Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Katie Heid has spent the better part of her career talking. Whether it’s been as a women’s retreat speaker, member of her church’s speaking team, radio and television reporter, teacher, or a mom who has to repeat things one too many times, it’s clear she’s got the gift of gab. She also loves Jesus and people. Her lifelong journey with Jesus has shown her that since his greatest passion is loving people, that should be her passion too. Katie lives a chaotic life in Michigan with her husband and two sons. It’s a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. (Although, she would rent it out in exchange for a good nap.) Find her on her web site at www.uncomfortablegrace.com.

Michelle has been a sought after speaker for over 20 years. Her transparency and engaging style when speaking about real-life situations as a woman, wife and mom move her audience to both laughter and tears. Whether speaking about sex in marriage, what it looks like to respect your man, how to fight the blues, or the remarkable story of how her third son, Tanner, had half of his brain removed at the age of eight. Michelle will take your group on a transforming journey where each woman attending will come away refreshed, equipped and delighted she came to your event.

Cindy Sproles is an author and speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the cowriter of the popular He Said, She Said Devotions written with her cofounder, Eddie Jones. She is a novelist and best-selling author. Cindy’s devotions and articles are published in Christian newspapers across the eastern seaboard, including having been used to represent legislature for protection of the elderly. She is a speaker to women’s conferences addressing not only the heart of women, but also their biblical responsibilities to their families. As a teacher and speaker for Christian Writers Conferences, Cindy teaches writing skills and how to write placing God in the forefront. 

She is a contributing author to CBN.com and is the Executive Editor for www.christiandevotions.us and the Managing Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas’ imprints: SonRise Devotionals and Straight Street Books. She is a certified life coach and mentor, an eldercare specialist and a special needs advocate. Her book, New Sheets – Thirty Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be is being used to help raise funds for Hope House, an abortion crisis center and her novel, Mercy’s Rain, is giving a voice to children who suffer sexual child abuse. Cindy is also the coauthor of He Said, She Said – A  Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of  Passion.

She is the mother of four adult sons and  lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her husband. Cindy can be contacted at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing [email protected].

Carol McClain's always been a story teller. As a child, she composed plays and forced her friends to act. She'd help rally the neighborhood kids and together they'd re-enact their favorite TV shows. Sadly, when the boys played, she never got to be the heroine--just the damsel in distress. Since then she's discovered the benefits of needing rescue, and so it's a role she prefers.

McClain lived most her her life in rural, upstate New York where taught high school English for more than thirty years. After years of teaching students how to write, she turned her attention to her own novels.

She has three books. DWF: Divorced White Female and Waters of Separation both were Grace Award Finalists. Her latest release, The Poison We Drink was released in December 2016.

She spends her time now writing, playing with her Springer spaniel and exploring the world with her husband.

You can connect with her at www.carolmcclain.com or on facebook or twitter.

"Five years, two children later and a lot of life in between, I am putting my heart to paper and letting it peek into the open air once again. These years have been good and sweet and tragic and broken all at the same time. I lost one of my dearest friends and one of my greatest champions very suddenly and far too soon, my momma. The painful end to my label career gave my spirit much needed space to breathe and time to re-collect my heart and passions. The hiatus of one career marked the beginning of a new one in motherhood. So here it is, a reluctant attempt to find my voice in the calm rolling wake of life's hurricane...." - Lanaé?

Lanaé's haunting, ethereal voice has been heard in multiple mediums: TV shows, film, and at Christmas time, her evergreen arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" is played on radio stations all over the country. Her moving, translucent lyrics layered over sounds that are interesting, yet accessible have landed her on stages all over the world from Denmark to the United States and many cities in between, playing festival stages in front of thousands all the way down to intimate songwriter nights.

Her husband Josh has stood by her this whole time. He has been involved in the music industry himself for 15 years, holding various roles at record labels and artist management companies. However, it wasn't until Lanaé's most recent, self-titled, EP that the two of them had a chance to work together.  Lanaé's new song, "I Still Do" gives a glimpse into their relationship and why working together on this new EP is their best season together yet. Living in Tennessee with their two children, the two of them will be celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary next year. Discover Lanae’s music: www.lanaemusic.com

Molly White is a former Texas State Representative in House District 55. Prior to running for office she was a pro-life, grassroots activist, public speaker and published author. From 2001 to present day Molly serves as the Texas Leader of Operation Outcry, a project of the Justice Foundation. She was the founder and director of Redeemed for Life Ministries and Women for Life International, a co-host on Faces of Abortion television show and the host of the Redeemed for Life radio talk show.

Molly White has appeared on numerous national and international television shows, news stations, documentaries, press conferences. Her expertise on pro-life issues has resulted in invitations to speak at Christian, political, civic, and medical events all over the United States and seven different countries.

She has led the largest pro-life delegations to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women conferences, and has attended the UN Conference on Population and the World Conference on Youth both in New York and Geneva, Switzerland. During these events Molly met with heads of nations, political leaders, Christian leaders, and hundreds of women leaders to talk about the importance of defending life, motherhood, marriage, and families. White’s most rewarding work is leading dozens of people to Christ and ministering to countless hurting men and women all around the world, including on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Molly graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a degree in psychology. She has been married to Ronald White for 27 years. Together they have 3 children and 4 beautiful, sweet, adorable, fun, smart, fantastic grandchildren.

While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, Ane Mulligan has worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama director, playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast).

Ane firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. Her passion when she isn't writing her Southern-fried Fiction, is Community Theatre. She's Creative Director of Players Guild@Sugar Hill, an avocational non-profit theatre group, where she and her husband act, direct, build sets, and are chief gofors. 

Contributor to the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband, her chef son, and a wooly mammoth. 

If you'd like to see a map of Chapel Springs showing you where all the characters live, visit http://www.anemulligan.com

Jake McCandless is an author and former pastor who serves as the executive director and lead speaker for Prophecy Simplified. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Central Baptist College (2004) and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2009). Much of his theological training has been in the field of eschatology. He has received numerous academic awards and recognitions in ministry, such as the Zondervan National Greek Award and the prestigious Yousef Costa Excellence in Preaching Award from Central Baptist College. He has spent the past eleven years as lead pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, AR, and just recently made the difficult decision to step away from the pastorate to lead Prophecy Simplified.  He spent seven years as a youth evangelist with Sold Out Ministries and has been involved on staff in churches since 1998.

Jake is an award winning author. His book is titled Spiritual Prepper. He also writes for several publications such as the Baptist Press, Almost an Author, and Inspire a Fire. You can discover his ministry here: http://prophecysimplified.com.

Jake is married to Amanda. She’s an elementary school teacher, but currently stays home with their two daughters, Andrea (2011) and Addison (2013). Jake enjoys time with family, ministry, hunting, fishing, coffee, writing, and college football.

Jo Ann Maxwell has had a successful career as a teacher and a senior level nonprofit executive. Since retiring, she has been assisting her aging parents. She is active as a volunteer at the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. Jo Ann loves to read, play Mahjong, play brain games on her tablet and swim (which is her real love). She loves the Lord and is active in her church. Jo Ann tries each day to live out 2 Corinthians 3:3–”clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

When Jo Ann Maxwell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 60, signs along the way in her life became clear. Her faith, independence, and fearlessness in life were threatened. You are invited to share her struggles and find the hope she has. Fearless is how Jo Ann worked through various trials and tribulations to find the fearless spirit she thought she lost. She gives God all the glory for never giving up on her. Find her book at http://www.westbowpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.aspx?bookid=SKU-001082593.

Tim Martin has been involved with baseball his entire life. His quest to make his dream come true started in 1984 with a free agent signing to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in the Gulf Coast League and the NewYork Penn League in his first two season of professional baseball before Tommy John surgery ended his playing days.

After ten years separated from the game, he returned as a coach and a scout. His days coaching high school baseball for Minford High were fruitful, as he led the team to a 331-142 record. This earned him the Ohio District Coaches Hall of Fame award.

Tim also continues to scout for Major League Baseball. Over the last twenty years, he’s been employed by the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins and now with the Boston Redsox.