2023
Saturday 4th November 2023
10:00am - 3:30pm
St. Mary Bredin, Canterbury
Please Note: Tickets can no longer be purchased for this event.
Main Speaker: Carrie Sandom
What possible relevance does the book of Nehemiah, written in the 5th century BC, have for us today? We’re going to see that it is very relevant. And we shouldn’t be surprised by that! The New Testament teaches that the Scriptures were written to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. So, expect the Lord to be at work, strengthening our faith in Him and challenging us to live lives that are worthy of Him.
Carrie is Director of Women’s Ministry at the Proclamation Trust and trains women for ministry at the Cornhill Training Course in London. She is passionate about the Lord and His Word, and runs training days and Bible-handling workshops, encouraging women to grow in their love for the Lord and equipping them to teach His Word to others. In her spare time she loves walking, reading whodunits and catching up with friends over a coffee!
Event Programme
9:15am - Doors open, check yourself in, get your name badge, handbook and goodies bag. Have a tea or coffee and peruse the 10ofThose bookstall.
10:00am - Session One
11:30am - Break for Refreshments, tea, coffee and biscuits
12:00pm - Seminars (See below for more information)
13:00pm - Break for Lunch. Please bring your own lunch to eat anywhere in the building or head into Canterbury to buy your lunch
13:45pm - Session Three
15:30pm - Close of Convention
Seminar Options (Choose one)
Walking Together in Christ as Church Family
Andrea Trevenna - St. Nics, Sevenoaks
Jesus calls us to walk in the light together but this is something Andrea says she failed to do for years, fearing being seen and really known. In this seminar, we will think about how knowing who we are “in Christ”- not just in theory, but in the reality of our real, messy, broken every day lives - transforms the way we walk together, in repentance and faith, as sisters in Christ.
Andrea is the Minister for Women at St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks where she has served on the staff team for just over 20 years and is the author of ‘The Heart of Singleness - How to be single and satisfied’. She very much enjoys the simple pleasures in life like walking, chatting and eating with friends and just hanging out with her cat Betsy!
Supporting Teenagers with Mental Health Issues
Rachel Lane - Emmanuel Church, Hastings
More young people than ever are struggling with depression, as well as anxiety disorders and other mental health issues. How can we support them? What hope can we offer them? In this seminar, we will look at what the Bible has to say, both to those who are suffering and to those who are seeking to help. There are no quick fixes or easy answers, but together we will think about what hurts, what helps, and what heals.
Rachel goes to Emmanuel Church in Hastings, where her husband Martin is the vicar. She is a part time English teacher and busy mum of four. Having experienced depression herself, particularly in her teens, Rachel has written a short book, 'Why do I feel like this?' seeking to encourage young people to look to God for help as they battle with depression and anxiety.
Supporting Families with Adopted Children
Claire Parkin - Emmanuel Church, Canterbury
Claire Parkin is an adoptive mother based in Kent. She is married to Toby and is a mum to two amazing, lively and energetic young boys. Alongside being a wife and mum, Claire works as a teacher and interior designer.
Reading the Bible One to One
Carrie Sandom - St. John's, Tunbridge Wells
Somebody once said, “If you understand the value of one to one ministry and put its principles into practice, you will be absolute gold dust in any church family.” This seminar will cover the WHAT, WHY and HOW of reading the Bible One to One (with Christians and non-Christians) as well as encourage you (whatever your age and stage) to get involved in this strategic work.
FULL
Claire is a mum of two beautiful boys who just so happen to be adopted. The journey to adoption for Claire and her husband was not an easy one but it’s been 100% worth it! Join Claire to find out how you can support families in church (and the wider community) who have been knit together via adoption and how we can reflect Jesus back to the hurting children and young people who find themselves in the care system.
Please note: Whilst Claire will be presenting a delicate topic with as much appropriate humour as possible (she’s always looking at the funny side of life), you may find thinking about some of the reasons why children are in care, and the sadness that they can feel when first adopted, challenging. However, there are many testimonies in this talk that showcase the grace and care of God in difficult circumstances, so please do be encouraged to come along!
Could You Help on the Day?
To ensure that the Kent Women's Convention runs smoothly takes planning and a willing team of volunteers. Could this be you? We need volunteers for registration, car parking and refreshment teams. Volunteers get a free ticket to the convention. If you are interested, please contact us to find out more
Getting to the Venue
St. Mary Bredin, 59 Nunnery Fields, CT1 3JN, is a new venue for the Kent Women's Convention. We are delighted to have the use of such a great venue in Canterbury, East Kent. While there is no onsite parking there are many options to get you to the venue.
Please do contact us if you have mobility issues.
Coming by Car?
The nearest car park is just down the road from the venue, Holman's Meadow Pay & Display, 21 Old Dover Road, CT1 3JB. The venue is a 3 minute walk from there. It will cost £10 for the day parking there, one of the cheaper Canterbury car parking options.
Coming by Train?
Canterbury East Station - venue is less than a 10 minute walk away.
Canterbury West Station - the venue is about a 20 minute walk through the center of Canterbury.
Coming by Park & Ride?
Canterbury council run a Park & Ride into Canterbury. Park at Wincheap, CT1 3TQ, it cost £4 to park and ride for up to 6 passengers. The bus stops by the White Friars Shopping Centre, the venue is then a 6 minute walk. For more information click here
FAQ
Q - What should I bring?
Lunch - Please bring your own lunch, or money to purchase food. There are a number of cafes and coffee shops in Canterbury, within a short walking distance from the venue.
Reusable Cup (if you have one) - We are aiming to be an eco-conscious event so if you have a reusable cup to use throughout the day we are more than happy to fill that for you with your choice of drink!
Bible - A bible, pen and notebook would be useful, although we will have a handbook there isn't a huge amount of space for notes.
No ticket - This will be a ticket-less event, so no need to print anything - we will have your name on the list!
Q - How can I advertise this to my church?
Download the promotional PDF flyer here, which we hope you will share via social media, email and WhatsApp.
Q - Is the venue accessible for me?
We have a hearing loop available in the main sessions. Please let us know when booking if you need signing support.
There will also be a mother/baby quiet space available.
Q - Can I get a ticket on the day?
No, please make sure you have registered and paid before the day. Due to catering, room size and fire safety we need to know numbers. The event booking link is below. The booking system closes at 6:00pm Thursday 2nd November 2023.
Q - Can I make group bookings for my church?
Yes! Our system allows payment for multiple tickets per booking - please provide contact details for each individual in your group.
Q - How do I pay?
Our event booking system offers payment through Paypal and Stripe (Visa/Credit Card).