The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11
Speaker: Beth Allison Barr
Beth Allison Barr, Ph.D., is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. A specialist in medieval history, women’s history, and church history, she is a leading voice in the conversation on gender and Christianity.
Barr is the author of the bestselling book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth (Brazos Press, 2021) and her latest release, Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry (Brazos Press ,2025). Her work has been featured by NPR and The New Yorker, and she is a regular contributor to The Anxious Bench, a popular Patheos blog on religious history. She has also written for Christianity Today, The Washington Post, Religion News Service, The Dallas Morning News, Religion & Politics, Sojourners, and Baptist News Global.
Beyond her academic and writing pursuits, Beth is a Baptist pastor’s wife and a proud mom of two great kids.
Worship Leader: Karmyn Bokma
Karmyn is a pastor and a speaker in the GTA. She has served in ministry contexts of all kinds, from youth and young adults, to small groups and discipleship, to senior pastoring. She currently works as the Worship and Congregational Engagement pastor at North Burlington Baptist Church. Regardless of the role, Karmyn always feels a passion to continue to point people to Jesus and discover together what he has to say to us about our identity, our character and our place in the Kingdom. She is married to Ben and they have three kids (Ellie, Zeke and Silas)
Breakout Sessions
Planting Seeds of Change:
Women Thriving Worldwide
CBM She Matters
with Brenda Halk
Explore the ways women around the world are experiencing life and faith in all its dimensions. In this session, we’ll explore the She Matters campaign, learning about the challenges women face globally and how CBM initiatives are making a tangible difference.
This workshop will also introduce the CBWOQ She Matters trip to Kenya 2027, offering a pathway to connect faith with action and global sisterhood.
Just as a well-watered garden nurtures every plant, this session reminds us that caring for women’s flourishing in the world cultivates a more vibrant, life-giving community.
Nourished by the Word:
Cultivating Spiritual Growth
Bible Study
with Tracey Bagley
Dive deep into Scripture with a focus on what it means to be a “well-watered garden” in faith, relationships, and personal growth. This reflective session will encourage participants to consider their own spiritual flourishing and ways to nurture others.
Directly aligned with the event’s central metaphor, this study invites participants to root themselves in God’s care, growing strong and fruitful in all areas of life.
Walking Through a Living Garden: Ministries in Action
Immersive
with Gloria Stafford
Experience firsthand how God’s love is being expressed in the Thornhill area through churches and city ministries. Participants will visit multiple sites to learn about welcoming the nations, youth ministry initiatives, and other ways Baptists are nurturing growth and transformation in their communities.
Just as a garden thrives when each plant receives attention, communities flourish when ministries intentionally nurture people’s spiritual, relational, and practical needs.
Bloom Together:
Stories of Women Flourishing in Faith
Panel Discussion
with Abby Lambshead
A panel of women will share stories and practical ideas for developing women’s groups that foster personal and communal growth. This session includes the Kindred Moms story and resources for starting a group that encourages flourishing—both spiritually and relationally.
Flourishing communities are like gardens: they thrive when nurtured with intentional care, connection, and support.
Registration - Pricing Options
To make this gathering accessible to all, we are offering tiered pricing options to accommodate different financial circumstances:
Standard Full Weekend Registration: $150
This fee covers the full cost of the event, including venue, materials, and programming. For those who are able to contribute at the full price, we thank you for supporting the gathering and helping make it possible for others to attend.
Community Full Weekend Support Registration: $80
We understand that financial circumstances can vary. This option is designed to ensure that the gathering remains accessible to all members of our community. If this price better aligns with your current situation, we welcome you to select it.
Standard Registration (Gala Dinner Only): $75
For anyone who wants to attend just the gala dinner, this option is available.
Community Support (Gala Dinner Only): $40
For anyone who wants to attend just the gala dinner, this option is available. If this price better aligns with your current situation, we welcome you to select it.
*Donate - Gift a Registration*
If you're able to contribute more, consider purchasing an additional registration for someone else who may need financial assistance. Your generosity helps ensure that this event remains open and accessible to all members of our community. Donate here.
*Event Bursary*
We hope to make our gathering more accessible with our Community Registration price, but if cost is still a barrier, please don’t let that stop you—we truly want you to be there!
Bursaries are available, and we’d love to support you. Apply here!
Registration Cancellation Policy
1. Cancellations before April 10th: Refund of registration minus $15.
2. Cancellations after April 10th: No refund. Exception: In the case of accident or illness of the registrant, or a death in the family: refund minus $15.
3. Registration forms without payment: These are not considered registered. Meals will not be ordered and workshop choices will not be held.
Hotel
Tyndale