call CLASSEMINARS at 702-882-0638 for more information.

A Special Invitation

by Florence Littuaer

    What could be more exciting than a winter vacation in sunny Palm Springs, CA?
    What people could be more heavenly than a group of CLASS graduates from 1981 until now?
    How about Patsy Clairmont regaling you with her tales of the first CLASSeminar that lasted for five days and nights ending with a trip to Los Angeles to buy "speaking clothes" at the discount stores in the garment district?
   How about hearing Emilie Barnes tell us how to write 70 books while organizing your desk drawer and alphabetizing your spice cabinet at the same time?
    Or discovering with me the limited joys of becoming an octogenarian (definition: one who eats octopus).
    As George Burns said, "I can't die now I have bookings!" My bookings in February revolve around our CLASS Reunion at the delightful Doral Desert Princess Resort with delicious dinners and dynamic friends.
   I can hardly wait to see you there!!!

Love,
    Florence

Be sure to check out the CLASSEMINARS website for more information and to register for this one-of-a-kind event.

Join Us As We Celebrate
a Thirty-Year Legacy!

CLASS Reunion
February 26 - 28, 2010
Doral Desert Princess Resort
Palm Springs, CA

Thirty years ago God gave Florence Littauer a vision. That vision led to the establishment of what is today known as the CLASSeminar.

Florence's obedience to God's call and commitment to excellence has served the Kingdom well. In the last thirty years she, Marita, Lauren, and numerous CLASS staff members have trained over 30,000 Christian communicators. What a legacy!

That legacy continues as we move into a new era of CLASSeminars. We invite you to join us as we reflect on the past, celebrate the present and launch the next 30 years with CLASS.

Enjoy great times of fellowship with fellow CLASS graduates and CLASS staff, past and present

Hear inspirational messages from Emilie Barnes, Patsy Clairmont and our own Florence Littauer. Plus Marita, Lauren, and lots of others

Preview our new Advanced Seminars on marketing, writing, spiritual formation, corporate communications, and more

Celebrate in style at the CLASS banquet

Join with us for a worship experience on Sunday morning

Bring your books and products to share in our mega resource center

Bask in the sun at the beautiful Doral Desert Princess Resort

It will be a weekend you will long remember. Don't miss this exciting historic occasion. Come join the fun!

Registration includes Friday night dessert reception, two general sessions, two seminars, Saturday night banquet, Sunday morning worship service, CLASS commemorative year book. Cost: $150

Bring your spouse and make it a couple's weekend. Special spouse rate $75 (does not include workshops or yearbook)

* For hotel reservations contact the Doral Desert Princess Resort 1-888 386-4677 and ask for the CLASS rate of $139/night. They have agreed to honor this special rate February 23 - March 3 in case anyone wants to enjoy a few extra days in the California sunshine!

Catching up with
CLASS Grad
Linda Crawford

I am a CLASS grad from Redmond, Washington a few years back and I've never sent an update on all the publishing success I've had since! I learned valuable lessons through CLASS that have helped me in both my writing and in my personal growth.

Since the CLASSeminar I took a less traditional route for pursuing writing and became a freelancer on "work for hire" projects for Group Publishing. I have been a contributing author to so many books and resources I've lost count, but most exciting for me has been the release this summer of my first published Bible study (I'm the solo author), Simply Relevant: A Taste of Freedom - 6 Sessions on Self Control. It's a six-week relational Bible study for women that encourages new friendships and allows women to discover how relevant God's Word is to their lives. It's fun and faith-filled!

Just writing the study has started a miraculous transformation in my own life! I committed to changing unhealthy behaviors and developing the fruit of self-control in some out-of-control areas. So far I've dropped 20 pounds, worked out for 10 months (a new record), and I'm working toward my goal of climbing a mountain here in Colorado next summer. I'm also pulling together a group of middle-aged women like myself, and we are taking on this challenge to transform our lives and give all the glory to God when we reach that summit next year!

CLASS provided a great springboard into my writing career and I want to thank everyone involved for keeping this great organization going. I'm a success story and you all had a part in that! Thank you and God bless you as you continue to encourage and equip us to share God's truth and love!

---------------------------------------------

Catching up with

CLASS Grad

Raelene Phillips

As a 2002 grad of CLASSeminar in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, I thank God for all I learned in those intensive three days. Newly release Towpath to Truth is my 8th published book and I make my living now as an author/speaker. My life is a dream come true, thanks to CLASS.

This is my latest professional picture which I use on the one-page promotional piece I learned about at CLASS. Just tonight I had to turn down a speaking engagement in Alabama for March, 2010, because of a conflict in Michigan. Absolutely amazing for an unknown from Ohio!

Meet a few of those serving on the
CLASS Founder's Advisory Board

verly Sallee

"I believe Florence is one of the outstanding women of our time. She is such a skilled communicator. We can all continue to learn from her great style and wisdom."
A successful business woman with businesses in over 50 countries, Beverly has taken her financial freedom and influence back to the world. Beverly currently speaks over 50 times annually around the world encouraging business owners to get involved in philanthropy and charitable causes. To learn more about Beverly, please visit her website.

Daryl Lloyd

"The two most important books that have influenced our family the Bible and Personality Plus. Without Florence's teaching on the Personalities, our kids would never have been raised in their individual strengths!"
A highly motivated and disciplined individual with over 43 years experience in corporate, small business, and consultancies within Australia and overseas. Daryl and wife Trish have been close friends of (Fred and) Florence for the past 24 years. They brought Florence to Australia in 1986 for her first speaking engagement for Advanced Life Foods, and re-booked her for the following four years. Consequently, they became close friends and traveled the world together for many years.

Pat Damon

Pat's quest for God has remained consistent throughout her life. Her foremost passion is praying and interceding for people. Attending "The Promise of Healing," led by Fred and Florence Littauer, played a major role in her healing and deliverance from childhood abuse and a broken heart. She is always ready to counsel or pray with others who are hurting and seeking healing and wholeness. Pat has a degree in education and taught in public schools and numerous Christian groups. She is a Certified Personality Trainer, a CLASSeminar Speaker, and a Spiritual Director for Upper CLASS.

Others serving on the Founder's Advisory Board include:
Emilie Barnes, Rose Sweet, Evelyn Davison, Dr. Walter Boldt, Dodie Osteen, Dr. Craig von Buseck, and Dwight Bain.
(Introductions coming soon, watch the Communiqué.)

CLASSEMINARS, Inc.

Are you interested in equipping and empowering those in your church or community to become effective Christian communicators?

Contact Karen Porter to learn how you can bring
CLASS to your community.

Logo design by
NThreeQ Media.

Grab a cuppa and settle in, this edition of the CLASS Communiqué is p-a-c-k-e-d. We've lined up some fantastic articles to help you grow in your ministry as a Christian Leader, Author or Speaker.

In this issue, we announce two of the Keynote Speakers presenting at the 2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference, and we roll out the 2010 CLASS schedule. Plus, we have several new seminars to announce, including Personality Plus for Couples, Author-Speaker Bootcamp, and information regarding the CLASS 30-Year Reunion!

You won't want to miss a word! For your convenience, the CLASS Communiqué is also available, and past issues archived, on our website.

Be blessed,

Tama Westman
Editor