God has answered our prayers! After sixteen months of preparation, the Innovations in Faith-based Nursing Conference took place June 16-19, 2014 at Indiana Wesleyan University. Throughout the planning, I had a strong sense that God was going to use this conference in the lives of the nurses, nurse educators, and others who came. It was a joy to see the many ways God was working!
“It was an extremely nourishing, informative and inspiring conference,” said one of the participants. “This was my first time and I will be back. It was phenomenal. Coming from a secular, large, public university, this was an extraordinary experience that has changed my perspective on what I do.”
Both of the plenary speakers were recommended by NCF, Elizabeth Johnson Taylor and Kamalini Kumar. As requested in previous years, there was more time allocated for devotions and personal spiritual development.
One seminar, “The Science and Art of Spiritual Care,” was added late to the schedule by special request. The four sessions on this topic were so popular that attendance was limited because of space. This demonstrates the deep need for more quality teaching on giving spiritual care, a topic that NCF has actively promoted for decades.
Nurses Christian Fellowship International added a global perspective as a co-sponsor of the conference. NCF/USA was well-represented by our staff team and provided a national perspective of God’s work in nursing.
Another participant said, “I really enjoyed this time. It was such an inspiration to see how God is working throughout the USA and around the world! See you in 2016!”
After evaluating the conference, program director Beverly Schaefer is already asking the planning committee for possible plenary speakers for 2016. I’m not surprised at her eagerness because God is working! God knows the needs for nurses to share best practices in teaching and practice among all cultures and in all settings from a Christian worldview. They need to know and practice the science and art of spiritual care. They need to be empowered by Christ and his followers.
God is preparing Christian nurse educators to make a difference in his Kingdom. Our next Innovations conference will be June 20-23, 2016. I’ll be there, and I hope you’ll plan on it too!
- by Sandra A. Jamison
Add new comment