Write His Answer

From faculty member, Hope Flinchbaugh:

It was the first time my mother accompanied me to the Philly Writers Conference. After I finished an afternoon of teaching and appointments, I searched for her through the crowd of conferees and faculty heading for the cafeteria for dinner. I was stunned to find her in tears!  I’d not seen her cry since my father’s death, and I wondered what in the world happened?

As she explained the reason for the tears, I immediately wanted her to tell her story to you!

I went to the writers’ workshop in Philly with a heavy heart. I’d received word just days earlier that a relative had a committed a very horrible crime and I was experiencing a range of emotions that just could not be explained. I was angry at him for doing such a stupid, cruel, and horrible act and for the hurt he inflicted on his victim, his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, and extended family—not to mention the Christian ministry where he was looked up to as a leader.  I had a burning desire to ask him, “Was it worth it?” I know God forgives sin and I knew that I had to get to the place where I could forgive him.

I slipped into a back seat in the classroom and everyone was asked to take a few minutes to write about something that was on their heart at the time. The workshop leader called our attention to I Kings 19 where God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, but in order to hear God’s voice we had to be listening for it. I wondered, “Do I listen to Him in prayer?”

The workshop leader led in prayer.  When she said, “Amen,” I lifted my head and the lady in front of me bent over to pick something up. There before my eyes was a man the size of a professional football player with a t-shirt that had a cross and spikes in a circle on it. In the center of the circle was the word FORGIVEN. Something inside me snapped—in a good way.

I burst into tears and thanked God for speaking to me in such a personal way. Later I also thanked the man and the instructor for allowing God to use them to minister to me.

The Philly Christian Writers’ Conference is just that way. There are a vast variety of classes to choose from where you learn to hone your writing craft, but you can also expect God to meet you right where you are in a very personal way.
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Thank You, Father. Thank You for all the ways You are at work at each year’s conference. 

If you haven’t seen the ASSISTNEWS.net article about why this year’s Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is “More than a Writer’s Conference,.” click here. A reminder: The price increases tomorrow, July 2.