Arise Ministries Collective Team - Arise Ministries Collective

Free Online Bible Study – Starts October 28

October 15, 2025

We’re excited to invite you to a powerful ONLINE Bible study hosted by the authors themselves—Tracy Daugherty and Lisa Da Silva! We are gathering for a 5-week journey through the Psalms of Ascent, designed to deepen your faith and connect you with our community, including inviting your own to join us.

🗓️ Mark your calendar:

Session 1: October 28, 2025
Session 2: November 4, 2025
Session 3: November 11, 2025
Session 4: November 18, 2025
Session 5: November 25, 2025

We are leading 2 groups to accommodate different time zones.
🕖 Choose which time works best for you: 7pm Eastern Time or Pacific Time.

FREE to attend (just purchase the study)
1-hour Zoom meetings (meeting link sent upon registration)

Meet the Authors

The Heart of Pilgrimage was born out of Tracy and Lisa’s own journey—through summit climbs, shared prayers, and the sacred spaces of friendship in Freedom Challenge. Over five weeks, we’ll walk together and discover what it means to move toward God.

Can’t make the scheduled Zoom sessions?

You can still participate! Consider doing the study on your own or gathering a few friends to go through it together at a time that works for you. The study is designed to be flexible and meaningful in any setting.

Get the Study
Lead a Group

Just Enough: Trusting God For Tomorrow, Today

October 6, 2025

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day…I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” Exodus 16:4,12

It’s early and the house is quiet. It’s dark outside, but I can hear the first pattering of rain after a long, dry summer reminding me that Fall is here.

I’m not ready for it.

It’s been a difficult season. Our kids are growing, my role is changing, and life has become more fast-paced than I’m comfortable with. I’d welcome Autumn if it meant long evenings by the fire and leisurely family dinners with stew and apple cider, but our lives are hurried and scattered and we rarely seem to be in the same place at once.

The season feels like too much.

Too much running. Too much driving. Too much homework. Too many deadlines and expectations. Too many drive-thrus. Too much laundry. Too many hurried goodbyes and hasty “have-a-good-days”.

And too much often makes me feel like there’s not enough.

Not enough time. Not enough beauty. Not enough laughter. Not enough rest. Not enough waiting. Not enough together. Not enough quiet.

So I’ve been reading Exodus and studying manna. Because sometimes misery loves company and the Israelite grumblings make me feel right at home.

Enough is Enough.

God heard the Hebrews’ complaints. They were tired, hungry, and confused. So much so that they longed for the days of captivity in Egypt – Choosing chains over freedom so they would no longer be in want.

Then something unimaginable happened.

Provision poured down from the heavens and lay on the barren earth to be collected.

It was life-giving bread in abundance, but each was to take only what was needed:

When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. Exodus 16:15-18

They took just enough for the day to trust that more would come in the morning.

But a few didn’t believe enough was really enough.

Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it for tomorrow. But some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it.” The next morning it was full of worms and smelt rotten, and Moses was angry with them. Exodus 16: 19-20

Can I state the obvious here? Neighbors of the faithless would have smelled their rotten distrust. Those who couldn’t believe that the Lord would provide more manna in the morning had to deal with the putrid aftermath of their unbelief.

Hoarding and the desire for more than what we really need has consequences that may make others want to pinch their nose closed.

I fear smelling like the “need more” Israelite right now. My failure to trust God’s provision in this season breeds a rotten attitude – One that reeks of discontent and selfish comparison. My sneaky sub-conscience tells me I’m more busy, more tired, spend more time in the car shuttling kids, have more people’s needs to meet, and need more time in the day than anyone else.

When we behave like we deserve more, we may very well smell like it – Discontent and distrust emanating from our pores.

But we can counter this by understanding and clinging to the Word of God. The deliverance of manna in Exodus 16 depicts this truth: His provision may not be what we expect or would have chosen, but will satisfy if we let it. He wants us to rely on HIM for sustenance instead of creating it ourselves or determining what we believe we need for tomorrow.

God wants us to receive his manna fresh each day.

And He wants us to remember that it was He who provided it.

I just love how Moses sums up the miracle and its purpose in Deuteronomy 8. I know it’s long, but hang in there because it really is worth the read:

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; 12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 15 He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. 16 In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ 18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.

Everything we have and everything we are is a direct result of God’s provision. He gives it daily so we’re humble enough to know it’s from Him – To test our unbelief and keep us dependent.

When we’re not enough, don’t have enough, can’t be enough, He gives enough.

When our identity isn’t what it once was, our friends not who we thought they were, our dreams left unfulfilled, we can trust that He is enough and behave like it’s true.

Enough is Still Enough

Manna for the day doesn’t stop with the Israelites in the wilderness. It continues in the New Testament when the disciples ask Jesus how they should pray. He gives them the most beautiful and all-encompassing example in The Lord’s Prayer.

While I encourage you to read the entire prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, let’s settle in on verse 11. Read it over a few times and allow it to soak in.

Give us this day our daily bread.

THIS day.

DAILY bread.

Enough nourishment for this day.

Enough sustenance for this day.

Just enough.

It doesn’t mean we don’t make other requests or tell Him our deepest longings. We can pray bold and audacious prayers in expectation that He’s able to do the impossible. But the intention in which we ask must be to further His Kingdom and honor His will.

The rest of Matthew 6 testifies to this when Jesus addresses worrying about tomorrow:

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Our good and gracious Father already knows our needs and will satisfy them all. There is no point to being anxious about tomorrow when our intentions are pure: Seeking His Kingdom and righteousness above all else.

Because He was enough for the Israelites and is still enough for us.

This is what I’m going to do in this too much and not enough season, and I hope you’ll join me: I’m asking Him for my daily bread and believing He will provide everything I need.

Let’s trust Him enough for tomorrow, today.

With expectation that He can and contentment when He does,

*Important note: This article was originally published by Arise in October, 2018. A community member recently read it and suggested we re-post it to make it more easily accessible during these unpredictable times. May we trust and know that He gives us enough.

About the Author: Lisa DaSilva is a wife, mom, and advocate for women to love God with their heart, soul and mind as they engage in responsible study of His Word. With an M.Ed in Curriculum Development and a teacher by trade and passion, she writes, speaks, and teaches the Bible to anyone who will read or listen. As the director of Arise Ministries Collective in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Lisa believes every woman has a voice. She longs for the day when they find freedom to use it for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom. Lisa is a recovering striver, lover of simplicity and thrift store junkie. She often has to convince people she’s an introvert. Just a loud one. Loving Jesus and making Him known really is her everything.

Registration to Our Fall Quiet Retreat is Open!

August 31, 2025

Do you long for time alone with the Lord? Are you working through a decision? Wondering what steps to take next? Tired? Anxious? Seeking guidance?

We want to meet you in the quiet. If you’re local to the Clark County or PDX area, join us on Friday, September 26th to grow in relationship with Christ, spend time in His Word, seek His will, and be still in His presence.

There will be no obligations or demands to meet as a leader, mom, wife, boss, employee, friend or caregiver – Just a few hours of uninhibited time to sit, rest, and hear God’s voice revealed through Scripture.

If a retreat like this is new for you, be assured that there will be adequate guided practice and direction. If Christ-centered meditative retreats are familiar to you, know that you will have plenty of freedom and space.

Our prayer is that you would simply come and be open to how the Lord will speak.

Read below for the details, invite some friends, and be sure to register early. Space is limited due to the intimate nature of this event.

We look forward to retreating with you.

Date: Friday, September 26th, 2025

Time: 9:30am to 2pm – Please plan to arrive by 9:15 and commit to staying for the duration of the retreat.

Location: We will email you the exact address upon registration, but note that the retreat will take place outdoors at a private residence/acreage in northeast Clark County (98604). The commute may take up to 30 minutes from the Vancouver area.

Cost: $30 – The fee includes all materials, snacks, beverages, and a nutritious boxed lunch. Contact us if the cost would hinder you from coming.

What to Bring:

Your Bible
Pens or pencils
A reusable mug/container/bottle for warm and cold drinks
A blanket to wrap up in
Your notebook from previous retreats if you have one
Weather conducive and comfortable clothes – A hiking trail is available, so wear appropriate footwear if you want to go for a walk
A favorite folding chair (optional). Portable seating is limited and you may want to move around the beautiful property. We’ll have a few available if you don’t have one.

How to Register:

Secure your spot by paying the $30 fee for materials/lunch in Eventbrite.

Please understand that while we know plans change, the registration fee is used to pre-purchase your lunch, snacks and supplies. We only charge what we believe will cover the cost of the day. Fees can’t be refunded, but your spot is transferable.

“Rhythm of Remembrance” by Jessica Zinck

August 5, 2025

A mother sits on the couch with her children. They are begging her to look at pictures of when they were babies. The family gathers close, scrolling through photographs as stories are told– tales of important milestones and silly moments.

For them, remembering has become a cherished family activity.

Sharing photos and reminiscing gives children a stronger sense of identity and increased self-esteem.

Among the many roles a mother carries, one of the most powerful is that of the family historian. How do kids learn what to value? Children see what their parents value.

By observing their parents, children come to learn that remembering matters.

But remembering isn’t merely sentimental– it’s a spiritual discipline.

In Deuteronomy, during his final address to the Israelites, Moses models a rhythm of remembrance. His words serve to strengthen the people’s faith, unify them as God’s chosen people, reinforce their identity, and give them a sense of value.

We see this in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV):

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The Israelites are commanded to love God with all their heart, soul, and might. They are charged to keep His commandments written on their hearts and to teach them to their children.

Amid their daily rhythms, they are to invite God in and keep Him close.

Today’s believers are faced with the same challenge: Is God being invited into every part of daily life? Into school drop-off lines, into grocery shopping, into conversations, and into bedtime routines?

How much more significant would ordinary moments become if they were seen as opportunities to reflect on God’s faithfulness?

Children would see that God isn’t confined to Sunday mornings. He is present in the routine and mundane moments where faith is most often formed.

Moses told the Israelites to bind God’s word on their hands, between their eyes, and write it on their doorposts.

Why? Because humanity suffers from spiritual amnesia!

And Moses offers a solution: Keep God close. Remember His goodness. Treasure His word. Make His truth visible and accessible in our homes.

Just as there is power in looking at a picture, there is even greater power in the written word of God.

Moses gave this charge just as the Israelites were about to leave behind their time in the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. After years of disobedience, God remained faithful to his covenant promise.

And yet, God knew the Israelites wouldn’t be able to keep His commands. He knew they would need an intermediary.

That’s why Moses’ message ultimately points us to someone greater.

Jesus.

The one who lived the sinless life humanity could not, and in love, bore the weight of sin on the cross.

Through him, humanity is set free.
Free from the punishment of sin.
Free to enjoy a relationship with God.
Free to live in remembrance, gratitude, and obedience.

Moses equipped the Israelites to live in a faithful rhythm by retelling stories of God’s goodness. His words weren’t oral history–they were a guide to Godly living.

Believers today need that same rhythm of remembrance.

During busy routines, may Christ’s followers take the time to remember who God is. And may they pass along this love to their children.

May believers leave behind a legacy of faith rooted in God’s unchanging word.
A legacy of an accessible Jesus.
A legacy of God-stories told.
A legacy of remembrance.

About the Author: Jessica Zinck is a Bible study teacher and Women’s Ministry Leader who is passionate about equipping women to study God’s word and encouraging others to experience His life-changing love. Jessica lives in Joliet, IL. with her husband and three kids. She enjoys reading, lattes and the outdoors. Learn more about Jessica and connect with her here.

“The Heart of Pilgrimage” – Our New Bible Study & Doing it Together

July 17, 2025

ASCENDING TOGETHER

What happens when two women say “yes” to a God-sized dream? When they lean into friendship, faith, and the hard work of collaboration? You get something like The Heart of Pilgrimage—a Bible study born not just from study and prayer, but from mosquito-ridden mission trips, summit climbs, and countless cups of coffee.

In this podcast and article, Tracy and Lisa pull back the curtain on what it really looked like to write a Bible study together—and why we believe “together” is one of the most powerful words in the Kingdom of God.

THE SPARK OF TOGETHERNESS

Our journey began years ago in a small café in Vancouver, Washington. A mutual friend introduced us, sensing a shared passion for women, justice, and the Word of God. That first conversation was vulnerable, honest, and Spirit-led. It led to a whirlwind trip to Bangladesh, where we shared beds in humid rooms and witnessed firsthand the plight of vulnerable women.

From there, our friendship deepened. We climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together. We led conferences. We dreamed. And eventually, we wrote our first Bible study. But it was our second project—The Heart of Pilgrimage—that truly tested and refined our partnership.

THE MECHANICS OF COLLABORATION

Writing a Bible study together isn’t just about theology and structure—it’s about trust, communication, and honoring each other’s strengths.

We prayed. We planned. We blocked off four intense days to write – scheduling everything from meals to walks to quiet work time. Tracy brought the vision and passion for the Psalms of Ascent. Lisa brought structure, outlines, and a knack for turning ideas into action.

We gave voice to our preferences. We traded off when one of us got stuck. We worked 12-hour days, fueled by purpose and the occasional crockpot meal. And we finished—on time, with joy.

THE OBSTACLES (AND THE GROWTH)

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Togetherness requires humility. It means letting go of pride, inviting feedback, and trusting others to carry the vision forward.

When it came time to film the companion videos for the study, everything changed. Rain, logistics, and production needs forced us to pivot. Lisa, who thrives off-the-cuff, had to prepare scripted content. Tracy had to let go of control. We borrowed clothes, gave up our one day of rest in the middle of a difficult Freedom Challenge, and leaned hard on our team.

And it worked. Because we trusted each other. Because we trusted God.

WHY TOGETHER MATTERS

This Bible study isn’t just about pilgrimage—it’s a product of one. A journey of faith, friendship, and formation. And we believe it’s a model for what’s possible when women say yes to doing good, doing more than they thought possible, and doing it together.

So whether you’re dreaming up a new project, leading a Bible study, or just longing for deeper community—take the risk. Invite someone in. Pray. Plan. And trust that God will meet you in the process.

JOIN THE JOURNEY

The Heart of Pilgrimage: A Four-Week Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent is now available on Amazon. You can do the study on your own, with a friend, or join our online group this fall.

Let’s keep doing good.

Let’s do more than we ever thought possible.

And let’s do it together.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Listen to the Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/842389/episodes/17439163

Order The Heart of Pilgrimage: https://amzn.to/4lTLZBg

Watch the interview: https://youtu.be/P5vJYtNpFG8

Learn more and join a group: https://www.thefreedomchallenge.com/bible-studies

ABOUT TRACY & LISA

Tracy Daugherty

As the director of The Freedom Challenge, Tracy has more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry and church planting with her husband, Dan. Based in San Diego County, California, she holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and is an experienced Bible teacher and speaker. She continues to witness the power of women as environment changers, as culture setters and as forces of good in the world.

Lisa Da Silva

Lisa Da Silva is passionate about people, passionate about the world, and passionate about how the living, infallible Word of God can transform both. As the director of Arise Ministries Collective, Lisa longs for the day when women find freedom to use it for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom. Lisa lives with her husband of 26 years and two young-adult children in Vancouver, Washington.

Unraveling Pride: Embracing God’s Invitation to Genuine Surrender

February 18, 2025

Something was off.

I returned to my room and couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering my soul. “What was that verse again and why was it prickling me,” I thought.

The retreat started much like others I had attended. The leader shared a passage from scripture, and we prayed over our time together. However, this particular retreat was meant to be different. I was there to learn how to lead silent and prayer retreats. Having attended retreats in the past, I thought I knew what to expect. What I didn’t anticipate was God calling me out for my pride.

As the retreat leader read aloud, my heart ached. Shrugging it off, I took a deep breath and listened intently – wanting God’s words to ring true.

I listened, sat prayerfully, nodded, and whispered “Yes, Lord”. Yet, I could feel a sense of resistance within me.

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Later in my room, I unfolded the piece of paper given to me during the morning session – Psalm 131 inked on the page. The passage confused me, so I pulled out my phone and looked up the word “haughty.”

“Arrogantly superior and disdainful,” I read aloud.

My gaze landed on the bell tower outside my window as I felt the presence of God. In my spirit, I felt God’s gentle nudge toward dismantling my lofty goals and surrendering to the unknown. But I knew it was more than surrendering, I needed to be completely content with the outcome – regardless of my own expectations.

Pride is a tricky thing. It shows up when we’re not expecting it – weaving its ugly, yet beautifully disguised, tentacles into the most vulnerable parts of one’s soul. Often it can be unnoticed for quite a while.

God wants to lead us to His kingdom work, where His glory shines the brightest and the only explanation is pointed directly back to Him. Our pride can slowly fester, decaying our chance of Him leading us. We get in the way. More importantly, it jeopardizes our personal relationship with our Almighty God. Pride can keep us from the One we’re longing to be closest to – Jesus.

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In God birthing a dream and ministry within me, I inadvertently became focused on aspects that made the ministry more about me rather than about others and their relationship with our Triune God. My desire for ministry began to intertwine with pride. I wanted to host retreats that left attendees saying, “That was the best retreat I’ve ever been to!” Instead, my goal should be for people to say, “Wow, I needed that time with God. He’s so good to me.”

I now understand that the resistance I felt during the retreat was God nudging me to recognize my pride.

God has great plans for our lives and he invites us into His works. He invites us to collaborate with Him so that He can show off his extraordinary love.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV

He doesn’t desire our achievements; He longs for our hearts. The Holy Spirit reminded me that my hidden pride was obstructing His guidance and preventing His love from shining through me.

It’s not always easy to fully surrender, letting God lead us with unconditional contentment – like a weaned child. But I’ve also seen the fruit of trusting God wholeheartedly. He shows up in big ways. He shows up in ways that show off His glory. He shows up in ways that can only point back to His love, mercy, and grace.

I’ve watched God’s provision prove to be faithful in times when finances were tough for my husband and me. I’ve seen God open doors I never thought possible. My heart has been softened during painful moments where unexplainable peace covered me.

Throughout these experiences, I have come to realize that God’s counsel in our lives is often a gentle invitation to a deeper connection with Him. Who are we becoming in the process as He walks with us in the journey? As I reflect on how God’s presence, I am reminded that these moments are not just about our circumstances but also about our readiness to embrace what He is calling us to.

In your ministry, whether it’s in motherhood, an office, a church building, or on a sidewalk ask yourself, What is God inviting you into? Do you sense any unseen pride that gets in the way of God leading you?

About the Author
Austi Baudro is an artist and spiritual director living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. A recent call to surrender everything inspired Austi to start her small business, Robe and Crown. Her mission is to help others prayerfully consider what God is inviting them to do. Through her art and messages, Austi hopes to encourage people by guiding them back to their relationship with God.

Robe and Crown is an online shop filled with scripture art and products such as devotional art prints, greeting cards, notebooks, and more. You’ll discover meaningful items and gifts, all featuring scripture art to draw you into God’s invitations.

Are you seeking a simple yet practical way to reconnect with the love of God? Download our free guide, “Breath Prayer Practice: 20 Breath Prayers for Your Everyday Life.” This practical resource will walk you through the practice of using breath as prayer, featuring the inspiring Robe and Crown art. DOWNLOAD HERE

Follow Robe and Crown @robe_and_crown on Instagram and https://www.facebook.com/robeandcrownmin on Facebook

Expect Conference – Meet the Main Session & Workshop Leaders

January 20, 2025

We believe in together, and think you might, too.

Use this link to join women from around Clark County and the greater PDX area for EXPECT – an interchurch conference that desires to explore who God is and better understand what we can expect as Christ-followers. Participants will enjoy food, fellowship, worship, solid teaching, and interactive workshops from local leaders. Please register early as capacity is limited and workshops are offered on a first come basis.

WHO: Women (13 and older)
WHAT: EXPECT – A two-day women’s conference
WHEN: Friday, March 14 (7-9 pm) & Saturday, March 15 (9 am-3 pm)
WHERE: Vancouver Church – 3300 NE 78th St, Vancouver, WA 98665

Cost: We want all women to be able to join us, and make every effort to provide the lowest price possible. Register before February 4th for $55 (includes all materials, generous refreshments during our community times, dessert Friday evening, light breakfast and a full catered lunch on Saturday, main teaching sessions, workshop sessions, and worship). Price will increase to $65 after February 4th. Students qualify for a special discount.

About Saturday’s main session speaker:

Learn more about Shelbi’s story here.

About Friday’s main session testimonial speaker:

About our main worship leader:

About the workshop leaders:

Join Us For EXPECT: An Inter-church Conference That Explores Who God Is and What We Can Expect As His Followers

January 16, 2025

Register here to join Arise Ministries Collective and women from around Clark County for EXPECT, an inter-church conference that desires to explore who God is and better understand what we can expect as Christ-followers. Participants will enjoy food, fellowship, worship, teaching and interactive workshops from local leaders. Register early, as capacity is limited and workshops are offered on a first-come basis.

WHO: Women (13 and older)
WHAT: EXPECT – A two-day women’s conference
WHEN: Friday, March 14 (7-9 pm) & Saturday, March 15 (9 am-3 pm)
WHERE: Vancouver Church
COST: $55 (early bird rate; January 14-February 4) // $65 (standard rate; February 4-February 24)

*Cost includes: workshops, main teaching sessions, worship, all materials, light refreshments and dessert on Friday, light breakfast and full lunch on Saturday, and refreshments throughout the conference.

WORKSHOPS

You will be asked to select your top three choices from the following workshops at the time of registration. While we will try to accommodate preferences, allocation will be determined by order of registration and workshop capacity. Participants will attend two workshops at the event:

Inductive Bible Study: Growing Closer to God as You Learn to Observe, Interpret, and Apply Scripture with Judy Friesen
Using Your Voice: Tips and Ideas for Creating a 20-Minute Gospel-Centered Message with Kirsten Galanter
A Tired Mind: Finding God’s Peace in Anxiety with Beth Claes
Leaning Into Lament: Embracing the Presence of a Trauma-Informed God with Marnee Alfson
Mission Possible: Understanding and Living the Great Commission with Becky Hurley
Waiting Well: Finding Strength for the Journey Through Heartbreak to Hope with Eka Frimpong
Time With Jesus: An Hour of Guided Prayer with Melissa Olson (*Please note: you will not need to pray out loud during this workshop)

**IMPORTANT: If you are only planning to attend the main sessions and NO workshops, please select that option during registration so we can accurately place other registrants in their desired workshops.**

**Follow us on Instagram to see pictures of our workshop leaders and read their bios.

MAIN SESSION SPEAKERS

Shelbi Shutt is a pastor, speaker, writer, and disability advocate who has given her life to teaching and empowering people to encounter God’s presence in and through their weaknesses. Shelbi has had the opportunity to share her unfolding story of steadfast hope with thousands of people across the country, igniting joy and resilience wherever she goes. Shelbi currently serves as the Pastor of Gathering and Teaching at A Jesus Church in Portland, Oregon, while pursuing her Masters at Western Theological Seminary. Alongside her work in the local church, Shelbi has been a collaborative partner with Alpha, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, The Fuller Youth Institute, BibleProject, and the Canadian Church Leaders Network. Shelbi lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Jordan and their pup, Cas You can connect with her on IG @shelbishutt

Ali Gadbaugh is a homebody, wife, and mom who is dedicated to her family and a fierce mental health advocate. Born and raised in the PNW, she likes to add a little sarcasm and humor to life, loves coffee and her French Bulldog, and is committed to deepening her relationship with the Lord and seeking His voice through His Word.

WORSHIP LEADER

Becca Alexander Pickrel is a worship pastor, musician, and a born and raised Portlander. She fell in love with Jesus through singing and believes music has the power to bridge any gap. She is passionate about leading people into the presence of God and drawing them closer to Christ. Becca is a runner, has two children, and loves to lead worship alongside her husband Ryan.

SCHEDULE

Please note that the main sessions will begin promptly at their scheduled times. Plan to arrive early enough to park, check-in, and take advantage of opportunities for fellowship and/or prayer if desired.

Friday, March 14, 2025

6:15 pm Check-In | Light refreshments available
7:00 pm Main Session | Worship & testimony (Ali Gadbaugh)
8:30 pm Closing | Followed by dessert & fellowship

Saturday, March 15, 2025

8:15 am Doors Open / Prayer Opportunity | Light breakfast
9:00 am Welcome / Prayer / Worship
10:00 am Workshop Session A
11:00 am Lunch / Fellowship
12:15 pm Workshop Session B
1:30 pm Main Session | Worship & teaching (Shelbi Shutt)
3:00 pm Closing & Exhortation | Prayer opportunity

IMPORTANT

* While we understand that life happens and plans change, materials and food have been pre-purchased based on your confirmed registration. We cannot process refunds of any kind, for any reason.

* Our team is working hard to accommodate workshop preferences and want you to have the best experience possible at the conference. That said, we cannot guarantee workshops and simply do not have the capacity to reassign participants. Please take this into consideration at the time of registration.

* As volunteers trying to create an amazing event at a reasonable price, we must strictly adhere to our registration closing date of Monday, February 24. We will not process registrations after this date or onsite at the event.

Breaking the Power of Shame by Beth Claes

January 11, 2025

The first response to sin, going all the way back to Genesis 3, was shame. After their disobedience, Adam and Eve hid from God. And it is a story we are all prone to repeating in our own lives. Hiding and shame are our natural responses to our own sin, as well as the ways we are sinned against by others. We all war with this to some degree. But for some of us, it becomes a way of life. We begin to believe that if parts of our hearts and lives were seen or known, we would be utterly finished.

I understand that response because I have lived it. I am familiar with the inclination toward hiding anything that feels vulnerable – insecurities, sin struggles, desires, and pain. But it doesn’t stop there. Our relationships with others often reflect how we relate to God. When shame controls us, we try to control the image of ourselves that we present to God, and we hold back the parts that are most in need of him.

This is a battle I fight continually, but it doesn’t control me the way it once did. Finding healing from the depth of my shame is probably one of the parts of my story that gives me the greatest joy. When I remember how lost, full of fear, and self-loathing I once felt – I can’t help but adore the One who saved me that much more.

But how did that happen?

What if you resonate with parts of this? What if hiding feels safer than authentic openness? What if the idea of being fully seen by God and others scares you?

You are not alone, my friend. The gospel is good news for those who hide and bear the weight of shame. But how exactly does Christ heal the brokenness you feel? How do you leave an identity of hiding behind, for one filled with authenticity and freedom?

There is no 12 step plan here, but there is a God who welcomes all who would seek him. From the chapters of my own story, here are some of the paths from which I find hope and healing.

First, I would suggest that you pray very honestly (Psalm 62:8). Talk with God about what you really feel and what you fear. During a time when I was ruled by shame, I remember one day finally coming to terms with the idea that I couldn’t actually hide from God. But it didn’t lead to a beautiful homecoming or the embrace of the Father with a prodigal – at least not right away. No, my resignation to truth was more like defiantly stomping out into the open, and yelling at God that FINE, he could have me! I told him to just get it over with and do his worst. I was sure it was coming. It felt like exposure of the worst kind.

I know that sounds dramatic, but it is truly how I felt- I was terrified and angry. But looking back, I think even my aggressive, fear-filled surrender was a turning point. Because as I turned toward God telling him what I felt about him and myself, I was inviting him to be a part of my life. I was talking to him. I told him that I felt safer with him at a distance. I also asked for his help, while in the same breath admitting I wasn’t sure I wanted it.

It was messy, but I was finally inviting God in (even if it was, “to do his worst”) – and as I did, I was amazed that instead of rejecting or cursing me, he seemed to come closer to me (James 4:8). To this day, when I feel that familiar desire to hide, I try to treat it like an alarm that reminds me to go before the Lord and share my heart with him. I want it to be the signal that compels me to the very opposite of what I once used to do.

The second way out of patterns of hiding is related: Freedom is found in confession (1 John 1:9). Once you start praying honestly with God, there is a natural movement toward confession. In my genuine honesty, I can’t deny the ugly realities of my heart and life.

During that season of painful surrendering to God, it was true that I wanted a life without him, so I told him that. I thought I couldn’t trust him, and that I knew better than him. I told him that too. And eventually my honesty led to acknowledgement of my guilt – the depth of my pride that drove my complaints against God. I asked him to forgive me, even though at the time I still loved my sin more than I loved him.

In those moments I couldn’t fully grasp the goodness of his forgiveness, but God always meets us where we are. He offers us grace even when we aren’t convinced that we need it- through his Word and people around us. I found encouragement in Ephesians 1 and 2, especially verses like 2:4-5 – But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

It is his continual kindness leads to genuine repentance (Romans 2:4).

Another path that proved helpful was learning to orient my heart toward who God is and to speak truth to myself. Shame is consumed with itself. Hiding is self-obsessed. In order to change this pattern we need to change our focus and fill our minds with truth about who God is – even if we struggle to believe it.

I find relief from my inclinations toward self-obsession by studying God’s Word to understand who he is. I remind myself that God is trustworthy (Hebrews 10:23; Lamentations 3:22-23). He does not delight in my suffering – he came and painfully died because of sin and the suffering it produces (Isaiah 53:5). He is patient and gracious toward me (Psalm 103:8). I speak these biblical truths to myself, acknowledging that they do not always feel real to me, and asking for God’s help to see them as true. He is faithful in shifting my heart toward himself – and knowing, understanding, and worshipping him.

Finally, I would urge anyone who battles with hiding to bring another Christ-follower along with them. Shame loves darkness. As you pour your heart out to the Lord, engage in confession, and remind yourself of biblical truth – do the same alongside a trusted friend or counselor. First John 1:5-7 reminds us to walk in the light in fellowship with one another, which includes shared confession and mutual encouragement.

If the desire to hide drives your behavior, I want to assure you of the great hope and freedom we have in Christ. When your shame is deep, God’s grace is deeper still. We are fully known and loved by him. His kindness and mercy extends to all who seek him. He comes close to the weak, the vulnerable, and depraved. His love is vast. He, from whom I used to hide, hasbecome my refuge.

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood his mercy brings
Unending love, amazing grace.”

Learning to Wait Well in a Time of Wilderness

June 17, 2024

Last winter, I married my best friend in an intimate gathering on the third floor of our church on a dreamy December day, fog enveloping us in pure bliss. We spent the week after our wedding in the stunning – and to our surprise, very warm – mountains of Yosemite National Park. Our only agenda was to rest, eat, adventure, laugh and live, and we did just that. It was a dream come true – so many moments carved out for us to simply be together; treasures I immediately stored in my heart for all time.

Two days after returning home, exactly a week before Christmas, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job. Budget cuts eliminated my position and others throughout the organization. Still shell shocked, I called my husband, drove home, and we lamented for the afternoon, holding space for the complexity of emotions that followed. A roller coaster going up and down on its tracks. A prayer for understanding and peace. A reliance on the Holy Spirit to intercede and speak the words we didn’t yet have.

I began to wonder, in all my fragile humanness, “Am I simply not enough? How do I keep missing the mark? Will my professional life ever amount to something I can be proud of?” It was a string of questions that scared me; a reality I didn’t feel prepared to embrace.

Christmas was a welcome place of light and hope and joy. Time with family and friends was extra comforting, and the new year was peeking over the horizon. Something about a fresh start aligning with the beginning of my job search was an encouragement to me. This would be easy, right? I thought that if I could just will a new job into existence, that if I tried hard enough, put in enough hours, or did everything right, an opportunity would soon materialize. Looking back now, I had so much learning to do. So many honest and challenging and illuminating conversations with God awaited me over the coming months. Silent prayer paved the way, as I often didn’t have words.

A few months into my search, I was reminded of the term “wilderness” through a touching story told by Tyler Staton, a favorite author of mine, a concept Scripture isn’t unfamiliar with. In the gospels, Jesus himself was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and tempted by the devil for 40 days. He knew the pain of hunger and weakness and want, but his responses to the temptor reflect an unshakable confidence in God and His Word. Eventually, Satan offers the entire world to Jesus after a string of other temptations, a deceitfully attractive offer, but one Jesus does not even blink at, rebutting, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). He did not sin or compromise in light of His humanity. A mark of obedience and allegiance and belief.

Gradually, my attitude about my job search was being ushered in a different direction. I began to ask, “What would you have me discover in this place, God? This place that feels like my personal wilderness? This time of waiting and mystery?” I began to ask “why” less and knew that I needed to press further into the Father. How could I direct my heart, my affections, my whole being to the Lord? It is indeed what I am created for.

St. Brendan the Navigator captures the heart of the unknown and the things that feel so wildly mysterious in his ancient prayer:

“Christ of the mysteries, I trust You
to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know
that my times, even now, are in Your hand.”

Kallistos Ware, an English theologian, says it this way:

“In the Christian context, we do not mean by a ‘mystery’ merely that which is baffling and mysterious, an enigma or insoluble problem. A mystery is, on the contrary, something that is revealed for our understanding, but which we never understand exhaustively because it leads into the depth or the darkness of God. The eyes are closed—but they are also opened.”

I’ve long taken comfort in knowing that the children of God who came even thousands of years before me undoubtedly experienced their own hardships, but knew their Creator and Sustainer. Their words tell a story of a good God, our shared God, who heartens them beyond their lives and deep into their being. While I searched for each new job opportunity, I held their reflections close to my heart.

An afternoon shortly thereafter, the Holy Spirit gently placed Psalm 27:13 on my heart: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

After several months of long interview processes and numerous rejections, I was fatigued on a soul level. But while I hadn’t expected to be stretched so much by something that I knew wasn’t my identity and presented such a continuous challenge for me, I could still, at any time, call on a multitude of moments turned into blessings – blessings that show an unmistakably powerful God, but also one available to me in even the smallest details.

While I still yearned for answers and opportunities, I knew it wasn’t answers that, in their deceit, could fulfill or make me enough. Each moment of disappointment and every decision made was formative. I’m learning that I can not only wait, but wait well. In my wilderness, He has, again and again, filled me, molded me, breathed new life into me, and strengthened me.

I still don’t have a job offer. I still don’t have answers. But I am set on asking, “God, what would you have me discover in this place? This moment in time that challenges and changes me? This wilderness?”

Psalms Redux, a collection of the psalms transposed from ancient language to a more contemporary one reads Psalm 27 this way:

“Oh that I may dwell in You day by day, moment by moment.
Then peace would be mine.
Then I could persevere when the waters threaten to overwhelm.
Then my eyes would be filled with beauty and my mouth with song.
Then courage and wisdom would carry me to safe shores.”

What song can I sing to You today, Lord? There are so many, and You are worthy of each one.

For Further Study

Psalms Redux was introduced to me through an immersive prayer room experience at my home church, Union Chapel. At the time, I didn’t know I would be picking up something that would instantly prove fruitful. I’ve used it in conjunction with my daily devotional time in the Bible and I continue to find tears welling in my eyes from Carla’s retelling of the original psalms and beauty of her contemporary language. It has accompanied me both in my time of wilderness and abundance, and is a life-giving resource I will always keep close.
While not explicitly mentioned in this article, Tyler Staton’s book, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools has been a welcome gem to enliven my prayer life. This has been particularly encouraging in helping me offer more raw and honest prayers to God, especially during wilderness seasons.

About the Author:

Megan is captivated by the love of Jesus and delights in participating in God’s work of reuniting Heaven and Earth. She is a wife to her best friend and sweet husband Drew and so thankful for the gift of marriage. Her ideal day would include prayer and a devotional, eating delicious food, a workout or run in the great outdoors, and the company of those she holds dear.

She feels an inherent calling to cultivating meaningful relationships of depth with those she meets and telling stories of the God of joy, peace, hope, beauty, and faithfulness. After giving her life to Christ in her mid 20s, she rejoices in knowing she has found her eternal home, deepest love and ultimate fulfillment.