Take a look at these articles in the Texas Baptist Crossroads Magazine and in the Florida Baptist Witness this week:

The Florida article is about the Sonshine Conference where I helped last week, complete with a photo of my new book!

Texas article is Mother’s Day and Father’s Day ideas from the Fresh Ideas book (pages 14-15)

There’s a photo in the Florida article of a fabulous illustration drama about the lostness of our world. One grain of rice represented two hundred lost people. An enormous floor mat had continents outlined, and to illustrate the number of lost people in several small countries, heaps of rice grains were poured there. Then, as music played, huge tubs of rice were brought out and spread it around the entire world–every continent–showing the enormous, overwhelming number of lost souls across our globe.

The harvest is plentiful.

 Photo from Indydt.org

I hope you’re planning to come to Indianapolis June 8-11 for the Southern Baptist Convention!

I’ve gathered a few links to help you enjoy your stay:

Why come to Indy? Diana’s Fresh Ideas article lists reasons

Downtown Indianapolis 

About Indy—videos and travel tips

 Crossover Indiana  - Arrive early and help with evangelistic events to plant 8 new Indy churches!

Youth Children Preschool Childcare

Convention Schedule 

 Ministers Wives Luncheon    come! 

Pastors Conference

 WMU Celebration (They’re having a booksigning for my new book at 4pm on June 8 + I get to lead a breakout class)

Find a Church for Sunday worship: Indiana Baptist Website

Guidestone Wellness Walk on the Canal Walk - gorgeous site! 

TIPS:

And here are a few more convention-going tips I sent in a letter to Indiana pastor wives:

• Register. When you register, say hello to our volunteers there. You’ll receive a  name tag, voting ballots and book of reports.
• Daily Schedule. Pick up the daily schedule as you enter.  It’s full of important announcements.
• Ministers Wives luncheon– Don’t miss this great event. Purchase tickets ahead at olivebaptist.org. It’s in the Sagamore ballroom in the convention center near the mall. You’ll be blessed. 
• Enjoy the whole convention.  You’ll enjoy all the program elements. I love the missions report for IMB because they always have a spectacular program. The reports from NAMB, LifeWay, seminaries, etc. are really eye-opening and inspiring. You’ll be proud to be a Southern Baptist!  It’s really amazing what we accomplish together. Even the business segments are interesting.  Music is fabulous. You’ll hear inspiring preaching. And you’ll still find time to loiter in the hallways and visit with new and old friends. 
• Pastor’s Conference June 8-9 – Usually has great conferences for women, too. Worth a trip.
• WMU Convention June 8-9 www.wmu.com(Hoosiers Traci Newland, Sharon Beck, Sharon Barrett and Diana Davis will be on program)
• Indiana Baptist Boothin main hallway. Look for it and say “Hi” to whoever’s volunteering there.-  Picketers. Don’t be alarmed when you see a few paid picketers outside. Be nice to them. -  As you walk around, say hello to Indiana volunteers at welcome center, childcare, youth area.
• Restaurants. Need help? Check ahead on indydt.org for a restaurant map. 200 are downtown! It might be wise to call ahead for reservations.
•  Crossover Events – Great evangelistic events all around the Indy area on the weekend before SBC. You are needed! These will help strengthen our churches and help plan eight new churches around Indy! Register ASAP at www.scbi.org 
•  To register for childcare or youth or children’s events  – www.sbcannualmeeting.com 
• Parking - http://www.indydt.com/dtmap.html  Click on map to see prices (i.e. White River State park garage, 650 W. Washington, says $10 per day.) Meters are free weekends and after 6pm.
• Represent your church!  Plan ahead so your church clerk can pre-register your church messengers online at www.sbc.net.

DON’T MISS THE EXHIBIT AREA! Some tips:

•  First, find the booth where they provide a bag. You’re going to have lots of stuff to carry.
•  Go by booths early to pick up lots of freebies. Your kids will love these.
•  Pick up information from every booth, and you’ll have wonderful reading for months. 
• Whatever ministry you enjoy at your church, you’ll find lots of helpful info here.
• Ask questions at all booths that interest you. The true experts are there and they’re anxious to chat.
• Take a free photo at the Olan Mills Booth.  They’ll mail it to you. 
• Be sure to do free medical testing at the Guidestone booth. It’s really free.
• If your teen will go to college or seminary soon, this is the time to visit booths and ask questions.
• Take your children by the IMB and NAMB booth to talk to real missionaries. 
• Bookstore – LifeWay has a mega-store here. I believe they’re planning a book-signing time for my new book, too! And before you leave Wednesday, check sales.

I just returned from a women’s event for Florida Baptists. No, I don’t have a tan, but I certainly enjoyed some lovely weather.

One breakout class I led was about my upcoming book, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry.  A question was asked that intrigued me:  “How can we encourage women to participate in hands-on ministry?”

Now, you KNOW I loved that question because that’s what it’s all about. Oh, yes, we’re to be students of His Word, but we must also be doers of His Word. 

Take a look at this wonderful endorsement written by someone I respect greatly:

“Years ago Diana was called personally to minister to women. Since that time she has served effectively as the women’s ministry leader of several churches (more…)

Click here to read article from the Florida Baptist about upcoming conference. I’m looking forward to helping with this.

(more…)

Oh, you should see this gorgous snow we had last week here in Indianapolis.  Everything is so bright and clean-looking. I do love the snow!

But I’m also looking forward to a short trip to Florida next month to speak at Florida Baptists’ Sonshine women’s missions conference. Take a look at this story about it:

Sonshine Conference

Our state convention plans a wonderful annual women’s retreat, and this year’s theme is “Celebrate!” Eight hundred women from across Indiana attended the event this weekend. The speaker, Kim Davis, was excellent, and dozens of breakout classes were offered. My topic was “Celebrations that Shine!” - a class challenging women to go the extra inch and shine for Christ during holiday and personal celebrations. Fun topic. Really fun group.

One of my favorite moments each year is the breakfast in honor of our state’s ministers’ wives. One hundred of Indiana’s pastors’ and church staff wives attended the breakfast this year. This photo is one of a dozen tables of those beautiful women–each a significant leader in our Christian community. We enjoyed fellowship and a wonderful challenge by Michelle Mullenix, an Indianapolis pastor’s wife, pictured above.

Please pray for our Indiana pastors’ wives as they minister in His name. Pray for the hundreds of Indiana women who attended the retreat, as they return to their homes with the exciting challenge to take the cross to the crossroads.

What a historic time to be in Cuba! We were in Havana on a mission trip to attend the Cuba Baptist Convention, see the work there and visit churches.  Steve preached in a wonderful church, and the entire trip was amazing. Got a few hours? I’ll tell you all about it! Pray for Christians there.

 We returned to Indiana just in time for our state-wide women’s retreat. Thank you for your prayers during our travel. 

We arrived early in Hawaii for the state executive directors’ meeting so we could lead a conference at Lahu’e Baptist Church for deacons and deacon wives on Kawai island.  What an amazing group of leaders!  Photo shows some of the group.  Steve preached at Lahu’e Baptist on Sunday, too, wearing three lei’s!  God is blessing Pastor Chris Metcalf and that church’s work as they minister to six different cultural groups, offer numerous community ministries, and shine for Jesus in Hawaii. I don’t believe we’ve ever been so warmly welcomed.

 And, no, they didn’t wear hula skirts….

21008hawaii1-033.jpg Photo of some deacons and wives in Hawaii.

Trinity Baptist Church, Greensburg IN, hosted a lovely women’s brunch today. I challenged them to live life with God’s JOY, and afterward, they presented me this fun bonus “thank-you” gift: 

Those are actual candy bars attached, with a funny story using the candy names. Wasn’t that thoughtful?

This photo shows Mary Cox, wife of associational missionary, Joy Yates, pastor’s wife, and me. 

        We spent the weekend leading a deacon and deacon wives conference for First Southern Baptist Church, Evansville IN. The church has just formed its pastor search committee, and, as always, that phase of a church’s life demands an extra load on its lay-leadership. 

It’s interesting to see how God can spark excitement, even during difficult days. 

I was touched to hear those precious saints talk about their outreach to prisoners and former addicts. The enthusiasm in their voices as they discussed 

evangelism and outreach,

ministry to the sick and bereaved and hurting,

hands-on involvement in Sunday School and youth and children’s ministries

–just a miriad of strategic ministries. 

Ministries that impact the church fellowship and the ministry to the community…

Ministries that matter to God.

Will you say a prayer today for the deacons and deacon wives in your church?