Write His Answer

Most “advertising” is exaggerated, but the best part about what you’ve written is that it’s all true.
GPCWC can have a great impact on your writing, but even more on your life.
I trust that God will use your words to encourage people to come. They won’t be sorry!
Esther Lovejoy – 2009 conferee

Dear Writer –

Why should you come to this year’s conference?

If you’re a beginning writer, GPCWC will give you a solid foundation to build upon. It can save you both time and disappointments in your journey to publication.

If you’re an advanced writer, there’s always more to learn.

Whether you have never published or even submitted a manuscript to an editor or are publishing regularly, GPCWC is an opportunity to grow your writing and marketing skills through eight continuing sessions and 56 workshops. As one conferee said, “It’s the equivalent of a semester course in writing.”

If you’re working on a novel, GPCWC has a strong emphasis on fiction. See the article in July’s Christian Fiction Online Magazine at http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/home_publisher.html.

GPCWC will give you face-to-face opportunities to present your ideas or manuscripts to editors and agents or to authors who can provide needed encouragement and direction. Free one-on-one 15-minute appointments with our faculty are included with your registration. The more days you come, the more appointments you may request. And this year there are 70 faculty members to choose from!

Need hands-on help with your manuscript? Apply by July 15 for the Women’s Fiction Clinic with Susan Meissner, the Not Yet Published Novelists Clinic with Joyce Magnin, or the Nonfiction Books Clinic with David Fessenden, managing editor at CLC Publications. Or choose one or more faculty at www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia/2010_paid_critiques.htm to review a portion of your manuscript pre-conference and meet with you for 30 minutes during the conference. Manuscripts for paid critiques need to be postmarked by July 21.

Do you long for deep friendships with others who share your passion for words and the Lord? You’ll meet them at GPCWC.

Have rejection slips or writers’ block caused you to become discouraged? You’ll find answers and encouragement at GPCWC.

Do you need direction from the Lord and confirmation that you’re writing what He wants written? GPCWC is not just a writers’ conference; it’s also a retreat where those who are listening have heard from Him in ways that have changed their lives.

Are you running on empty spiritually? The worship and messages in our general sessions will fill you to overflowing.

And there’s still more, for in addition to being a high-quality professional conference, GPCWC seeks to be on the cutting edge of issues and world needs.

“Love is the Final Fight,” Dr. John M. Perkins will proclaim in his Thursday morning keynote. “Without love,” he says, “our words just sit on the page going nowhere, having no impact for God. With love, what we write, do, and say—what we live out—will make all the difference in the world.”

What about issues such as human trafficking, child slavery, world hunger? Do you long to be a voice for the voiceless? Thursday evening’s “Justice, Compassion & Advocacy Panel” will address how we can balance passion and objectivity and effectively communicate our concerns. You may want to attend this continuing session as well or get the CDs.

Do you carry a heavy burden for those who do not know Jesus? Friday morning Rusty Wright of the Amy Foundation will speak on “Effectively Communicating Christ to Secular Audiences.” And you won’t want to miss his Thursday afternoon workshop “Seekers and Skeptics at Your Door.”

Are you concerned about the eroding moral climate in our nation and increasing hostility toward Christianity? Rick Marschall’s Thursday afternoon workshop, “Writing His Answer,” is one you’ll want to attend as well as Dr. Rebecca Price Janney’s workshop on Friday afternoon, “Wise as Serpents.”  “We live in a culture that is greatly at odds with our Christian beliefs and world view,” Rebecca says. “How can we be ‘salt and light’ to a perishing society?”

Yes, GPCWC by God’s plan and design is much more than just a writers’ conference. I’m excited to see what He is going to do and  know that it will be “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20 NKJV).

Serving Christ joyfully and expectantly – Marlene

P.S. The sooner you register the better opportunity you’ll have to get your top appointment picks. The price increases July 16. Scholarship help is available for those with financial need as well as time payments. For more information go to www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia.

You have no doubt heard about the American, Robert Park, who entered North Korea on Christmas Day in a courageous effort to bring world attention to the needs of the North Korean people. Please make time to read the following Reuters interview with him and the news release from the North Korea Freedom Coalition. Hope Flinchbaugh, CCWC & GPCWC faculty member and author of the powerful novel, I’ll Cross the River, sent this to me. I hope you’ll send it on to others and that you’ll pray.

I’m reminded of how the seemingly impossible happened when the Berlin Wall came down. In my spirit I sense that we may be on the eve of a similar miracle in North Korea. Oh Father, cause it to be so, please. Use us and our prayers in Ephesians 3:20 ways.

From Hope Flinchbaugh:

Reuters interviews Robert Park before he went inside.  God help us live like this young man.  What a witness.  Please read.

http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2009/12/30/interview-with-north-korea-border-crosser-robert-park/ 

 Press release from Suzanne Scholte . . .

 PRESS RELEASE                                                                        For Immediate Release

North Korea Freedom Coalition Appeals for Humanitarian Consideration for American Robert Park 

Washington, DC (December 30, 2009)  The North Korea Freedom Coalition has sent urgent appeals today for humanitarian consideration for American Robert Park, a devout Christian, who crossed into North Korea on Christmas Day in his words “to proclaim Christ’s love and forgiveness” and to call upon North Korea to open its borders so food and medicine can be delivered and to close down its political prison camps.  NKFC sent appeals to Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Sweden’s Ambassador to North Korea Mats Foyer (the protecting power for United States in the DPRK); and Ambassador Sin Son Ho, North Korea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Citing Robert Park’s motivation for entering North Korea as an expression of his great love and compassion for the North Korean people, NKFC specifically requested Dr. Kellenberger and Ambassador Foyer’s help to ensure that Park is treated humanely.  In their letters to Kellenberger and Foyer, they noted that international attention to the detainment of American activists Euna Lee and Laura Ling was critical and led to their eventual return home, while permanent American resident Reverend Kim Dong Shik starved to death while detained in North Korea. 

In their letter to North Korean Ambassador Sin appealing for Park to be given humanitarian consideration, the non-denominational NKFC, which has Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim members, wrote, “We know that Robert Park entered North Korea illegally, but we know him to be a man of great love and compassion for humanity and especially for the people of North Korea…We appeal to the authorities in North Korea to consider that this man’s actions were totally motivated by his love for them and that his behavior is modeled on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe laid down his life for mankind.  Certainly, this was what motivated Robert to cross the border on the day that Jesus’ birth is celebrated around the world.”

Park has been spearheading efforts in South Korea including prayer vigils and mass demonstrations to call attention to the suffering of the North Korean people and has led the worldwide campaign Freedom and Life for all North Koreans.  He has not been heard from since he crossed the border on Christmas Day, but North Korean authorities have confirmed that he is in their custody.

“He knew fully the risks of going to North Korea,” said NKFC Chairman Suzanne Scholte, “but was willing to lay down his life for the North Korean people who are the most persecuted people in the world today.  We need to honor his commitment by redoubling our efforts to promote freedom and human rights for North Koreans. ”

The NKFC released a report this month entitled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and North Korea” that examines the thirty articles of this document to conclude that North Koreans are denied every single one of these universally accepted human rights standards.  The document is available at nkfreedom.org.

For further information, visit nkfreedom.org or call 703-534-4313.

I love finding bargains! In fact, it is rare for me to purchase anything unless it’s on sale. Even better is finding it on clearance at 50% or more off. So you can imagine my delight when I discovered a beautiful crèche in the clearance section. The carved figures of Mary and Joseph and the angel were exquisite. But wait! Something, no Someone, was missing. There was no baby Jesus!

I thought of the efforts of the “politically correct” to take Christ out of Christmas and how much has changed since I was a little girl. Christmas without Christ was unimaginable. He was indeed the “reason for the season.”

This December I went on a Caribbean cruise with my daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren age 18 months, four years, and five years old. I was a needed third pair of eyes to watch the little ones. Except for a few decorations, there was no evidence of Christmas onboard. There were no Christmas carols, no mention of Christ in the shows we attended. There was, of course, much eating and drinking, gambling and partying. How empty it all seemed, and how I longed for fellowship with other Christians.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, of how He said the world will be at ease, drinking and partying, before His unexpected return (Lk. 17:26-30; Matt. 24:48-49). I’m also reminded of His challenge to be a “wise and faithful servant. . . . Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day? Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work” (Matt. 24:45-46 TLB).

Father, as a new year approaches, ignite in me and in every believer a renewed passion to be Your light in the growing darkness. Give us a holy boldness to be Your representative and to share Your truth. Most of all show us how to truly love others so that they will see Jesus in us and be drawn not just to the Babe in the manger but also to the Savior who willingly went to the cross to save us from our sins. How I thank and praise You for this greatest of all gifts!