Western Seminary

 

"He tends His flock like a shepherd, He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart." Isaiah 40:11 Phyllis Bennett (Hudson MA) Married Mother: 2 Grandmother - 2 Hobbies: staying in shape (jogging, step-aerobics, nutrition etc.), reading, decorating, gardening Believer since 1961 Email:  phyllis@integrity.com Ministry Specialties - In a retreat setting, Phyllis specializes in helping the Word of God come alive and be applicable to every stage and age of a woman’s life. In a church ministry setting, Phyllis’ passion is to train women to become all they are meant to be in Christ. She specializes in training gifted women to write Bible study curriculum and to speak to others using their God-given bents and giftedness. Mission Statement: Phyllis’ passion is to draw out and train up the giftedness in other women while modeling an effective us of her own spiritual gifts of teaching, leadership and encouragement. Ministry Background - Phyllis has served more than twenty years on the staff of three churches, in her first church as Women’s Associate to the Youth Pastor and in the most recent two as Director of Women’s Ministries. She has been speaking at retreats for the past thirty years and has been teaching a curriculum writing class at Western Seminary as an adjunct professor for the past six years. Educational Background - Phyllis holds a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon with a focus in women’s ministries and a Doctor of Ministry degree in “Effective Ministries to Women” from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts. Speaking Level - Experienced (26+ events) Speaking Experience - Phyllis has spoken for the past 30 years to audiences from 25-500 “from sea to shining sea,” bringing her shepherd’s heart to every speaking and consulting opportunity God has given. References - available upon request. Publications - Bible study workbooks: Our Wise Counselor, published by Nav. Press; Our Pure Example, published by Zondervan; Spiritual Gifts, published by Zondervan for Women of Faith; and numerous other self-published workbooks. Phyllis also trains and leads the Grace Baptist Church Hudson MA curriculum writing team that yearly creates curriculum (available via Western Seminary’s web site located under Western Seminary, Portland campus, Women’s Center, Resources, Bible Studies.) Current Presentations/Tapes/Videos - Tapes available upon request. Phyllis’ retreat topics include: "Self-Image: The Mirror Within You" (4 talks, 45-75 minutes each)   “Mirror, mirror, on my inside wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” We all have images of ourselves we form in the earliest classroom of our lives (childhood). How are those images formed? What kind of power do they hold over us? Can they change? How do I parent effectively to produce a healthy self-image on my child’s inside mirrored wall? God longs for us to “have a sane estimate of our capabilities” (Rom. 12:3). Yet many of us are crippled in our effectiveness for God because of the distorted images we hold of ourselves. This retreat brings you face to face with “the truth that can set you free” (John 8:32). “By Faith, Walk a Mile in My Shoes” (4 talks, 45-70 minutes each )   Do you know the old song from the ‘60’s: “Walk a Mile in My Shoes?” Something unique happens when we jump inside the shoes of another and experience life from their perspective. Maybe the Christian life is dull and lifeless because you haven’t discovered the thrill of living on the cutting edge of faith. On this weekend retreat Phyllis takes you on a short walk with five biblical characters recorded in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. They all had one thing in common: they were “sure of what they hoped form and certain of what they did not see (Hebrews 11:1).” "The Marks of Christian Maturity" (4 talks, 45-60 minutes each)   Ever wonder if God sees you maturing in your walk with Him? This weekend will challenge you to develop five marks of maturity from the book of James, patient in trials; practices the truth; power over the tongue; peacemaker, not a troublemaker; and prayerful in troubles. This is a great retreat for leaders or lovers of the Word. "All Aboard the Train Ride of Contentment" (4 talks, 60-75 minutes)   Paul says in Philippians 4:11 that he had learned to be content in all circumstances. Enjoy a weekend on board the train ride of contentment as we learn together with Paul the secret of how to be content by feeling comfortable and secure with where you are and who you are. "Intimacy in Relationships" (4 talks, 50-90 minutes each)   Join Phyllis for a time of discovering from God’s Word how to grow in intimacy. Topics include: Younger Than Springtime; Single, Yet Not Alone; Bonding vs. Boundaries; and A Shepherd and His Sheep. “Intimacy in Relationships” encourages you to grow in the joy of older/younger friendships, challenges you to develop intimacy in selected relationships, teaches you how to be free from co-dependency, and aids you in growing closer to Jesus, your Shepherd. This is Phyllis’ favorite and most sought-after retreat. "Experiencing God" (4 talks, 60-75 minutes each)   Do you wonder if God speaks today? Jesus said, “You who have ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). If we’re not sure God is speaking today, perhaps the problem is in our capacity to listen, not in God’s ability to articulate. This weekend will tune your ear to the voice of God as you explore such topics as how to recognize His voice, the ways He tends to speak, hindrances in our ability to hear, and the role obedience plays in the listening process. It promises to be a weekend that gives you “ears to hear.” "Jonah: Lessons for Leaders" (4 talks, 45-60 minutes each)   Jonah was God’s reluctant leader. Have you ever been unwillingly drafted by God? Has He ever left you in the dark? Or made you angry regarding His plan for your life? Join Jonah on a quest to learn from life’s confusing seasons how to allow God to turn you into His willing and victorious leader. Since leadership “is influence, nothing more, nothing less” (John Maxwell), you are a leader to everyone you affect whether you know it or not! Let Jonah’s life challenge you to influence for good and not for evil! "Celebrate the Seasons: A Time for Everything" (4 talks, 40 minutes each plus 20 minute introduction)   “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. He has made everything beautiful in it’s time.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 From birth to death, God is sovereign over every season of our lives. Spend the weekend reflecting and anticipating on all God has in store for you in each season. Join Phyllis in learning about a time to be born and a time to die, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to search and a time to give up, and a time for war and a time for peace. When seen from God’s perspective, in every season of life our God does all things well, making everything beautiful in His time. ____________ Women’s Ministries Consultant: Phyllis is available to consult with your church in starting a women’s ministry with an emphasis on strong Biblical teaching, community outreach, and small group discipleship. Her expertise will enable you to discover the spiritual gifts of your women and create proper job descriptions for leaders needed to run an effective women’s ministry. She can help train you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of published curriculum and to modify curriculum with life-changing applications and personal reflective questions. Her personal missions statement is “to draw out and train up the giftedness in women,” particularly those called to full time women’s ministry. PREFERENCES AND CONSTRAINTS Speaking Types Special Needs Fee Requirements X Conferences Lodging X Love Offering X Women's Groups Travel Usually under $500 X Workshops Dietary Usually over $500 X Retreats X Other - Request reimbursement for all travel expenses, including miles. Accepts your usual fee X Keynote   X Other - Usually takes honorarium as can be graciously provided within the means of the organization.       Speaking Availability Audience Audience Size X Days X Women X Small groups (less than 50) X Evenings Mixed X Medium (50-100) X Weekends Male X Large (100- 500) X Local College X Very large (over 500) X Regional Career Comfortable with all sizes of audience. X National Youth   X International     X Other - Available for all types of speaking situations. Enjoys weekend retreats or speaking opportunities both nationally and internationally.