Wife, mother, daughter, friend, mentor and pastor’s wife have been just a few of Billie’s titles. Yet, the one she treasures most is identifying as a beloved child of God.
The journey of embracing her identity in Christ and answering the call of His unrelenting pursuit has not been easy; but it has been the most fulfilling experience of her life, filling her days with unexpected blessings.
Experiencing trauma, abuse and dysfunction growing up gives her a unique perspective on life and an amazing God-story. Billie’s story is not only about overcoming the effects of abuse, abandonment and neglect; it’s ultimately a story of redemption, healing, restoration, victory– and the God who makes all things new.
Billie and her family recently moved to Lancaster County PA, where she enjoys deep heart connections with old friends. This former city kid delights in country living; being married to the man of her dreams for 27 years, and her noisy and creative crew of 8 children, with 5 still at home. And the most adorable Granddaughter that fills her heart with deep joy and wonder!

Identity Crisis: Just who do you think you are? Let’s uncover truth versus lies in your identity before God, the world, and the person staring back at you in the mirror

Also here is more of a description of what our keynote speaker, Billie Blevins, will be speaking about on Saturday.

“Just who do you think you are? Let’s uncover truth versus lies in your identity before God, the world, and the person staring back at you in the mirror.”

Hi! I am Dawn Stoltzfus. I was born in Traverse City, MI & lived there for 2 years then moved to Wayne County, OH & lived here for 25 years. When I was 27, I moved to Metropolitan Washington, DC where I spent 20 years doing a variety of things; extensive international travel, starting and running an organic market & bakery as a single woman, establishing deep roots relationally with some wonderful people, marrying Merv Stoltzfus, birthing 4 babies and having the wonderful privilege of being a published cookbook author with Revell and Harvest House, all without an agent, my husband had great connections. A fun fact, I love high school and college basketball.
 
Since moving back to Ohio,  Merv and I have had the wonderful privilege to bring together his love of books, he was VP of Operations at Choice Books of NOVA for 25 years and my love of retail, at the Gospel Bookstore in Berlin.  It is a pure delight to serve alongside of him, he and I are learning how to work together, and we count it a privilege to serve the people in our sphere of influence. I also homeschool 2 of our children and the other 2 attend Legacy Christian School.
 
My heart, is for young moms to have confidence to live out of their own, unique grid.  What has God placed in your lap?  Sometimes they are things we love and sometimes life doesn’t look at all like we had anticipated.   I know the tension of so many questions and options when it comes to mothering.  To vaccinate or not, to choose public, private or homeschooling as your education options. Conventional or homeopathic treatments and many more options in between. Epidural or natural child birth.  How do we pass on our values to our children? Organic, is it really that big of a deal? To be an Instagram Influencer or not? What do we do with all the ideas that come across our social feeds? How can we know what is of the Holy Spirit and where we are being influenced by the world? All these options can leave our brains fried but more then that it can divide our friendships.  
 
So what is all this Crunchy Momma talk about (stop by my house and I will be happy to serve you some Beet Kvass)?  How can we learn to cross over the lines of disagreement and love?  I will share ways I had to learn to step up and serve my family when I had 4 children 6 and under (homeschooling) and my baby, Will Franklin was sick for 7 months with Pertussis, (and how hard it was to choose forgiveness to the family that exposed my 6 week old baby), German Measles and then 4 years of severe allergies for him.  All these things leave us weary to the bone.  If you were to drop by my house, most likely you will find unscored Math papers, a dirty shower or two and there is always something unfinished in my life (can you relate)  but I look forward to reminding you, you are not alone.  Jesus said, ‘HE would gently lead those with young’.  We will unpack some truths around this concept in our time together and explore what it looks like to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us  in our own, unique, particular grids with confidence and hope.

Breakout session title:
 “Finding Identity in the Midst of Mommy Wars”

Alta Miller, wife, mother, widowed, single mom, remarried, grandmother, great grandmother, is now married to Eli (Whitey) Miller for 5 years. She has four daughters, 17 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters. She enjoys gardening, growing, beautiful flowers, and spending time with her family. She’s held many titles and experienced the refiner’s fire in life, but has learned through it all that these titles do not define her, but that her identity is in Christ and He is the source of her joy and fulfillment in life. 
 
Her breakout session:
Identity in Labels
 “I am _____, but that’s not who I am.”  Not letting transition titles define me… single mom, widow, remarried, etc.