Last April I invited some friends over to my house for the inaugural (in)RL conference hosted by (in)courage. I was afraid to open my home to women I didn’t know, so I kept it small. I borrowed a big screen and projector from my husband’s band, had cupcakes, gifts, and some of my dearest friends on the planet.
Here’s the thing about the (in)RL conference. It doesn’t matter who is in the room with you. It doesn’t matter if you’re surrounded by hundreds of women from the tri-state area with a live worship band or if you’re in someone’s basement with your feet curled on the sofa with just a handful of close sisters. You don’t have to blog, be a big blogger, want to write a book, be a mom, work outside the home, work in the home, homeschool, public school, or have aspirations to be the next Beth Moore (although Lord knows I adore her!).
You just have to be you. And you have to be a little bit brave, to know that these gorgeous (in)courage women with their hearts for Jesus are going to make you laugh, cheer, and yes…most definitely cry. They’re going to be real with you. All you need to do is show up. Be brave enough to be in community on April 27th – whether you host it or you join someone else’s group. And if that community is hard for you to be part of? Know that this (in)RL conference GETS THAT. Stick with it sister. Show up.
But first? Watch this video. And..um..excuse the goofy one talking about nail polish, on that fuzzy sofa at Allume beside sweet Mary Beth and Anna. Because my favorite part of the (in)RL conference last year? Getting to meet the incredible behind the scenes crew – Sally and the video team – at Allume in October. Y’all. They are working HARD to make this un-conference happen and they are some of the most fun, down to earth, sweet, humble people you will ever meet in you entire life. They put up with me and my rambling for TWO sessions. Bless their hearts. Can I get an Amen and a round of applause?
Here are the amazing details:
Registration opens TODAY at www.inrl.us and It’s FREE!
You really want to register today to get a copy of our (in)courage 365 Daybrightener. I have one. Trust me. You want this. Go register! This is only good TODAY!
Even if you can’t register today, register! Everyone getsa a copy of (in)courage’s first eBook: “Best of the Beach House 2012.”
What is (in)RL?
(in)RL was born out of two years spent listening to women in the comments at (in)courage craving local, real life community. Derived from the social media acronym “IRL” or “in real life,” (in)RL is an invitation to share what we’ve learned about community and encourage women with stories and suggestions for connecting deeper in real life.
Think of it as a FREE girl’s weekend away that doesn’t require packing or plane tickets, where women can kick off any expectation of perfect, set aside their fears, their shyness, their worry that they’re not good enough, and find some of Jesus’ words of rest woven into every video shared here.
When is it?
The (in)RL webcast kicks off on Friday, April 26 and (in)RL meetups follow on Saturday, April 27.
What will we be talking about?
Last year we explored the nitty gritty of community. This year we’re taking a closer look at what it takes to stay rooted in community when sometimes just walking away would be so much easier and tons more convenient. Women share stories of how they’ve chosen to stay through hard marriages, challenging parenting, worthwhile friendships. How choosing to stay has freed them more fully and unexpectedly than if they’d cut and run.
Are you joining? I’d love to know so I can pray about your meet up!
Goofballs unite!! We need our own little inrl meetup! Very excited for April.