An Invite From Our 2024 Guest Speaker: Annie F. Downs!
Annie F. Downs is a New York Times bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and successful podcast host based in Nashville, TN. Engaging and honest, she makes
readers and listeners alike feel as if they’ve been long-time friends. Co-founder of the That Sounds Fun Network—which includes her aptly named flagship podcast,
That Sounds Fun and newest podcast Let’s Read The Gospels—and author of multiple bestselling books including Chase the Fun, That Sounds Fun, 100 Days to
Brave and Remember God, Annie is the friend who will shoot straight with you, remind you that God is good, and still manage to make you laugh in the process.
readers and listeners alike feel as if they’ve been long-time friends. Co-founder of the That Sounds Fun Network—which includes her aptly named flagship podcast,
That Sounds Fun and newest podcast Let’s Read The Gospels—and author of multiple bestselling books including Chase the Fun, That Sounds Fun, 100 Days to
Brave and Remember God, Annie is the friend who will shoot straight with you, remind you that God is good, and still manage to make you laugh in the process.
Breakout Topics
You'll get to choose two breakouts to attend. (We know, you wish you could hear them all! Hopefully, two of them stand out more than the others.)
What’s My Place/What’s My Purpose: Led by Jennifer Chaney.
You split your time between family and work, whether in a corporate career, as an entrepreneur, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or an empty nester. You deeply love your family, but you may struggle to find purpose as a Christian woman and feel disconnected from your true self amidst the busyness of home and work. How do we learn to do better than just going through the motions?
Quiet Darkness: Led by Allie Keele.
Depression and anxiety can be tough to talk about. Women may feel ashamed when they go through mood and body changes after childbirth, during challenging times, and due to health issues. It's important to remember that there's no need to feel guilty about something you can't control. Even in the midst of struggles, there is hope.
Emotional Resilience through Faith: Led by Debbie Rich.
Faith helps us develop resilience by providing a long-term perspective on our current circumstances. It anchors our outlook in hope and prevents us from feeling overwhelmed by difficult situations. As we grow in our faith, we see more clearly how God redeems our pain - either in the here & now or in eternity.
Contentment: Led by Sydney Spiller
We all know that comparing ourselves to others isn't good for us. It just makes us feel bad and often leads to being unhappy with our own lives. It can also make us feel dissatisfied with God and envious of those we think God favors. The worst part is that all this comparing and dissatisfaction distracts us from focusing on Jesus. Comparison can affect our lives, so let’s learn how to redirect our focus toward Jesus to give us a positive and fulfilling thought life.
Prayer: Led by Lisa Eckhart.
Want to make your relationship with God more meaningful and intentional? Prayer isn't about sticking to a list or formalities. It's really about connecting with God. The best prayers are the ones where you can be real, messy, and honest. It’s also a gift to pray for others, whether they know you are or not.
Breakout Speakers
We asked local ladies we love and admire to share what God has been teaching them! Check out their bios to learn a little more about them.
Jennifer Chaney
Jennifer is a Southern Illinois native who calls Herrin, IL home. Jennifer and her husband, Shane, have been married for 24 years. She has many titles like most women; however, the most important title is “child of God.” She and her husband have a 15-year-old daughter, 3 grown girls who are married, and 5 grandchildren. Anyone who meets her will know pretty quickly that she loves people, so much so that her husband begs her not to talk to Uber drivers when they are out of town. Mostly, she loves helping people know and follow Jesus. Jennifer is especially passionate about discipleship and leaving behind a Christ-centered legacy. Over the years, she has led numerous Bible studies and groups, mentored young women, and served in the church she and her family attends.
Allie Keele
Allie is a native Southern Illinoisian. She is wife to Dustin and mama to Owen, Avery, Katie, and Sutton. Her love of children has been the source of passion behind her 14 years as a public school teacher. Allie loves laughing and a good cup of coffee. She thrives on transparency and loves watching the Lord use the ashes from her life to create beauty in others.
Debbie Rich
Debbie Rich is a twice-widowed mom of two sons. She and her youngest son live in Carterville, where Jackson is enrolled in his last year at John A Logan College. Her oldest son, Dylan, and his wife, Devanni, live in western Kentucky. Debbie is a licensed clinical social worker and works as a special education school social worker. Debbie has been attending Cornerstone since 2010, participating in small groups, Verge, and serving with the Welcome Team. She loves traveling, reading, and walks with Nico, Jackson’s Golden Doodle. A fun fact about Debbie is that she started lifting weights in 2014 and finds it to be her secret stress reliever.
Sydney spiller
Follower of Jesus, wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend. My husband, Eli, and I live in Herrin with our 3 children, 2 Australian Shepherds, 1 cat, and 2 chickens. We are part of an organic church gathering hosted in our home each week, and I’ve never experienced a more beautiful depiction and experience of the Church. I work with tiny humans part-time as a Speech Language Pathologist and spend the rest of my week at home with our children. In my free time, I enjoy being with friends, going on hikes, baking with sourdough, and reading. I have faced various challenges in my life through relationships, work, and being a foster momma, and in each of these seasons, the Lord has been gracious to reveal His character, teaching me contentment and reliance on Him alone - which I am excited to share more about at the Engage Conference.
Lisa Eckhart
My husband Paul and I have called Southern Illinois home for almost nine years. I am a mother of two sons and "Gram" to three grandchildren. I really enjoy mowing and using that time to communicate with the Lord. Volunteering at Renew, mentoring ladies (and couples), and being part of the Cornerstone prayer team are things close to my heart. Throughout my life journey, prayer has always been a steadfast cornerstone of my spiritual life.
Conference Schedule
7:30 - Doors Open, Registration w/ free coffee, fruit, & pastries
8:30 - Main Session #1
9:30 - Break Out Session #1
10:15 - Coffee, snacks, Meet & Greet/Book signing
11:15 - Break Out Session #2
12:00 - Main Session #2
8:30 - Main Session #1
9:30 - Break Out Session #1
10:15 - Coffee, snacks, Meet & Greet/Book signing
11:15 - Break Out Session #2
12:00 - Main Session #2