ARise: A New Way forward

Meet Your Main Session Speaker

Sharon Hodde Miller was our keynote speaker for Arise 2021. She leads Bright City Church in Durham, NC with her husband, Ike, which they planted together in 2018. Sharon earned her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and her PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where she researched the topic of women and calling.

In addition to writing for sites like Christianity Today, She Reads Truth, Propel, Relevant, and more, she is the author of two books: Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It's Not about You, and Nice: Why We Love to Be Liked And How God Calls Us to More. Sharon travels the country speaking at churches and conferences, and then she loves to return home to her three awesome kids!

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Ignite Women's Pastor: Jennifer Kelly

Jennifer was our morning session speaker. If you haven't met Jennifer, her passion is to lead women to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Jennifer is an avid reader, writer, life-long student, and follower of Jesus. She loves being outdoors and going on walks with her family. She joined the Ignite family in March of 2021 along with her husband, Mike, and their three daughters, Kaytlin, Khloe and Addilyn.

Jennifer graduated from Colorado Christian University in 2017 with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. Currently, she is working toward attaining her M.Div at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Meet Your Worship Leaders

Jerenae Raeford

Ignite Church | Winterville, NC

Miriam Wamer

Opendoor Church | Winterville, NC

Stephanie Fletcher

Latitude Church | Newbern, NC

Meet Your Breakout Sessions Speakers

There were a variety of breakout sessions led by incredible women leaders from our community! Meet them below and see what topic they presented.

Allison Dameron

Learning to Walk Fully Free in Christ

In this session, we learned how to listen to our soul & process your thoughts & emotions to fully embrace the abundant life Jesus came to give you.

Dr. Gwen Tyson

What Are You Waiting For?

In this session, we learned how to wait well, overcome the dread of waiting, & bring your waiting season to a flourishing end.

Angela Revis

Embracing the Unexpected: Parenting Kids with Special Needs

Angela is a Child & Adolescent Counselor & Youth Pastor at Koinonia Christian Center Church. She longs to bring hope for families with children with special needs.

Grace Puerto

Embracing the Unexpected: Parenting Kids with Special Needs

Grace is a mother of 9 (one with special needs) & has such an awesome perspective on spirit-led, word-based parenting & hope for families with children with special needs.

Gina Robinson

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

In this session, we learned what it looks like to be the leader that God has truly called you to be in spite of all the many emotions life throws our way.

Holly Sweat Raper

Living in VICTORY Not Defeat

In this session, we learned how to live in victory, & follow an example of resilience by depending on God’s presence & trusting His plan.

Linda Royster

Mental Health & Depression

Linda serves at Koinonia Christian Center Church & has a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. She is the owner of Beauty for Ashes Counseling.

Taylor Walden

Your Calling in Christ

In this session, we learned how to identify & pursue your God-given passions, & glorify God in the marketplace & in other areas outside of the church.

Wyetha Renee’ Cairns

Healing the Hurts that Hinder Us

In this session, we learned how to overcome behavior patterns caused by experiences of abuse & trauma.

Cheryl Franklin

#PrayerLife

In this session, we gained strategies to help you draw nearer to Christ, pray with confidence & boldness, & live a more abundant & satisfying life.