April 2022

The Women’s Gathering: Graves into Gardens

April 8-9, 2022

Chandos Pattison Auditorium

Surrey, BC

Life has been hard as the world has changed around us. We have all suffered and experienced loss; many are in desperate need of connection, renewal, and restoration. God is about bringing dead things to life. He desires to heal our weary hearts and exchange our mourning for dancing, our ashes for beauty, and our shame for glory. This weekend, over 300 women had the opportunity to come together as one body to recenter our focus on Jesus and invite Him to turn our graves into gardens.

He is the only One who can.

The Speaking Team

Heather Khym

FOUNDER OF THE WOMEN’S GATHERING

Heather is a passionate speaker and worship leader with over 25 years of ministry experience. She co-founded Life Restoration Ministries with her husband Jake, and is known for co-hosting the Abiding Together Podcast with two of her best friends, Michelle Benzinger and Sr. Miriam James Heidland. Heather attended Franciscan University of Steubenville where she studied Theology and Catechetics and met Jake.

Heather pours her heart into evangelization, discipleship, and creating an environment for people to have a personal encounter with God. Her upcoming book, "Abide" is a testimony to her own healing journey and offers insight into how transformation is possible when we vulnerably bring our entire selves to the foot of the Cross.

Heather lives in British Columbia with Jake, their three teenage children and a growing number of puppies.

Sarah serves as the Director of Pastoral Ministry at Encounter Ministries and overseer of the Encounter School of Ministry. She has served in ministry for the last 15 years and has a desire to see all of God’s children walk in wholeness and holiness. She is the co-founder of the Millenial Church Conferences and a co-creator of Kindred Collective. She has loved serving as a youth minister in a parish and as the Associate Director of Alpha Catholic before joining Encounter Ministries. She holds an MA in Counseling and is currently completing a certificate in Spiritual Direction.

She loves teaching and speaking about the heart of the Father, the wholeness He desires for us, and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives.

Sarah Kaczmarek

DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL MINISTRY AT ENCOUNTER MINISTRIES

Debbie Herbeck has shared with many her personal journey of faith from Judaism to Christianity and subsequent entrance into the Catholic Church. For the past forty years, Debbie Herbeck has worked extensively in youth and women’s ministry, speaking, leading mission trips, and mentoring high school and college age women. She is the founder and executive director Pine Hills Girls’ Camp. Debbie is the founder and leader of the Be Love Revolution, a ministry that exists to help young women encounter Christ and be His love to all they meet. Debbie has written four book and is a frequent author and speaker for Blessed is She and contributing writer for Undone: Freeing your Feminine Heart from the Knots of Fear and Shame.

Debbie and her husband Peter live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have 4 young adult children and 9 small grandchildren.

Debbie Herbeck

FOUNDER OF BE LOVE REVOLUTION

Rachel Wong is a podcaster, writer and speaker living in Surrey, BC. Though she was raised as a Catholic, she experienced a radical encounter with Jesus when she was 20 years old. She now writes and speaks on the feminine genius, the intersection of faith and mental health, and her personal faith journey. Rachel is the host of The Feminine Genius Podcast, which is inspired by Pope St. John Paul II and his writings on women. She aims to showcase the diversity of women in the Catholic Church and share their unique experiences of how God calls them to live out their feminine genius through their gifts and talents.