Communiqué - May/June

CLASS Communiqué CLASSEMINARS.org

May/June 2010

C L A S S E M I N A R S

Christian Leaders Authors Speakers Seminars

Did you hear the news?
Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez,
will keynote at the
CLASS Christian
Writers Conference.

(Details below.)

Register online today at CLASSEMINARS.org.

In this edition:

Out of the Overflow

Keynote Bruce Wilkinson

Perseverance - A New Look

Scholarship Guidelines

News! News!

2010 Schedule

Need a Speaker?

Callouts and Contests

Bring CLASS Home

by Linda Gilden

Out of the Overflow

"...out of the overflow of the mouth, the heart speaks" (and the pen writes!)
Luke 6:45

Recently I sat by a swimming pool watching the sunrise. The reflection of the landscape in the water grew stronger as the light of the new day intensified.

What a perfect outline of each tree on the horizon and each cloud in the sky!

Watching this beautiful picture come to life made me think: the only way the pool can provide such an incredible welcome scene to the morning is because of what is in it. It is full of water. When light hits the water in just the right way, it reflects a picture for the world to see. But only because it is filled with the right stuff, water.

Isn't that the way it is with us? Luke 6:45 says of man, "out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks."

What is "reflected" when our mouths speak or our pens write? Is the reflection in what you communicate an overflow of Jesus Christ living within you?

Often we hear a writing piece referred to as flat or lacking heart. What does that mean? In most cases it means the writing is shallow. It will never reach the heart of the reader because it did not come from the heart of the writer, only the head.

In order for our writing to be effective we have to study - study the craft of writing and study the Word of God. Unless we are filled to overflowing with His Word, our messages will not change the lives of those who read them.

Bruce Wilkinson

CLASS Christian Writers Conference

November 10-14, 2010
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM

In November the CLASS Christian Writers Conference will give those who attend the opportunity to learn and take their writing to the next level along with providing times to grow spiritually in a gorgeous setting filled with His presence in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The theme of the 2010 CLASS Christian Writers Conference is "Out of the Overflow." Truly it will be a special time of growth in many areas.

Keynote speaker Bruce Wilkinson is the author of 60 books including The Prayer of Jabez, still the fastest selling book in history. A Life God Rewards was the first religious book to reach number one on the New York Times bestseller list in its first week on the market.

Click here to read more news...

"Writing is not just jotting down ideas. Often we say: "I don't know what to write. I have no thoughts worth writing down."
But much good writing emerges from the process of writing itself. As we simply sit down in front of a sheet of paper and start to express in words what is on our minds or in our hearts, new ideas emerge, ideas that can surprise us and lead us to inner places
we hardly knew were there."

"One of the most satisfying aspects of writing is that it can open in us deep wells of hidden treasures that are beautiful for us as well as for others to see."

- Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

We're coming your way!
Learn more about summer
CLASS opportunities
on our website,
CLASSEMINARS.org.
Click on each seminar title for more information.

Seats still available for June events, call now!
702-882-0638

Writers Express

June 5, New Orleans, LA
June 12, Columbia, MD

CLASSeminar

June 7-9, New Orleans, LA
Sep. 20-22, St. Joseph, MO

Marketing Boot Camp

Aug. 21, San Jose, CA

Personality Training

June 14-16, Columbia, MD
Aug, 23-25, San Jose, CA
Oct. 4-6, Plainfield, IN

Are you ready for Personality training?

2010 Personality Workshops:

June 14 - 16, Columbia, MD

August 23 - 25, San Jose, CA

October 4 - 6, Plainfield, IN

CLASSEMINARS.org.

Out of the Overflow -

2010 CLASS Christian Writers Conference Book Project

Attendees can arrive at the conference unpublished, slightly published, or multi published and leave with an additional publishing credit they can be proud to be part of.

Out of the Overflow will be a compilation of essays, articles, and poems written by attendees and faculty of CLASS Christian Writers Conference 2010.

Faculty will contribute to this project as well. Wouldn't you love to have your work included in the same book as some of your favorite writers, faculty and presenters?

Click here to read how it works.

Remembering Dan Penwell

Dan Penwell

A Great Friend and Supporter of the CLASS Organization

"Dan was a great supporter of CLASS and our ministry. He will be missed. Yet even as he made his transition from earth to heaven, Dan thought of ways to keep his encouragement alive by asking that memorial funds be used to help new writers and authors attend the CLASS Christian Writers Conference in November. We may not see Dan sitting behind a table at the Ghost Ranch this year encouraging our attendees. But Dan's spirit will always remain a part of the CLASS Christian Writers Conference."

- CLASSEMINARS' President Gerry Wakeland

******

"Although an acquisitions editor, Dan was always more interested in you and your life first, and your writing project second. I introduced him once at a CLASS Reunion held during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). He responded with a few moments of talking about how he'd watched my writing and ministry grow over the years, and of how proud he was of me. I didn't think I was a blip on his radar, but was so wrong. Dan noticed and connected with those he met, and encouraged them every step of the way. He is a much loved, much missed, and much celebrated friend." - Tama Westman, CLASS' Director of Communications

Would you help us honor Dan and encourage other writers?

Many have already made gifts that will benefit writers in Dan's name. Our gift along with yours will help writers who have a dream to share God's message but who face some financial hardships. Your gift is tax deductible and will be exclusively used to provide scholarships for writers. It is not too late to honor Dan's memory with a gift to the scholarship fund. Please send your check made payable to CLASS and noted for the Dan Penwell Scholarship Fund to:

CLASSEMINARS

P. O. Box 36551

Albuquerque, NM 87176

by Linda Jewell

Partnering with Pros -
Prepare and Practice with Len and Carolyn Goss

Len and Carolyn Goss have had a 24/7 partnership for more than thirty years. These pros also partner together at GoodEditors.com to help writers and speakers "...make your manuscript as good as it can be."

To help you prepare and practice your skills, they advise, "Write, write, write and read, read, read. The more writing you do, the more comfortable and confident you will become. Likewise, the more you read, the more you will know what good writing and not-so-good writing is."

Click here to read more.

Linda Jewell lives in Albuquerque, NM and encourages brave hearts on the home front. Read about ways you can support our military men and women in her weekly Support Our Troops blog.

Dare to Dream
Great Dreams
by B. G. Nevitt,
Lead Pastor of GT Church,
Decatur, IL

When we were younger, my wife Brenda and I used to go out on dates on Saturday nights, but now that we're older, we go out for breakfast on Saturday mornings. During breakfast, one of the things we always do is to take time to dream of what could be.

As a pastor of a growing church, GT Church in Decatur, IL, together we dream of the next steps for the future of our ministry. We discuss messages, programs, and people. It's fascinating to focus on the possibilities for the days ahead. If a church is going to grow, it must plan for growth.

For a time, after breakfast we would drive to the corporate headquarters for our state power company. It was intoxicating to sit in the parking lot and envision that 150,000 square foot facility as an amazing church campus, complete with nature trails on the banks of a beautiful lake.

The road to great dreams can be very steep and littered with hazardous conditions. The campus of our dreams was the home of a well-established corporation. But dreamers thrive on looking beyond the obstacles.

Read the rest of BG's amazing story when you click here.

A New Look at Perseverance
by CLASS Grad Kim McCormick

People say that life will throw you a few curve balls. I laugh at that. My life has been one big curve ball and it's still curving. As a child, I was shown a picture of a man I had never met and was told he was my father. That gave me a shiver. Got another one when I was suddenly put into a car for a 2000 mile move away from my grandmother who had raised me. Growing up, I felt many special tingles as I was teased into oblivion as the new girl in school as a result of move after move. The advice I received - just persevere.

My life took a wonderful turn when as a teen I met the love of my life. Even then, perseverance raised its head again, as I had to wait years to begin a life with him.

Due to many difficult times growing up, I came to the place of wanting to know beyond any doubt that God is with me each day of my life. I arrived at that place when I finally put all my hopes, dreams and wants on God's alter. (Yes, I did mean to spell it "alter" and not "altar." ) It is hard to lay yourself on God's altar. But when you do so, sincerely seeking Him and giving yourself over to Him, be prepared because He will alter you.

Read the rest of Kim's story when you click here.

CLASS Grad Kim McCormick has been married 31 years to that guy she had to wait for. She is a mother of two, a Bible study leader, and young mother mentor.
Kim is a former district director for a state senator, and in her spare time
works as a full-time flight attendant for a major airline.

Dan Penwell

Scholarship Guidelines

Dan Penwell Scholarships - Application Details

Through the Dan Penwell Scholarship Fund, CLASSEMINARS, Inc. recognizes and thanks Dan Penwell for the years he invested in the lives of aspiring writers. His legacy of writing with excellence for the Kingdom of God inspires us all to do the same. We will miss Dan at the conference this year but he will be there in spirit through the lives of those whom he has touched as well in those who will be able to attend because of the scholarships in his memory.

In addition to the memorial gifts to this scholarship fund, CLASSEMINARS is providing a full scholarship that includes four nights lodging at the Ghost Ranch.

A full tuition, two half tuition, and two mini tuition scholarships will be granted. For complete details, deadline and contact information, read scholarship guidelines posted on our blog.

******************

DiAnn Mills

The DiAnn Mills $400 Fiction Scholarship (Scholarship will be applied to tuition when you register for the conference. No check will be issued.)

For complete details, application deadline and contact information, read scholarship guidelines posted on our blog.

News, News

You can catch all the news, photos, and participate in conversation about our latest new seminar, Writers Express, on our Writers Express blog. Join the conversation! Sign up for the RSS feed, and let us know how YOU are using the tools from Writers Express to further your dream and fulfill the work God has given you. Go to http://classwritersexpress.blogspot.com/

*************

CLASS Faculty Member and Ministries Director for
CBN.com, Dr. Craig von Buseck, announces the release of his book, NetCasters - Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men (B&H).

Here's what people are saying about this new book:

"I thank God for Craig's willingness, not only to move with the times, but also for his vision to help others to do the same."
- Ray Comfort, The Way of the Master

"When Jesus said, 'go into all the world' He didn't specify how.
Why not use social media for His purposes?
NetCasters will give you fresh perspective
on how we can do that."
- Mark Batterson, Wild Goose Chase and Primal

Are you sharing your message with the world?

We want to celebrate your book releases and news announcements,
please send info to: Editor Tama Westman.

Tama Westman

A Note from the Editor

Hi friends,

Lots of big news in this edition of the Communiqué.

Best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming CLASS Christian Writers Conference when we return to glorious Ghost Ranch this November in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Also, Conference Director Linda Gilden is thrilled to announce that everyone who attends this year's conference has the opportunity to leave a published author by taking part in our conference book project, entitled,
Out of the Overflow.

Guidelines can be found for the Dan Penwell Scholarships as well as our first-ever DiAnn Mills Fiction Scholarship.

Additionally, we are changing our publishing schedule, and will publish the CLASS Communiqué bi-monthly, rather than every month. Still chock-full of helpful articles and useful advice and information, but don't we all have too much e-mail? As always, you can find the newsletter archived on our website. For breaking information and announcements, be sure to read our weekly e-blasts, brief announcements dropped into your mailbox to keep you up-to-date.

Be sure to visit the CLASS website, where you can learn about upcoming seminars, listen to archived radio programs, read our blog and post comments, even hear the message from keynote speakers at last year's writers conference. It's a one-stop inspirational spot that can lift you and gift you with what you need to fulfill the mission God has placed in your heart.

Blessings,
Tama

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