Acclaimed author, musician, Bible study creator and teacher Kelly Minter will be the featured artist at a women's gathering this month at Statesboro First United Methodist Church. The "Cultivate" event takes place Friday from 7–9 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, and women of all ages are invited to attend.
Minter and the Cultivate Worship Trio of musicians will teach and encourage women throughout the weekend, emphasizing the four main components of the event: Biblical teaching, stylistically simple worship, community prayer and a heart for missions.
Always ready to proclaim that her joy is to know Jesus, talk about him and teach the Word that is all about him, Minter said: "As I consider where we are as a culture, I find myself longing for the truth of God's Word as much as ever. As women, we're pulled in several directions. We can get discouraged, tired; we tend to compare ourselves to others.
"Cultivate is a time for women of all ages and stages of life to be refreshed, encouraged and challenged as we study the Scriptures together."
Minter, a preacher's daughter who grew up in northern Virginia, said that as a child, she struggled with anxiety and waves of depression.
"The Word of God became my balm," Minter said. "This is one of the reasons I love the Bible so much."
In her 20s, Minter moved to Nashville for a record deal. Three records later, with changes in the recording industry hindering further deals, Minter was asked to write a Bible study, and her career morphed from musician to author and eventually Bible teacher. The Cultivate events bring it all full circle when Minter joins the worship team's piano and violin with her guitar and voice.
"I have a passion for acoustic music and being able to hear singing voices worship in the room, which is why I love the Cultivate Trio," she said.
Minter is the author of four books and four Bible study curriculums. Her most recent book release, "Wherever the River Runs," chronicles her many trips to Brazil with Justice and Mercy International, an organization that serves the poor, orphaned and forgotten people of the world. Each Cultivate event focuses on both international missions (through Justice and Mercy International) and local missions. Open Hearts Community Mission will be the featured local missions partner at the Statesboro event.
Barbara Bordeaux, Minter's assistant and violinist for the Cultivate Worship Trio, said: "We feel strongly about encouraging women to take part in missions, both serving internationally and helping women plug into their community. We feel it's really important."
Minter has traveled all over the world as a speaker, writer, teacher and musician. And though she's visited South Georgia — a "beautiful part of the country; the land of peaches and pecans," as she recalls — she's not led a women's event in Statesboro previously.
Join Minter and Statesboro First United Methodist Church Jan. 27–28 and start off the new year refreshed, encouraged and challenged.
Tickets are $30 for general admission or $25 each for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets online, go to www.cultivatevent.com/statesboro-ga. For more information on the event, call Statesboro First United Methodist Church at (912) 764-7589.