Photo by Ryan C. Harris
Kristen Oxley
Assistant Editor
February 24, 2006
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Author Liz Curtis Higgs speaks second annual
Ladies Conference. Photo by Ryan C. Harris |
The Associated Ladies of Milligan hosted Liz Curtis Higgs as the featured
speaker Saturday for the second annual Ladies Conference held in Seeger Chapel.
In three sessions throughout the morning and afternoon, Higgs described the
characters in her best-selling book, “Bad Girls of the Bible.”
As of Feb. 17, 752 women had signed up for the conference, according to Clarinda
Jeanes, director of ALM. A count Saturday morning totaled 568 women, said Beth
Webb, ALM member and Ladies Conference volunteer. Webb said this count did not
include students attending and helping, which pushed the total to over 600.
A heavy snow covering the region prevented some groups from traveling to the
campus.
Women came from all over the Tri-Cities area as well as Knoxville, Morristown,
Roanoke, and Indianapolis.
Gloria Holly and Sharron Kyte of Elizabethton were at the Ladies Conference for
the second time. They had seen Higgs previously at Southeast Christian Church in
Louisville, Ky., and they said that Higgs is “fantastic.”
“She’s funny yet she’s serious, and she’s uplifting,” Kyte said.
Freshman Jaime Hearn said that Higgs brought a very upbeat atmosphere to the
conference. Higgs had the crowd laughing frequently as she described the
different “bad girls” in the bible and added her own flavorful comments.
“She makes you realize we’re not really that much different,” said Debbie Dugger
of Roan Mountain. “No one is any better than anyone else.”
Higgs is the author of 23 novels, including fiction, non-fiction, historical
novels, and children’s works. She has presented more than 1500 encouraging
programs for audiences in all 50 states plus 8 different countries.
Higgs’ fictional novel, “Bad Girls of the Bible,” is one of her top selling
novels. It presents the Bible’s bad girls in a modern day story with a
nonfiction lesson. It has been used for bible studies, but Higgs said it is good
for individuals to read as well.
Higgs’ inspiration for “Bad Girls of the Bible” came from being a former bad
girl herself. She led a fast-paced lifestyle involving drugs and sex before
becoming a Christian. Radio personality Howard Stern even told her once that she
needed to clean up her life.
After becoming a Christian, Higgs said she was “getting weary of all the good
girls in the Bible.” She wanted to write about the girls with the bad
reputations. Now she is able to minister to people through her writing.
Higgs believes that every part of her job is ministry.
“I love every aspect of it,” she said. “I love standing in front of an audience
and seeing them come alive. I hope they see Jesus in everything.”
Jeanes said she began ALM four years ago to help raise scholarship money and “to
promote women’s ministry in the area.” The organization holds several events
throughout the year such as Festival of Seasons and the 5K Run/Walk during
Homecoming Weekend, but having the Ladies Conference presents a different kind
of outreach for Milligan.
“I think (the community) sees us as leaders in ministry because we have the
resources to be able to have these speakers,” Jeanes said. “It presents a new
avenue for churches around here.”