Nicole spoke to approximately 1200 students at Charleston Southern University (SC) this week on the issue of sexual abuse, assault and trafficking.
View picture slideshow here
Big and powerful response from that campus with more to come as she reaches out to the community on Saturday. Nicole is the keynote speaker for their 2nd annual womens conference. This year Nicole will deliver two keynote messages for the conference entitled “Charis: Embracing Grace in a Growing Community”
September! It’s been a good month. My youngest son turned 1 year old this month (precious) and I was able to speak out about sexual violence in some pretty cool places, meeting some amazing people (inspiring).
A few weeks ago I had the extraordinary privilege of speaking at the nation’s ONLY historically black (HBCU) all-women’s college, Spelman College, in Atlanta. An amazing time with some amazing ladies! I loved being a part of what they are all about and doing what I can to help empower these young black female leaders to make an impact on the world. Such a great trip! Never to be forgotten. And I am stoked at the invitation to return to speak again for Womens’ History Month on their campus. Whoop whoop!
In Mid-Sept I had a special opportunity to share a message for a Sunday morning church service, officially launching a unique ministry, ”Hush to Hope”. I am so proud of Grace Community Church in Washington Courthouse, Ohio—this church has been using my first book Hush along with the love of Jesus to reach out and care for survivors of abuse in their community. The response of the congregation was humbling. God’s power was evident and the timing was perfect, according to many stories I was privileged to hear after. Pray for this church—specifically for this new survivor support group that has begun—we are expectant for a great report!
Last week I did a radio interview for Chris Fabry LIVE on Moody Radio, discussing abuse & the Church, hope & healing. I always love talking with Chris and interacting with his listeners.
This week my family and I traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I had the honor of keynoting a special speaker series on sexuality. Nick Kristof, a “New York Times” columnist and author of Half The Sky spoke earlier in the week and I presented at Calvin College at the end of the week, where the focus was on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
Tomorrow I share informally in a classroom setting here at Calvin College and then it’s back home with the fam and prepping for next week at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Good start to the fall semester!
May the silence be broken and may the healing begin. Thank you to all who support this work and message.
Nicole
I felt unsettled in my spirit in the hours following our President’s announcement and the responses it ignited around the world. As I prayed this morning, I was asking for peace to come over my heart and soul as to how I should be responding. This is what I wrote…this is the place I find myself at rest…yet never truly at rest…but standing in agreement with God’s heart in the matter:
Rejoice over justice, yet weep over the lost. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they would turn & find life. For our war isn’t against flesh & blood, but against rulers, authorities, powers of the dark world.
(paraphrased in my own words from Prov 24:17; Ez 33:11; Eph 6:12)
Grateful for a God who is just and full of grace and mercy,
Nicole
