I really enjoyed talking with Women of Fatih conference speakers Karen James and Michelle Aguilar. They both had compelling stories to tell and I could have shared much more than we had room for.

Some readers may already know, but for those of you who missed it, The Oklahoman, in partnership with the Women of Faith  conference ministry, has four free registrations to the conference to give away. We are giving them away in pairs so we have two pairs for some duo out there — maybe a mother and daughter, best friends or  two sisters, perhaps.    

The conference is set for Aug. 27-28 at the BOK Center in Tulsa. This year’s theme is “Imagine.”

If you are interested in participating, send your name, address and phone number to Carla Hinton, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 or send an email to chinton@opubco.com.

Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Aug. 16. The winners will be notified by Aug. 17 — so they can begin making their plans …

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

It will be at Tulsa’s BOK Center.

And there’s something else different about the Women of Faith’s “Imagine” tour: It will be in August this year instead of a late fall date like October or November.

The dates for the conference are Aug. 27-28.

The event will include special guests Michelle Aguilar, the season six winner of “The Biggest Loser”; journalist Karen James; contemporary Christian recording artist Natalie Grant and Marcus Buckingham.

For more information about this year’s conference, visit www.womenoffaith.com.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

It’s because Women of Faith 2009 is here … just days away, in fact.

With the theme “A Grand New Day,” the conference will be Friday and Saturday at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno.

Judging from years past, there will indeed be thousands of women flocking to downtown Oklahoma City come Friday.

Women of Faith’s core presenters include Oklahoma native and contemporary Christian recording artist Sandi Patty (at right), Marilyn Meburg, Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont and Luci Swindoll. Lisa Whelchel (pictured below), star of NBC TV’s’1970′s-80′s sitcom “The Facts of Life,” will be one of the guest presenters.

Women from all over Oklahoma and some other states in the region are expected to attend the two-day conference.

See you there …

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

An estimated 12,000 people are expected to converge on downtown Tulsa Thursday to see televangelist Joyce Meyer.

Joyce Meyer Ministries is hosting ministry sessions Thursday through Saturday at the BOK Center. 

The attendance estimates come from a BOK advisory noting that there will be increased traffic in the downtown area later this week.

“The crowds expected for this event will increase the amount of traffic arriving in downtown Tulsa throughout the three days. Commuters should be ready and allow more time for their drive,” the advisory said.

Meyer, who conducts about 15 conferences a year, can be seen and heard on her “Enjoying Everyday Life” television and radio programs. 

She visited Oklahoma City as guest speaker at Church of the Harvest’s Momentum Conference in 2006. In October 2005 she conducted a three-day conference at the Ford Center — her first in Oklahoma City.

Doors at the BOK Center open at 5 p.m. Thursday, and the opening ministry session is set for 7 p.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. Friday for the 10 a.m. session and 5 p.m. for the 7 p.m. session. Saturday, doors open at 8 a.m. for the 10 a.m. session.

The BOK advisory said the following lots and parking garages will be available: Old City Hall Parking Lot, B&B, Central North Garage, 100 West Garage, Doubletree parking garage, the flat lot at Third Street and Denver and all meters for street parking.

For a parking map, go online to the Joyce Meyer Ministries event page on the BOK Center Web site. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

After attending a Promise Keepers men’s conference a few years ago at the Ford Center, I know one thing for certain: Many Christian men in Oklahoma love the Promise Keepers organization and its mission to help them continue their Christian journey as husbands, fathers, church members …

Now comes news of interest regarding Promise Keepers.

Religion News Service reports that Bill McCartney, the former college football coach who helped found Promise Keepers, has come out of retirement to lead the evangelical Christian group.

McCartney, 68, has returned as chief executive officer and chairman of the ministry. McCartney replaces Tom Fortson, who resigned voluntarily, Promise Keepers general counsel Ed O’Brien told the RNS. 

The Religion News Service reports that in 1996, the group drew 1.1 million men to 22 stadium conferences; 10 years later, 18 conferences attracted some 132,000. Also, according to the RNS, the Denver-based group has dealt with a decline in gifts, grants and contributions.

McCartney, former coach of the

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor