This time next week, Synergy2009 will be in full swing, and I can hardly wait! Women (and men) will be gathering in Orlando from 29 states so far, representing a variety of Christian ministries and theological seminaries.

I’ve just returned from the wintry Chicago area, where I thoroughly enjoyed (from indoors) the first snow storm I’ve witnessed in years. Outdoors, I felt the bitter cold of single-digit temperatures. Best of all, I spent the weekend with the women of Wheaton Bible Church—a group that really knows how to have a good time (consider that an understatement!), but where there is great hunger to dig deeper into God’s Word.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve also interacted with the women of Asbury Theological Seminary here in Orlando and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois—all fresh reminders of why I do what I do and why Synergy is so important.

Seminary training is vital. Landing a job in ministry is a significant accomplishment. The job search is often a major challenge and the point at which a lot of women hit a wall that eventually causes them to choose another line of work.

Synergy is building a support system for women training and searching for ministry jobs and women already in ministry positions. We focus on continuing education, networking with others who are in the same line of ministry, and tackling issues and problems that come up on different ministry fronts. Eventually, our goal (at least one of them) is to do more to help connect gifted women with fulltime ministry opportunities.

If you’re among those migrating south for this year’s Synergy conference, you can look forward to warmer temperatures and to refueling for the challenges and opportunities ahead. If you’re not coming, please keep us in your prayers, and start making plans to join us at Synergy2010.