2018
6th Annual StandFast Conference & Women's Retreat
Theme:  "Nothing But the Cross"
St. Benedict Center - Schuyler, Nebraska

ABOUT THE STANDFAST CONFERENCE

The StandFast Annual Women's Conference is designed to provide spiritual renewal,spiritual growth, Christian fellowship and ministry development. This conference provides worship, fellowship, education, ministry and relaxation while allowing you to take a brief "retreat" away from your daily routine.   Come together with Christian Women of all faiths, different backgrounds, and different ethnicities.  

Become one with women who have a common desire to stand firm in their calling, annointing and walk with God. You will leave this conference renewed and equipped with strategies, principles and tools to withstand the wiles and weights that attempt to discourage or defeat you.  In addition to meeting and making new friends, you will leave with a greater appreciation of the love of God for you, towards you, and for others.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal. 5:1 KJV

WORKSHOPS

Workshops are designed to maximize individual participation in group settings. This means that everyone can participate at their own pace. You can choose to work independently or with others as a team as you listen, share, and better understand the liberty and freedom God has given to each one of us. There is no "forced" worship moments. You are never embarrassed, put on the spot, or made to feel uncomfortable. 

We promise that you will enjoy the moments of learning such basic and simple principles to be free to be, exactly who God has called you to be.

Stay Tuned for our 2018 Workshop Speaker Topics! 

Conference Host and Speaker - Karen Watson

    Wife, Mother, Dog Lover, Seasoned Business Professional, Corporate Board Member, Community Leader & Volunteer, Small Business Owner, Sunday School Teacher, Charitable Treasurer, Published Author, Consultant, Frustrated Comedian, Praise & Worship Leader but the most important affiliation of all is, Karen is a CHILD OF THE KING! Karen believes that words really do have power and that she has the God given ability and authority to facilitate the process of change in people and organizations with the written and spoken WORD.  She is the founder of the StandFast Conference and was simply doing the will of God who commanded her to establish a local retreat where women of all church memberships and ethnicities could come together in a time of worship and fellowship to celebrate God in their own way.   The Lord showed Karen the conference in a vision, that it was not designed to take away from the church and it was not designed to be a church, but just a place where the real "church" could come together to replenish their strength and to renew their faith to go back to serve in an even greater capacity,   Karen's praise and love for God is contagious.   She is married to Pastor Demetrius Watson, serves as the First Lady of the New Fellowship Christian Church in Omaha, NE, has three children: son Devin, his wife Elisha and daughter, Kelsie.

Workshop Speaker - Darcy Cottone

    Darcy Cottone is a woman after God’s own heart.   She is passionate about prayer and the excitement of growing ministries.  She has led Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry and staff development positions at her church.  She has a unique perspective on life, having grown from living as a small town farm girl to living in the big city.   Darcy is an accomplished speaker serving as a keynote for women’s retreats, local churches, community groups and as a MOP’S mentor mom.   As a professional, Darcy has more than 30 years customer service and management experience gained from several business roles including corporate training and managing her family’s furniture store.   Darcy shares her unique view of the world through humor, drama and scripture.   She says she is in awe by the love that God has for her and she can’t get over the fact that the very same God who spoke to Abraham and Moses is the same God who cares about every detail of her life and yours.    In addition to her relationship with God, Darcy is most honored that God has blessed her with the role of being a wife and a mother of two.  

Workshop Speaker - Velma J. Sanders

    Velma Jean Sanders remembers her first Bible. It was a New Testament that someone who was standing on the corner handed her as she left Dunbar Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma; a little red New Testament. That Bible was a seed planted. Some years later, as a teenager and now living in Omaha, Nebraska, with her family, she remembers the first-time that she attended a home Bible Study. She sat there listening and amazed that people met together on a Saturday evening to study the Bible. She listened carefully to their prayers and sat in wonder as they discussed the verses read. That made such an impression on her and little did she know that God was watering the seed that had been planted earlier.  In 1988, she received her first invitation to speak at Rising Star Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. Through the faithful and consistent reading of His Word, Ms. Sanders is convinced that it is not only true and faithful, but that it is also eternal, exciting, and will change the life of anyone that reads and studies it with a sincere heart. It is by the simple teaching of God’s Word, for over 30 years now, that He has opened doors for her to minister to many people of many different racial and religious backgrounds – including several UNO foreign-exchange students. She is the founder and President of “God’s Word, Alive, Inc. A Biblical teaching ministry dedicated to “Holding Forth the Word of Life.” You can visit her website at www.GodsWordAlive.NET.   One of her great joys is to teach at the church where God has planted her, Salem Baptist Church; of which she has been a member for over 40 years. It is here that she currently teaches the Contemporary Bible Class, each Sunday. She is also the Director of the Bread of Life Speech Choir. Velma is well aware of God’s many blessings. Her desire is to live life in a manner that pleases Him. Her life motto is, “God is Faithful.” She has found that to be true – over and over again! It is her constant prayer that many will be brought into the blessedness of hearing, reading, believing and obeying the Word of God. Velma Jean Sanders wants everyone to know that its rewards are without measure and are eternal. 

What's Included in Registration?

Everything!  Lodging, Meals, Workshops and more.  The Conference is 2 1/2 days and participants can register to attend the full conference or, if you are unable to stay overnight, you may attend days that work best for your schedule.   Lodging, meals, and all workshop activities are held in one facility.   The site is Wi-Fi accessible.   Sleeping rooms have their own bathroom.  There is an onsite library, a gift-shop, and outdoor recreational activities include beautiful hiking trails.   YES...you will have leisure time to explore the activities that interest you the most.    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner include chef-prepared meals served daily.   You will also have access to a 24-hour complimentary hospitality beverage station and we will be providing snacks to share with each other.  

What do I wear?

Recommended attire is casual and comfortable, whatever that means to you.   There is no dress code.   We suggest shoes for interactive workshops or if you desire to walk around the grounds and, we also suggest you pack a light jacket, just in case the weather gets a little chilly.

Conference Fees, Registration, and Payment:

Pricing is all-inclusive.   This means, that you will pay one price for lodging, meals, workshops, and activities.   If you are not staying overnight, your price will exclude the cost of lodging.   Lodging is for two nights, Thursday and Friday.   Meals are provided as follows:  Lunch and Dinner, on Thursday;  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on Friday; and Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday. Meals also include 24-hour beverage break service and host provided snacks where you can snack at your leisure all day and night. Workshops are held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.   Activities will take place throughout the retreat.  Each person must register separately.  You will have an opportunity to name your roommate during registration.  If you register for a Double room, this room will have two single beds for two occupants.  Single registration rooms may have one or two beds, but must be occupied by only one person.

Pricing (with overnight):

$275.00 - Single Occupancy.  One person, per room.  

$245.00 - Double Occupancy.  Two people per room.  Price is per person. 

Pricing (without overnight):

Pricing for participants not staying overnight will vary based on attendance.   As there are too many choices to list, please contact the host for pricing.

Payment:

Once you select your registration choice, you will have the opportunity to pay now with Paypal, or you may select an option to pay later with a check or cash.  If you are NOT remitting payment now, or if you have already submitted a partial payment, please select the option for the Installment Payment option to register, and the host will invoice you for the balance due.  A monthly statement will be sent for any remaining balances.   Payment in full must be made by July 15, 2018.  Sorry, we are unable to provide exceptions to this date.

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