Keynotes
“For Such a Time as This”
Wednesday, 2:00 pm
Beatrice Bruno, WYSIWYG, PGP
The Drill Sergeant of Life
Author, Speaker, Ghostwriter, Editor
US Army Veteran
DrillSergeantofLife.com
This season, God is elevating the gifts and talents He has placed within us, especially as writers, to address the challenges we currently face. The latest horrific event in Shreveport shows that the times are worsening. People are looking for a word. Many of them will not turn to the Bible, the Word of God. They come to us as writers, looking for a word that will hopefully make sense of everything we see happening. You, as writers, were created . . . for such a time as this! Take advantage of the gift and talent God has placed inside of you to write as never before. Time is short!
Beatrice is an Army veteran and former (but always and forever) Drill Sergeant. An ordained gospel minister and Grief and Writing Coach, Beatrice finds satisfaction in helping folks travel the path of grief and maneuver into the fresh seasons God has for them. Click here for full bio.
Called to Write: Restoring Truth in a Confused Culture
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Rhonda Robinson
Managing Editor, Focus on the Family’s
Parenting and Marriage web content
Award-winning Author, Speaker
rhondarobinson.tv/bio/
Argument alone rarely advances the ideas that shape politics and culture. More often, they are carried by the stories that capture imaginations and shape what people believe is possible. As we stand on the edge of a new era of AI, Christian writers have a vital role to play.
This keynote will inspire writers of both fiction and nonfiction to see their craft as a calling to illuminate truth and awaken hope in a confused culture.
Rhonda is an award-winning author and speaker. Known for combining conviction with clarity, she has written hundreds of articles on the social, political, and parenting issues shaping our culture. Rhonda and her husband, Mike, have recently been commissioned as Colson Fellows. Click here for full bio.
Title coming
Thursday, 9:40 am
George Hancock-Stefan, Ph.D.
Thornley B. Wood Professor of Church History and Missions
Palmer Theological Seminary, the Seminary of Eastern University
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Mt. Holly
Writing Truth in Times of Deception
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Lori Stanley Roeleveld
Award-winning Author
Speaker
Certified Writing Coach
loriroeleveld.com
Two truths to remember and three things to forget to write the truth freely in times of deception and division.
Lori is an award-winning author, speaker, certified writing coach, and disturber of hobbits. She’s authored seven traditionally published books and coached over 250 Christian writers toward their goals. Click here for full bio.
Flourish By Sharing the Fruit of Your Writing
Friday, 9:40 am
Ava Pennington
Author, Bible Teacher
Writing Coach, Freelance Editor
AvaPennington.com
Identify the characteristics of a fruitful writing life and how to share this fruit with your readers. When your writing flourishes, so do they!
Ava is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher with a Bible Studies Certificate from Moody Bible Institute and an MBA from St. John’s University. She is a mentor with Word Weavers Int’l and a freelance editor and certified coach for Christian writers and speakers. Ava’s newest book is Flourish: Grace-Centered Practices to Protect and Grow a Fruitful Life in Christ (Kregel). Click here for full bio.
Searching for Sunrise: A Writer’s Call to Hope
Friday, 7:00 pm
Penny Reeve
Award-winning Author
Speaker, Workshop Leader
Conference Presenter
pennyreeve.com
In a world that aches for Jesus’ return, Christian writers have a unique responsibility to be watchers and heralds of hope. Drawing on John 1:5, Penny encourages writers to consider how searching for the light of Christ in our writing lives can shape not only what we write, but who we write for and how. Spiritual, practical, and real, this keynote will encourage writers to keep Christ’s light central to the motivation for their work.
Penny is an award-winning Australian author of more than 25 books for children. Writing as Penny Reeve, Penny Jaye and Ella Shine, she writes picture books, junior fiction, children’s Bible studies, and young adult fiction, always striving to empower young people to respond to the complex, fascinating, and sometimes difficult world we live in. Click here for full bio.
The Power of His Presence
Saturday, 9:40 am
Michael Gantt
Pastor, Author, Speaker
mkgantt.org
Everything in the Word of God points to the importance of the presence of God in our lives. Death came because sin drove Adam from God’s presence. Jesus called His disciples to His side saying, “Come, be with me” (MKG version). On the Day of Pentecost, we focus on the wind, the fire, and the language; but, we miss what is perhaps the most important message of the day. The tongues of fire sat on “each of them.” Until that moment, the fire of the Presence of God was contained behind a veil in a tent, and later in a stone building. Now, the fire of His Presence rested upon each of the 120 persons gathered in that upper room. The Presence of God can no longer be confined to a sacred structure, but has been loosed to reside in men. We spend far too much effort pursuing God’s “presents,” not understanding that it is the “presence” of the Father that will bring power to our work—and our words.Visit again for description.
Michael served the same community for 53 years and preached in the same pulpit for 44 years until releasing the leadership of Agape Christian Fellowship into the capable hands of his oldest son. God has called Michael to dedicate the remaining years of his productive life to strengthening the church at large, mentoring young ministries, and especially working to restore the family as the center of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Click here for full bio.
Is Artificial Intelligence Replacing God?
Saturday, 4:45 pm
Charles Patricoff
Author
Historian
I enjoy playing with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. I would go so far as to say I have fun with AI tools. Every follower of Jesus I know personally uses at least one AI tool. My wife has a friend we both consider to be a mature believer. She asks the ChatGPT application on her phone to provide answers for every issue for which she is unclear.
Approximately 1.5 to 2 billion people are using or interacting with AI tools globally as of March 2026. If the 2 billion number is accurate, then approximately 25% of the world’s population are using AI tools.
Mathematically speaking, the probability of nefarious actors using AI tools to advance evil is high. If we apply a biblical world view to the condition of humanity, we would be correct in concluding AI, a tool created by sinful humans, has inherent dangers. As followers of Jesus and Christians who desire to Write His Answer to a lost and dying world, we must pay close attention to our LORD’s repeated admonition as expressed in Mathew 24:4, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (NKJV).
Charles has over 50 years of various writing experiences, encompassing a broad spectrum of audiences, including over 45 years of professional technical writing. A Jewish follower of Yeshua, he often speaks at Pro-Life and Conservative rallies about our Godly American Heritage. He began attending “Write His Answer” Christian Writers’ Conferences in 2008 and has been invited to speak at several conferences since 2015. Click here for full bio.
Keeping Your Dreams Alive
Saturday, 5:45 pm
James Watkins
Author, Book Doctor
jameswatkins.com
Visit again for description.
Jim has been in the publishing industry for over 40 years from the shipping dock to editorial director office. He taught writing for 15 years at Taylor University and has spoken at 100s of writers’ conferences across the States and overseas. His work includes 20 traditionally published books and over 3,000 articles. Most of all, he’s a writer saved by grace! Click here for full bio.