On Saturday, October 5, Mary Drake will share the story of her experience with an 18-month-long depression and how she was healed from it. The October 5th is a free presentation offered by Live More Ministries and hosted by the Henderson United Methodist Church at 8871 State Route 178.

“This program is for anyone with doubts about themselves or questions or who needs to know that it is ok to feel down and to know that depression can benefit you. The 23rd Psalm describes walking through the valley of the shadow of death, but it is in that valley where we find the water to grow and change,” Mary says.

What makes her story even more compelling is that Mary is celebrating 20 years as a Methodist pastor and her struggle with depression occurred during that time.

“People think pastors are supposed to help other people and not need help themselves,” she says.

Pastor Mary Drake will share the circumstances of her healing and how skeptical she was beforehand. The pastor of the Mannsville and Lorraine United Methodist congregations for the past 11 years now uses her experience with depression to help others.

The October 5th is a free presentation offered by Live More Ministries, a Christian outreach program for women that visits churches throughout the southern Jefferson County area. The Henderson United Methodist Church Women will offer breakfast from 9am to 9:45am followed by the 10am-12pm presentation.

The Wonder of the Cross ~ Saturday, August 3rd

On Saturday, August 3, artist-evangelist Patty Giles will combine performance painting and contemporary music with a message of hope at Grace Community Church, 17784 Michael Road off US Route 11 in Adams Center. Patty is an accomplished artist who presents the Gospel message of the assurance of the Lord’s love for everyone through art-based storytelling.

Her August 3 program celebrating The Wonder of the Cross is a free presentation offered by Live More Ministries, a Christian outreach program for women, and hosted by Grace Community Church, offering breakfast from 9am to 9:45am followed by the 10am-12pm presentation.

Outrageous Grace ~ Saturday, May 4th

On Saturday, May 4, Live More Ministries, a grassroots women’s ministry based in southern Jefferson County, NY, is bringing Grace Fabian to New Hope Baptist Church, 19983 NYS Route 3 (Outer Arsenal Street), Watertown, to share the story of how she and Edmund had moved to the island nation of Papua New Guinea, learned the language, devised an alphabet, and developed literacy materials for the local people. They were translating the Holy Bible into the Nabak language when Edmund was killed.

Grace has written a book titled Outrageous Grace about how she and her four children wrestled with the pain and grief of their loss, disorientation, and restoration through the challenges that followed Edmund’s death, including violence, eviction notices, and a legal case in a foreign country. Her story is a powerful message of forgiveness and hope.

Grace will have returned to Papua New Guinea for a two-month visit before she speaks on May 4 in Watertown.

The free program for women includes a 9-9:45am breakfast by the New Hope Baptist Church Women. The 10am-12pm presentation includes Grace signing copies of her book available for a $13 donation.

The Least and The Lost: A Plan and A Place for All

On Saturday, February 2, at the Adams United Methodist Church, 36 East Church Street, Mona Fargo will present “The Least and The Lost: A Plan and A Place for All.” Mona will share how she overcame dealing with “women don’t do that” and “you’re just a woman” attitudes and the personal doubt of “what if I can’t” to inspire other women to discover that they can follow the dreams of their hearts.

“I have a heart for encouraging and empowering women to grow beyond their hardships and suffering,” says Mona, who serves as pastor of the Adams and Sulphur Springs Methodist churches.

Pastor Mona will offer tips on how women who feel lost can learn to let God shine new light on them every day. She will share how her personal experiences that include being burned out of everything not once, but twice; ending a troubled marriage; and returning to school as an adult helped prepare her to respond to a divine calling to help others.

The free 10am-12noon program is presented by Live More Ministries, a Christian women’s outreach program that offers quarterly programs for all women. A free 9-9:45am breakfast will be offered by the Adams Methodist Church Women.

Masquerade:
What Mask Are You Hiding Behind?
October 20 in Ellisburg


Connie Silva was on the brink of suicide when a friend invited her to church. Connie accepted the invitation and now helps other women deal with the hardships that life can bring. Connie will share her story and music in a message titled “Masquerade: What Mask Are You Hiding Behind” on Saturday, October 20 at the Ellisburg Methodist Church.

The free 10am-12noon program is presented by Live More Ministries following a free breakfast offered by the Ellisburg Methodist Church Women.

Connie survived 23 years in an abusive marriage while also raising a mentally-handicapped child. She says, “We often pretend to be someone we are not to hide our circumstances or to impress someone or to sustain misbeliefs about ourselves. The Bible teaches us the truth that we are beautiful and we don’t need to hide behind a mask.”

Connie now shares her inspirational message by speaking, performing concerts, and through a published record album. She will sing and speak on October 20th in Ellisburg. This is the Ellisburg Methodist Church’s 100th anniversary in the existing church building.

S.H.A.P.E. Your World with Hope

Ann Elyse Foltz, who has shared her faith in West Africa, with children in Good News Clubs and with adults recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, will offer the insights she has gained from her diverse experiences at the Live More Ministries program at the Rodman Community Church in Rodman, NY, on Saturday, August 18. She will lead an exercise in personal reflection to help the women attending the program discover how their S.H.A.P.E. – spirit, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences – has uniquely equipped them for service.
The free program begins at 10am following a breakfast offered by the churchwomen from 9:00 am to 9:45 am.

In 2000, Ann Elyse traveled to France to study the French language. From 2001-2004, she served with Wycliff Bible Translators’ literacy program in West Africa. She helped train adult literacy teachers to teach the written form of their language in preparation for a Bible translation in their own language.


While working with the Ministry of Jesus in the nations of Togo and Benin, Ann Elyse helped with a community development farm that grew rice, corn and millet and taught beekeeping as a source of income. She also participated in an annual ethnomusicology conference that brought six different language groups together to learn how to praise God with their unique form of musical worship.


After returning to the U.S. in 2004, Ann Elyse co-directed a drug and alcohol counseling center in Pennsylvania with her parents, Pastor Ray and Ginny Merritt. Ginny was the speaker at Live More Ministries’ second program. Ann Elyse’s presentation is the 12th Live More event.


Ann Elyse moved to Northern New York after marrying Craig Foltz in 2005. She is currently a French teacher in the Watertown City School District, and also teaches Good News Club for 1st-5th-graders at the South Jefferson Central School District Wilson Building.


Ann Elyse says she was inspired by previous Live More Ministries’ speaker Fawn Sunderland who spoke about blending light and dark fabrics into a beautiful quilt and how the light and dark moments in one’s life create unique experiences that equip someone to help others. She hopes that each woman will come away from the Live More program in August with not only a clear picture of the skills, abilities and personality that she uniquely has, but with a firmly set goal of how she can use her S.H.A.P.E. to serve her Savior.

Defiant Joy ~ May 12th

Carol McLeod has been described as a menopausal woman overly fond of chocolate who doesn’t like cleaning her house. She hates to shop, but loves to jog. On Saturday, May 12, 2012, the popular author, conference speaker, and Telly-award winner will speak on “Defiant Joy!” at the Lorraine United Methodist Church, 20560 Rt. 189.

McLeod brings a powerful personal story of how God brought her to desperation, rescue, and renewal to the May 12th program that begins at 12 noon with a free luncheon prepared by the Lorraine United Methodist Church Youth. The presentation begins at 1:15pm.

McLeod of Just Joy Ministries will share practical Biblical teaching with her own special brand of hope and humor. The author of two books and the Telly Award-winning teaching DVD entitled “The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart” describes herself as “just a girl head over heels in love with Jesus and passionately addicted to His Word.”

McLeod’s “Defiant Joy!” message explores why so many Christians struggle with joy-filled living with eight steps for overcoming emotions, including depression and bitterness, that hold back victorious faith-filled living.

McLeod, a graduate of Oral Roberts University, was the first Women’s Chaplain and the first women to speak at the university’s Vespers. She established Just Joy Ministries in the greater Buffalo, NY, area to help women navigate the challenging journey of life with joy.

Michele Porter of Pierrepont Manor, NY, won the presentation and made a gift of it to Lorraine United Methodist Church and to Live More Ministries, a Christian women’s ministry based in the southern Jefferson County area.