April 11, 2020
We all need to learn to forgive. At times, the most important person we need to forgive is ourselves. Join us on April 11th as we dig deeper into the importance of forgiveness and the freedom that forgiveness brings. Charlene Sims, the Dallas representative for Forgiving Forward, was deeply impacted after she attended a Forgiving Forward seminar and wants to share this gift with others. Charlene has coached countless individuals through forgiveness and has witnessed miracle after miracle. Learn Charlene’s top tips for coaching and ask questions to those she has personally coached.
8:45-9:45am: Alive at Last Orientation 10am-Noon: Forgiving Forward Coaching Tips with Charlene Sims
March 14, 2020 Empower: Codependency
Healthy relationships are part of a fulfilling life. Do you have a relationship that might be codependent? Have you ever tried to help someone and lost yourself in the process? Learn to identify codependency and the pathway to change. Kenyana Banks knows first-hand the devastating effects emotional trauma, toxic relationships, and domestic abuse can have on your ability to form a positive self-image, set appropriate boundaries, and have healthy and mutually satisfying relationships. For the past six years Kenyana has used her personal story of adversity, resilience, and triumph to inspire and encourage individuals suffering from Self-Love Deficit Disorder (SLDD) formerly known as Codependency, to get free and recover from toxic, exploitive relationships.
November 2019 Empower: The Art of Dealing with Difficult People
Dealing with difficult people isn’t easy. Learn valuable skills for navigating difficult relationships in The Art of Dealing with Difficult People. Thriving in spite of relational challenges is possible! Michelle White, Biblical counselor and co-founder of Healing Thine Hearts Ministries, provided training based on one’s true identity – which is found only in Christ.
October 2019 Empower: Mental Models of Poverty with Melanie Meijering
Victims of sexual exploitation often live in a state of financial crisis or survival mode. They struggle with daily instability. Understand some of the root issues to this real struggle as Melanie, an expert in the field of social work, uncovers the strain of living in poverty in her training on Mental Models of Poverty. You will also learn the motivating factors for those in poverty, thereby gaining tools for greater effectiveness as you work with those who have experienced, sexual exploitation, homelessness and substance abuse.
September 2019 Empower: The Secrets to Self Care with Terri Rivera
We are called to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. But we must be prepared to combat the stress and fatigue, which may coincide with ministering to those with complex trauma. Hear trained counselor, Terri Rivera, share key concepts to identifying emotional exhaustion, burnout and how to use self care practices to build resilience and inner strength in her training The Secrets of Self Care.
August 2019 Empower: Pressing Matters, with Mrs. TD Jakes of The Potter’s House
Alive at Last has the distinct opportunity of joining with Mrs. TD Jakes’ for Pressing Matters at the Potter’s House this month. Learn about the pandemic of sex trafficking and how God can use you to make a difference in the life of a survivor.
July 2019 Empower: Invisible Prisons by Liz Morris, The Personality Doctor
Too many people are bound mentally and emotionally, living far below what Christ has planned for them. Because Jesus came to set the captives free, no one has to stay bound. Attend Empower on July 13th and hear the Personality Doctor, Liz Morris as she shares an interactive, practical training that will position you to live forever free and empower others to live free as well.
At 10am-Noon hear Liz Morris, best selling author, and developer of the Destiny Identifier Profile. Liz is is well regarded as a top personality, destiny identifier, and people expert. Her powerful presentations are energizing and teach some of the most timely topics you will ever hear.
June 2019 Empower: Free to Thrive by Dr. Shannan Crawford
Have you ever felt like something was holding you back from reaching your full potential?
Dr. Shannan Crawford, licensed psychologist and speaker taught how to identify and remove roadblocks that hinder you or others from thriving. Dr. Crawford tailors her approach to meet the needs of each unique individual. She brings vibrant energy and delivers insight in an easy-to-understand style to some of life’s toughest topics empowering listeners to achieve freedom from self-limiting behaviors.
May 2019 Empower: Freedom Experience
You make the choice. Could you have escaped in her shoes? 85-95% of victims want to escape, but feel they have no other options for survival. Immerse yourself in an interactive experience that will help you understand why it is so difficult for the sexually exploited and trafficked to be free, on Saturday May 11th.
Make decisions and see the impact unfold before your eyes. Get ready for an educational event that will shed light on a victim’s journey. You will gain new tools and insight on the importance of a strong support system and why Christians must enter the battle to end exploitation.
April 2019 Empower: Samantha Wyman
EMPOWER 2nd Saturday Training featured Samantha Wyman sharing, “What every counselor wished a Mentor knew.”
March 2019 Empower: Laura Pfaender
Laura Pfaender of PX shared her experience ministering in brothels in Germany. Laura reaches out to women of many nationalities in Frankfurt and surrounding cities in the Mainland area.
February 2019 Empower: Stacie Silvas, Building Resilience
Rev. Stacie Dowler Silvas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Stacie earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College. During the last ten years of practice, she has focused on providing counseling for disadvantaged populations, including former offenders, survivors of sex trafficking, and victims of abuse.
Stacie also has experience counseling teens, couples, families, and individuals. Her specializations include trauma-informed care, anxiety related issues, developing healthy relationships, and personal/spiritual growth. In addition, Stacie holds a B.S. in Church Ministry & Cross-Cultural Communications from Southwestern University and has been a licensed minister since 2003.
December 2018 Empower: Mark Verkler
“The Prodigal Son Story-in all of us”
Mark Verkler, LMFT, has a heart for working with families, individuals and, especially, difficult counseling cases. Samaritan’s Well Counseling is a dream of Mark’s. He brings to it a resume rich with education and experience. Mark graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1990 and started his career as the Clinical Coordinator for the Suicide & Crisis Center of Dallas in 1990. Since 1991, he’s had an outpatient practice that also included several years of inpatient work in the Dallas area with Minirith Meier Clinics, Newlife Clinics and Meier Clinics.
In addition to his regular practice, he makes himself available to clients needing acute or intensive work that requires additional attention. Mark is fully devoted to his wife, Marie. They’ve been married since 1987 and currently serve as Elders at Upper Room Dallas. Together they have been blessed with four children: Josh, Grace, Caleb, and Joy. They are a home school family, and they live, work and worship in the North Texas area.
November 2018 Empower: Carolyn Dunegan,
“Understanding and Healing Trauma”
Carolyn Dunegan MA, LCDC is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Ordained Minister. Carolyn’s training has allowed her to speak and minister in numerous settings from home bible studies to India and New Zealand. She also served as Chaplain for PURE Women’s conferences from 2007-2009. Carolyn has a private practice in Dallas located at the historic Meadows Building. In March of 2018 she became an Ordained Minister. Portion Ministries, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2014 to provide low-cost counseling for adults and equipping/training for groups & churches.