It is always fun to post pictures that share our stories visually. I hope you enjoy a little bit of my history as you view the pics.

Following is a short story about how I became a Speaker

It began in Beaufort, South Carolina when Chad and I were new parents and we begin to attend a new little Baptist church. The ladies of the church called a meeting to elect the first Women’s Ministry Leader. I arrived late to discover I had been voted in. I objected profusely stating I was too young. They all agreed I had great potential and they were there to train me to become an excellent WM leader. I submitted with my insecurities blaring. However, the next two years were more for a time of personal growth as I was mentored by an amazing God fearing, fun lovin’ woman by the name Emilie Horner. I felt like I was mentored more in life than in a position of ministry because I learned the value and purpose of being in The Word daily. That discipline changed my life as I discovered how personal my Heavenly Father spoke through His Word.

Soon our family’s life journey moved us to Phoenix, AZ where I had the privilege of being chosen to become the secretary of the first Women’s Pastor for Valley Cathedral Church. Faye Darnell, was slight in her physical build but a powerhouse in the spirit. Within a year she felt that I was called to be a teacher in Women’s Ministries (tee hee!) and after telling her I thought maybe she might have made a mistake she laughed and said “Pray about it.” I did, while sitting on the beach in San Diego, CA. My Bible had opened to Jeremiah Chapter 1 while I was praying and when I opened my eyes and began to read every objection I had about me speaking was met. I returned to tell Faye and have been teaching women ever since. That has been now been over 30 years!

Through the years more opportunities grew to speak beyond my own church without any self-promotion! By the time we arrived back in California I was a seasoned Bible Study Teacher and Speaker. However, the crisis of a failing marriage due to alcoholism and my co-dependency caused me to foolishly run away for over a year. But, once again, God spoke very personally to me through my circumstances, others and His word, and I returned to Chad six weeks before our divorce was finalized. I returned but thought sure I would never be used by the Lord again.

In my shame filled days I would go to the church and stuff envelopes, because I still wanted to somehow serve God. One day, one of the associate pastors, Chris Cannon, walked by and said “You should take my, Discovering Your Ministry,” class, it starts tomorrow night. I felt strongly that I should because I was confident that all doors were closed to minister to women, so I’d better find out what God might still have for me to do. As the course ended, I had no new discovery. The Lord had confirmed he still had a call on my life to speak and encourage women.

I began to journal and asked the Lord if he had a place for me in women’s ministry he’s have to open that door. Within months I heard about the first Women of Faith conference that was going to be held in Anaheim, CA in September of 1997. Excitedly I called, registered and offered to help distribute flyers about the conference in my community. I took 15 family and friends to that first conference and we had a blast!

Within days after the conference I received a call from Sharon Barnes, the Director of Field Ministry for WOF, asking if I’d bring my resume with me when we met for lunch the following week. As we sat having lunch that next Thursday, I gave her my resume. She never looked at it. She just leaned over the table and shared how Steve Arterburn had given her permission to hire a west-coast rep and every time she thought or prayed about the position I came to her mind. The rest is history, for the next 2 ½ years I was traveling with WOF across the country, engaging women’s ministry leaders at luncheons and emceeing many of the pre-conference events/
As my days with WOF came to end in early 2000, the Lord was already calling me create the “Celebrate! You’re a Daughter of the King,” program, now titled Becoming a Modern Day Princess. What fun it was to discover how many teenage girls wanted to be crowned a princess and their moms so excited to have something special for their daughters. The highlight was finding out how the fathers and other step-in-dads were so emotionally touched as they blessed their daughters or girls.

My last 11 years as the Founder of Treasured Celebrations, that has required me to become a leader of leaders, more than 250 trained TC leaders, and that is not counting all the churches, schools, youth organization leaders, who have ordered leader’s guides and just emailed or called me seeking guidance. It is so far beyond my dreams it could have only been God when He placed that call on my life. I love the quote “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” He truly has in my life!

I love my new motto because it truly portrays my passion as a women’s speaker.

Empowering Women ~ Equipping Teens

Blessings upon blessings to you and yours,

Doreen