We've lined up some of the most powerful, influential, trail-blazing women we could find to speak at VITAL 2018!
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VANESSA
GARGANO
Co-lead pastor of Road to Life Church along with her husband is a mother of 3. Visionary, church planter, entrepreneur, and a powerful communicator; Vanessa has a passion to see people realize and reach their potential in Christ. Overcoming a child-hood that was marred by substance abuse, divorce, sexual promiscuity, alcoholism in her own life, and financial instability; she is passionate about helping others find their way to freedom.
JULIE
SIGNORELLI
Julie Signorelli and her husband Michael recently launched New York based V1 Church. Julie uses the reality of past tragedies - miscarriages, a toxic marriage, and ministry failures to reveal the beauty and wonder of God's saving grace. She is an inspiration to working mothers, and woman aspiring to break the glass ceiling. Julie currently resides in New York City with her husband and two daughters, Everly and Bella.
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KARLA VEREECKEN
Karla Vereecken was born and raised in Grandville, Michigan. She and her husband John have been missionaries in Mexico for the past 32 years, even though she's not crazy about the word"missionary". She just happens to serve God in another country. John and Karla have 4 kids and 6 grandkids. They are the founders of Vida International Church in Saltillo and Monterrey, Mexico, and the directors of Lidere, a leadership training organization that works with John C. Maxwell in all of Latin America. Karla loves working together with her husband, but finds her greatest joy in taking care of her handicapped son Timmy. In spite of living with a child with severe disabilities, Karla has learned that you can still fulfill your destiny and live a life beyond your wildest dreams.
JOAN
MCCLENDON
Joan is the Operations Program Director for the Nonprofit Professional Development Department in the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring women. She has done this as a transformal speaker, author and a coach. She co-authored Life on the Fringe:Testimonies of Women Moving Beyond Desperation to Faith, a book of inspiring stories about women from around the country who have overcome difficult times in their lives through their faith. The book has travelled to several countries including, China, India and several places in the Middle East.
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You can't miss the incredible breakout sessions we have planned for this year!
DIANA
Diana Eileen was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She’s the second of four children—a miracle child since her mom couldn't conceive after her first son was born. She is a devoted wife to Chad and mother to Dévorah Daniella. Diana is a focused and goal oriented woman whose heart is set on her inheritance, nations (Psalms 28). Dreams drive her every day as she accomplishes her goals through entrepreneurship and the marketplace.
She has strong convictions and speaks to women's hearts to better understand our identities in Christ. She is a pastor's granddaughter, a former leader of over 2000 youths, a board member, an elder at House of Worship! Puerto Rico, and current Federal Reviewer Consultant and COO at Road to Life Church. She has experienced and overcome hostile relationships, faced depression, and risen above because of Christ, counseling and understanding that she was created for a purpose. Diana is founder of Women Talk To Women, and together with her husband are founders of B. One (humanitarian relief organization) and A Better Life! (Wealth Coaches).
VALERIE
Born in Milwaukee, raised in Ohio and grown in Massachusetts, every step has led Valerie to where she is and who she is today. Valerie was raised by a loving, Pastoral family and though she was raised in the ways of the Lord, her journey has had its hills and valleys. Thankfully, we serve a loving God whose hand covers every step of the path. Through God’s grace, she was brought to NWI two years ago during one of the most painful seasons of her life. Through that, God has restored her, renewed her and continues to grow her with each new day. She is blessed to serve Road to Life Church of NWI in the areas of Worship and Outreach through prison ministry and Life Groups. In her professional path she serves the Family Youth and Services Bureau as a Family Support Specialist providing crisis intervention and ongoing in home therapeutic support to high risk families in Porter County. As of August of 2018, she will embark on the next stretch of this journey in preparation for His plans and purposes as a student of Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies where she will pursue a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling.
AMANDA
Born in Michigan , and raised in Indiana . She and her husband Ricky have overcome adversity against cancer, Post traumatic stress disorder , rare pregnancy diagnosis , and enormous loss. Amanda has turned her anxiety and fear into a ministry of encouragement and empowerment . Through her daily motivational videos she speaks life and purpose to her viewers. When she is not encouraging others she works as a cardiac nurse and is a mother of two.
AUTUMN
Autumn is 23 years old and has been married for 4 years to Dominic Tomlinson. They have two beautiful kids; Levi Ellis (2) and Veyda Ivy (6 mo). Autumn’s favorite thing to do in her down time is to watch movies & eat mexican food! Autumn has a passion for injustice and has been apart of the ATEAMS for A21 campaign for the last 10 years! A21 campaign strives to bring awareness to Human Trafficking Victims. Autumn loves speaking and empowering young girls to do what they're called to do past their struggles and insecurities. Autumn struggled severely as a child with S.A.D (Separation Anxiety Disorder) - ended up as a drop out, but prevailed through it! Autumn has a powerful testimony she cannot wait to share with the VITAL women of 2018.
It seems that no matter where you look or who you talk to; women have faced or are facing difficult things. Sometimes it feels as if we are facing these challenges alone. But that is a lie. No one is excluded from life’s challenges. It isn’t IF you will experience hardship this side of eternity; it’s when. Living a good, moral life does not prevent people from suffering. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship idols, and yet were thrown into the fire. Good people suffer – in spite of their godliness and their devotion to God.The question we need to ask ourselves is; inthe face of adversity, would we as women be able to stand like these three godly men and say;“ourGod whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace … BUT EVEN IF NOT… we will not serve your gods…”(Daniel3:17-18). God could have saved them before they were required to enter the fiery furnace, but He said no. Jesus pleaded for his Father to make a way around the cross, but God said no(Matthew26:39, 42). Paul pleaded for the Lord to save him from his torment, but the Lord said no(2Corinthians 12:8-10) and David trusted his Shepherd to lead him“THROUGH”the valley of the shadow of death”(Psalm23:4). Will you choose to trust God as you walk through the fire?
(Isaiah 43:1-2) says:“But now, this is what the Lord says, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:‘Fearnot, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.'”
The good news is that no matter where you are or what you are facing, God has a plan and a purpose for the hard things that you will experience in this life. We may not always understand it as we’re going through it, but that’s when we have to step back and look at our situation from God’s perspective. He sees the bigger picture. Romans 8:28 says,“Andwe know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
My prayer is that you will be encouraged during this conference to boldly face whatever you are facing now, or whatever you may face in the future; and that your faith would become stronger THROUGH the process. Know this! God is for you and HE is perfecting you! He will not leave you and He will not forsake you. He will be with you as you walk THROUGH THE FIRE!
Vanessa Gargano
Host & Founder of Vital Women
2017 VITAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR:
Verla McConnell
The weekend will be packed full of encouraging & empowering messages, activities, breakout sessions, & more!
FRIDAY AUGUST 17
6:00 PM REGISTRATION BEGINS
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SATURDAY AUGUST 18
4:00 EVENT ENDS
Vital 2018 will be held at Road To Life Church in Northwest Indiana and we've lined up discounted rates at some local hotels for anyone attending the conference!
Road To Life Church
NORTHWEST INDIANA
7056 W 450 N
Michigan City, IN 46360
Email:
Phone: 219.728.6290
Vital NWI Hotel Recommendations:
Chesterton
Hilton Garden Inn
501 Gateway Blvd.
Chesterton, IN 46304
(219)-983-9500
Michigan City
Hampton Inn & Suites
3674 Frontage Rd.
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219)-814-4164
Portage
Country Inn & Suites
1630 Olmstead Dr.
Portage, IN 46368
(219)-764-0021
Vital NWI Food Recommendations:
1. Olive Garden - Italian
4441 S. Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
2. Mucho Mas - Local Fast Mexican
727 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
3. El Bracero - Local Mexican
4100 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
4. Panera Bread - Sandwich, Soup, Salad
5673 S, Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
5. Panda Express - Fast Chinese
5246 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
6. Steak N’ Shake - Burgers & Fries
5809 S, Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
7. Chickpea - Fast mediterranean
3314, 225 W 5th St, Michigan City, IN 46360