• October 1, 2007
  Cornerstone Fellowship Women’s Ministries
  Livermore, CA
  Leadership Training
  
  
• October 30, 2007
  Inspire Christian Writers Group
  Sacramento, CA
  Building Blocks of Editing and Constructive Critiques
  http://elizabeththompson.typepad.com
  
  
• December 9, 2007
  Church on the Hill Small Group Leadership Training
  Church on the Hill, San Jose, CA
  
  
• January 13, 2008
  Peninsula Covenant Church Care Group Leadership Training
  Peninsula Covenant Church, Redwood City, CA
  
  
• February 22-23, 2008
  Redwood Writers Conference
  Redwood Chapel, Castro Valley, CA
  christianwriter.org
  
  
• March 6-8, 2008
  Bay Area Sunday School Convention (BASS)
  Redwood Chapel, Castro Valley, CA
  Topics: From Here to Maturity, Who Me? A Leader?, Train My Leaders!, Why Didn’t You Warn Me?
  bassconvention.org

The following workshops are designed for retreats, seminars and conferences where inspiration and spiritual growth are the focus. I am always happy to work with a conference coordinator to tailor a workshop or complete retreat to meet your needs. All workshops feature a combination of personal experience integrated with the Word of God. My workshops encourage personal application and involvement by the audience.
Target Audience: Adult women or in some cases, mixed groups.

Conquering Giants
Joshua faced many obstacles-giants-as he led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Since we face many of the same giants, we can learn powerful lessons about facing and conquering the obstacles in our lives. This talk covers principles from the first six chapters of the book of Joshua.

(60 to 90 minutes)

“I really enjoyed your class. Everything was clear. I understood very easily. I like the use
of Scripture and applying them to everyday life. The class gave me a lot to think about.”
T.M, BASS 1996

Let's Take Another Look at Halloween
Christians are confused about Halloween. No wonder. When many of us were growing up, Halloween was a favorite holiday. We loved dressing up and parading through the neighborhood in search of the ultimate thrill-a bag full of candy! We squealed with delight when our favorite neighbor feigned fear or pretended not to recognize us. Few imagined it was anything other than a great day for a party. Is Halloween just a harmless holiday or is it a pagan religious celebration? We'll look at the history of this holiday, the way it's celebrated in some cults, and the role of the church in light of this information. Contains some information on Ritual Abuse that may be triggering to survivors with this background.

(60 to 90+ minutes)


Overcoming the Tumbleweed Syndrome
Does your life resemble a tumbleweed? Lifeless? Rootless? Tossed about by every circumstance? Do you find that your life seems ruled by emotions, logic, or even physical ailments? Just when you think you are standing firm, along comes another wind that blows you off course. There is hope. If you understand the relationship of the human spirit, soul, and body, your life can take on new meaning and stability as you learn to become planted like a mighty oak.

(60 to 90 minutes or retreat)


Survival Tips for the Wilderness Journey: When the Itinerary You're on Isn't the One You Signed up For
Are you in a spiritual, personal, or professional wilderness? Did your life suddenly take a sharp left turn and leave you grasping for breath? Has your ministry been sidetracked as you struggle to simply hang on? How could this happen? How could God let this happen? If you're asking any of these questions, let me tell you the stories of people who have faced the wilderness and not only survived, but thrived. Learning from the example of Moses' wilderness trek, we examine derailed plans and learn eight tips for surviving when life takes a sudden left turn and dumps you in the desert.

(60 to 90 minutes)


That the World May Know... (Unity in the Body of Christ)
How can ordinary Christians today make an impact on their world? How can our lives make a difference to those who don't know Jesus Christ? How can we live in unity with one another, as God intended? In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed to His Father, "I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:23) Clearly, Jesus intended that His followers live in unity, not because it's more pleasant, but for a strategic purpose-to communicate the essential truth of the gospel to the world. How can we do this?

The New Testament is full of answers. Almost one hundred times we are told how to treat one another. There are positive com¬mands telling us what we should do and negative commands telling us what we should avoid. Taken together, these "one another" passages form the framework for unity. They teach us how to become one, so that the world may know that the Father sent the Son to offer each person eternal life. A retreat based on this study will focus on several of the one another commands, with an emphasis on unity for the sake of the gospel.

(Retreat of three or more sessions)


The Lies We Believe and the Truth That Sets Us Free
Do you realize that most of the pain we feel in life does not come from our present circumstances, but rather is an emotional echo from the past? And that echo gains it power not from what happened, but what we believed about what was happening. Somewhere in childhood, lies took root, and those lies continue to influence us and cause pain today. Scripture tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). But in order to effectively renew our minds, we need to uncover the lies we have believed and replace them with God's truth-the truth that sets us free. Using Romans 8 as a foundation, we will explore some of the lies Christians believe and how to receive the truth that will set us free.

(Retreat of three or more sessions)


The Power of the Covenant
We hear and sing about the power of the blood, but what does that mean in real life? When we understand covenant as it was understood and practiced in the Old and New Testament cultures, biblical truth comes to life and gives us freedom and power that was previously hidden. Understanding the cultural aspects of covenant will revolutionize your understanding of God, your position in Christ, and your prayer life. When the concept of covenant is internalized, the door to maturity and healing opens wide. This workshop will explore both the cultural and biblical understanding of the blood covenant and apply it to real life.

(70 to 90 minutes or retreat)


What to Do While You're Waiting: Strategies for Fallow Ground
Just when you think you have life figured out, God places you on the shelf. Perhaps life circumstances prevent you from continuing the ministry you thought you were to do. Perhaps you need a time for healing. Whatever the reason, what's a committed Christian to do when they are suddenly removed from the front line? This workshop explores ways to make the most of the fallow time.

(60 to 90 minutes)


The Word Has Meaning
Do you long to find the hidden manna in God’s word? Do you wish you knew Greek and Hebrew? Do you crave more meaning in your quiet time? There are many simple tools and strategies the layperson without Bible training can use to dig out the jewels. This workshop discusses study resources, both hard copy and online, and how to use them, and then gives strategies for study, for taking notes, for keeping your material organized, and most of all, for applying the word to your life.

(70 minutes to several hours)

Back to top

Inspiring and encouraging Christian leaders to effectively minister to the wounded and broken...
Pat has been leading small groups since 1977 and training leaders since 1984. She is the author of Why Didn’t You Warn Me? How to Deal With Challenging Group Members (Standard Publishing, 2007). Be sure to check out the Why Didn’t You Warn Me Website and Blog.

Pat has almost 200 articles published in magazines and on the Internet, many of which deal with small groups. She is the author of several books, booklets, and Bible studies. Her book, Small Group Bible Studies: How to Lead Them has been translated into Korean and is training a new generation of small group leaders in Korea.

She writes and speaks on topics ranging from leadership and Biblical inspiration to parenting and writing. But her passion is equipping the church to minister to the wounded and broken.

Pat is always happy to work with a conference director to tailor a workshop or complete retreat to meet your needs. All workshops feature a combination of personal experience integrated with the Word of God. Her workshops encourage personal application and audience participation.

Target Audience: Adult leaders and prospective leaders.


What Are We Doing Here?

Can small groups really make a permanent difference in someone's life? Listen to the stories of several people who would answer a hearty yes. This workshop is a good introduction to the ministry of small groups in a full day or weekend training session.

(45 to 75 minutes)


From Here to Maturity

What is maturity and how can we reach it? From Here to Maturity discusses the Biblical concept of Christian maturity and how this character can be best developed within a small group. The objective of this workshop is to help the participants identify and incorporate these elements in their small group and their lives.

(70 to 90 minutes)


Who Me? A Leader?
Have you been asked to lead a small group, or perhaps you are responsible for selecting small group or ministry leaders. This workshop discusses seven characteristics of a leader, with the objective of enabling you to identify those attributes that will assure effective leadership in yourself or others.

(60 to 75 minutes)

“Good leadership information. Helps us to become
mature and see things in a mature way.”
G. K, Christian Ministries Training Association 1996

“You gave me more encouragement and strength to go on as a leader.”
A.D., BASS 2004

“So much value in all you said! My best class of the session. Thank you!”
S.P., BASS 1996

Why Didn't You Warn Me?

Do you have challenging people in your small group? Dear people who have personal or behavioral problems that challenge your leadership skills? This talk provides step-by-step tips for handling several types of challenging members.

(60 to 120 minutes. With 90 minutes or longer, we can include a delightful interactive exercise.)

“Excellent class! Very relevant to today’s environment. Great
ideas to use in my Sunday School clss (18-28 year olds).
This is a tough group to get involved. Thanks for the ideas.”
M. D., BASS 2007

Before You Begin

This workshop discusses details to consider before your first small group meeting to assure that people feel welcome and prepared for as you start your study. The emphasis is on logistical issues. This workshop is best included in a full day or weekend of leadership training rather than as a stand-alone.

(60 to 75 minutes)


Hey! I'm a Leader!

This workshop addresses the importance of preparing for the first meeting and some fundamentals of managing the group. This very practical workshop is designed primarily for the first time small group leader. This workshop is best included in a full day or weekend of leadership training rather than as a stand-alone.

(60 to 75 minutes)


Keys to Changed Lives

Once you have structured your group using the elements for maturity, there are several other essential elements to incorporate in leading any small group. These keys will assist you in bringing each member to maturity in Jesus Christ. This workshop discusses each of these elements and provides examples to assist both the new and experienced leader.

(70 to 90 minutes)


Learning by the Book

Regardless of the type or structure of a small group, it is important that the Word of God be your foundation. The workshop discusses six factors to consider in selecting a study guide to purchase or in writing your own material. Participants will understand how to evaluate a study guide in relation to the needs of their groups.

(60 to 70 minutes)

Back to top

The following workshops are designed for retreats, seminars and conferences where emotional and spiritual healing are the focus. I am always happy to work with a conference coordinator to tailor a workshop or complete retreat to meet your needs. All workshops feature a combination of personal experience integrated with the Word of God. My workshops encourage personal application and involvement by the audience.
Target Audience: Adult women or in some cases, mixed groups.

A Biblical Model For Ministering To The Abused
Isaiah 61 presents a model for ministering to survivors of childhood abuse. The ministry given to Jesus is also given to us as we seek to help repair the damage done to these people. This workshop examines this Biblical model, illustrated by case studies from various sources, including personal experience as both a survivor and lay counselor. It presents a foundation of hope for survivors from the perspective of the present, the past, and the future. The objective of this workshop is to provide practical and theological information for developing a ministry to the abused. Target audience is pastors and church staff as well as professional and lay counselors.

(70 to 90+ minutes)

“OUTSTANDING! Practical and usable information on a subject
most instructors would not dare to bring forth to the public.”
S.B., BASS 1996

Beauty for Ashes
What does the Word of God say about healing from abuse? Isaiah 61 suggests a wonderful pattern for healing the present, the past and the future. This workshop offers an inductive, yet personal, study of this powerful chapter, with a focus on healing from childhood abuse. Pair this workshop with “Overcoming the Tumbleweed Syndrome,” for a full day conference that is both theological and practical. Target audience is survivors of all types of abuse.

(90 minutes or more)

“Thank you for the blessing, sharing, and teaching. All the you said
confirms God’s plan and active work in me.”
R.C., Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mt. View, CA 2003

“Excellent, excellent, excellent! Thank you so much for
giving us the Word with mercy, love, and truth.
B.L., Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mt. View, CA 2003

Becoming a Life Giver
Many people want to minister to the abused, but do they know how? Might they do more harm than good? Unfortunately, this is often the case. This workshop presents very practical "don'ts and do's" for ministry, including extensive case material. This workshop is based on my experience as both a survivor and a lay counselor for survivors, including many who have been ritually abused and have Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). The objective of this workshop is to provide practical information for direct ministry or for managing a ministry. Target audience is pastors and church staff as well as professional and lay counselors.

(90 to 120 minutes, or longer with discussion and interaction)

“Loved the presentation! Would love more time in the session.”
E.D., BASS 2004

“Exceptional. Very helpful, practical, insightful.”
S.P. Christian Ministries Training Association 1996

Conquering Giants
Joshua faced many obstacles-giants-as he led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Since we face many of the same giants, we can learn powerful lessons about facing and conquering the obstacles in our lives. This talk covers principles from the first six chapters of the book of Joshua.

(60 to 90 minutes)


Let's Take Another Look at Halloween
Christians are confused about Halloween. No wonder. When many of us were growing up, Halloween was a favorite holiday. We loved dressing up and parading through the neighborhood in search of the ultimate thrill-a bag full of candy! We squealed with delight when our favorite neighbor feigned fear or pretended not to recognize us. Few imagined it was anything other than a great day for a party. Is Halloween just a harmless holiday or is it a pagan religious celebration? We'll look at the history of this holiday, the way it's celebrated in some cults, and the role of the church in light of this information. Contains some information on Ritual Abuse that may be triggering to survivors with this background.

(60 to 90+ minutes)

“Very eye-opening. Made me stop and think.”
J.L., Christian Ministries Training Association 1996

Overcoming the Tumbleweed Syndrome
Does your life resemble a tumbleweed? Lifeless? Rootless? Tossed about by every circumstance? Do you find that your life seems ruled by emotions, logic or even physical ailments? Just when you think you are standing firm, along comes another wind and blows you off course. There is hope. If you understand the relationship of the human spirit, soul, and body, your life can take on new meaning and stability as you learn to become planted like a mighty oak. This workshop is excellent when paired with “Beauty for Ashes” in a full-day conference. It can be tailored for survivors of abuse or for a general audience interested in renewing the mind.

(60 to 90 minutes or retreat)

“Wonderful! Very positive. Not depressing. Thank you for focusing on TRUTH and
showing us how to fix ourselves. Not dwelling on the past.”
K.B., Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mt. View, CA 2003

“I appreciate the stress on accountability and how important it is for us to have someone
that will ask us the difficult questions. Also the comment about the Bible is either all
true or none of it is true. Really hit home.”
L.S., Community Bible Church, Sunnyvale, CA 2003

Survival Tips for the Wilderness Journey: When the Itinerary You're on Isn't the One You Signed up For
Are you in a spiritual, personal, or professional wilderness? Did your life suddenly take a sharp left turn and leave you grasping for reality? Has your ministry been sidetracked as you struggle to simply hang on? How could this happen? How could God let this happen? If you're asking any of these questions, listen to the stories of people who have faced the wilderne¬ss and not only survived, but thrived.

(60 to 90 minutes)


The Lies We Believe and the Truth That Sets Us Free
Do you realize that most of the pain we feel in life does not come from our present circumstances, but rather is an emotional echo from the past. And that echo gains its power not from what happened, but what we believed about what was happening. Somewhere in childhood, lies took root, and those lies continue to influence us and cause pain today. Scripture tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). But in order to effectively renew our minds, we need to uncover the lies we have believed and replace them with God's truth-the truth that sets us free. Using Romans 8 as a foundation, we will explore some of the lies Christians believe and how to receive the truth that will set us free.

(Retreat of three or more sessions)


The Power of the Covenant
We hear and sing about the power of the blood, but what does that mean in real life? When we understand covenant as it was understood and practiced in the Old and New Testament cultures, biblical truth comes to life and gives us freedom and power that was previously hidden. Understanding the cultural aspects of covenant will revolutionize your understanding of God, your position in Christ, and your prayer life. When the concept of covenant is internalized, the door to maturity and healing opens wide. This workshop will explore both the cultural and biblical understanding of the blood covenant and apply it to real life.

(70 to 90 minutes or retreat)


What to Do While You're Waiting: Strategies for Fallow Ground
Just when you think you have life figured out, God places you on the shelf. Perhaps life circumstances prevent you from continuing the ministry you thought you were to do. Perhaps you need a time for healing. Whatever the reason, what's a committed Christian to do when they are suddenly removed from the front line? This workshop explores ways to make the most of the fallow time.

(60 to 90 minutes, with time for interaction)

“This is the reason God had me come to this conference. I hadn’t planned on coming until
10 minutes before I left. Your message is exactly what I needed to hear at this time in my life.”
M.S., BASS 2004

Back to top

The following workshops are designed for writers' seminars and conferences of all types. I am always happy to work with a conference coordinator to tailor a workshop or complete retreat to meet your needs. All workshops feature a combination of personal experience integrated with the Word of God. My workshops encourage personal application and involvement by the audience.
Target Audience: Adult and teen writers.


Building Blocks of Editing
This workshop illustrates how to conceive, write and edit an article or book from idea through final manuscript, using a simple, step-by-step approach. This method has helped hundreds adults become better writers. It breaks down the writing and editing process into sequential building blocks that will improve any manuscript. The workshop is most useful to beginning and intermediate writers. We'll discuss fifteen elements, building block-by-building block.

(This workshop can be offered in a 75 to 90 minute overview, an 8 to 15 hour hands-on practicum over a two-day period, or as a major writers' conference session)

“This workshop makes editing a process that I know I can go through
successfully. The information was well presented! Thank you!”
T.D., Redwood Writers Conference 2006

“Very helpful and practical. I’ll be able to use immediately!”
B.M., Redwood Writers Conference 2004

Critique Groups that Work
Critique groups are fun, effective, and challenging. The faculty at writers conferences often recommend critique groups, but how often do we explain what they are and how to make them work? In this workshop, we will examine a variety of ways to start a group, some guidelines to manage the group and critique work, and a variety of organizational formats. We will then practice by critiquing an article.

(60 to 90 minutes)

Survival Tips for the Wilderness Journey: When the Itinerary You're On Isn't the One You Signed Up For
Are you in a spiritual, personal, or professional wilderness? Did your life suddenly take a sharp left turn and leave you gasping for breath? Has your writing ministry been sidetracked as you struggle to simply hang on? How could this happen? How could God let this happen? If you're asking any of these questions, let me tell you the stories of people who have faced the wilderness and not only survived, but thrived. Learning from the example of Moses' wilderness trek, we examine derailed writing plans and learn eight tips for surviving when life takes a sudden left turn and dumps you in the desert.

(70 to 90 minutes)


Using the Internet for Research
The Internet is an indispensable tool for writers, but it can also be a major time-waster. Learn how to gain the most from this resource-and efficiently. Some topics covered include the basics of the Internet as well as advantages and disadvantages, search engine comparisons, and comprehensive search strategies.

(75 to 90 minutes)

What to Do While You're Waiting: Strategies for Fallow Ground
Just when you think you have life figured out, God places you on the shelf. Perhaps life circumstances prevent you from continuing the writing ministry you thought you were called to. What's a committed Christian to do when they are suddenly removed from the front line? Using personal examples, I will give six strategies for living and thriving as fallow ground.

(60 to 90 minutes)


Who Me? A Writer?
Why are you a writer? Do you recognize the awesome responsibility you have undertaken? Since writing is a public ministry, we are vulnerable to many temptations. This workshop will challenge, encourage, and inspire both experienced and novice writers to the high calling we have received by examining the character of a Christian writer.

(60 to 75 minutes)

“Thank you for giving me the truth. Thank you for your pearls of wisdom.
Thank you for your loyalty to the Lord.”
M.H., Redwood Writers Conference 2006

Writing to Heal; Healing to Write
How often do we find writers' conference participants writing from raw, unhealed wounds? They know they are called to write, but staff often suggests they are not ready to publish. This workshop will offer a redemptive approach to both their call and their pain. Writing doesn't just unburden the soul; studies show it actually heals the body and emotions as well. In repeated experiments, writing about pain (physical or emotional) has produced significant and measurable health effects. Cancer survivors, teens, prison inmates, abuse survivors, widows, and many others heal faster and more thoroughly when they write about their experiences. After healing, these wounded people have a great contribution to make. This workshop will explore strategies for writing to heal, and then encourage participants to write from that place of healing to encourage others.

(70 to 90 minutes)

Writing with Style
What is style? What distinguishes your writing from anyone else’s? Why do writers like Max Lucado, Robert Swenson, and Larry Libby earn so much shelf space? Struck and White defines style as “the sense of what is distinguished and distinguishing.” This workshop discusses style and voice, and then offers interactive exercises to demonstrate and experiment with style.

(60 to 90 minutes)

Back to top

The following workshops are designed for home school and parenting conferences of all types. I am always happy to work with a conference coordinator to tailor a workshop or complete retreat to meet your needs. All workshops feature a combination of personal experience integrated with the Word of God. My workshops encourage personal application and involvement by the audience.
Target Audience: Parents, especially those home schooling; teachers.

Building Blocks of Editing
This workshop illustrates how to write and edit an essay or article from idea through final manuscript, using a simple, step-by-step approach based largely on the parts of speech and rules of grammar. This method has helped over 100 students become excellent writers. It breaks down the editing process into bite-sized building blocks that will improve any manuscript. The workshop is most useful for parents, teachers, and junior high and high school students. We'll discuss fifteen elements, building block-by-building block.

(This workshop can be offered in a 75 to 90 minute overview or an 8 to 15 hour hands-on practicum over a two-day period to provide hands-on training for home school students and their parents.)


Debate as a Life Skill
One of the most profound and valuable experiences of our son's high school years was our participation in debate through the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA). Not only did he learn to carefully research and skillfully articulate his position, but he also learned many valuable life skills. These skills, which go far beyond winning a debate round, have served him in college and we expect that they will continue to serve him in adult life. This workshop discusses several of the life skills a student can learn through debate and how to achieve maximum benefit from this activity.

(70 minutes or longer)


Discipling Your Child for Tomorrow's Challenges
The world our children will face is far different from the one in which we were raised. How can we best prepare the next generation to face a world fraught with uncertainty and challenges? This talk encourages parents to deliberately disciple their children to build the character traits that will serve them both now and in the future.

(60 minutes or longer)


Ready, Set, Stand! Preparing Your Child to Stand in Persecution
Whether it's being bullied by a schoolmate for going to church, facing legal challenges because of home schooling, or being imprisoned for their faith, it's likely that many of our children will face persecution sometime in their lives. Are your children equipped to stand firm in persecution? This is one of the most critical, but largely ignored, issues of our day. Ready, Set, Stand! discusses this tough subject using biblical principles and deliberate strategies. It will give parents six manageable tools for equipping their children for either major or minor persecution. And as an added benefit, parents will begin to assess their own readiness to stand firm.

(60 minutes or longer)


Survival Tips for the Wilderness Journey: When the Itinerary You're On Isn't the One You Signed Up For
Are you in a spiritual or personal wilderness? Did you life suddenly take a sharp left turn and leave you gasping for breath? Has your home schooling been sidetracked as you struggle to simply hang on? How could this happen? How could God let this happen? If you're asking any of these questions, let me tell you the stories of people who have faced the wilderness and not only survived, but thrived. Learning from the example of Moses' wilderness trek, we examine derailed home schooling plans and learn eight tips for surviving when life takes a sudden left turn and dumps you in the desert. Ideal for burned out home school parents as well as those facing a family crisis.

(70 to 90 minutes)


Using the Internet for Research
The Internet is an indispensable tool for students, but it can also be a major time-waster. Learn how to gain the most from this resource-and efficiently. Some topics covered include the basics of the Internet as well as advantages and disadvantages, search engine comparisons, and comprehensive search strategies.

(75 to 90 minutes)


What to Do While You're Waiting: Strategies for Fallow Ground
Just when you think you have life figured out, God places you on the shelf. Perhaps life circumstances prevent you from continuing to home school, even though you were sure were called to it. Perhaps you need a time for healing. Perhaps you need to take a job. Whatever the reason, what's a committed home school parent to do when suddenly removed from the front line? Using personal examples, I will give six strategies for living as fallow ground.

(60 to 90 minutes)

Back to top