The rumors are true. We're bringing an (in)courage conference to life! Well, better to think of it as an un-conference, since we're hoping it will be all kinds of unexpected - no waiting lists, no need for plane tickets, no limited number of spots - everyone is (in) and no one's out with (in)RL {in real life}!

Yup, we're bringing the beach house to you with the goal of connecting women beyond the blog post! How? Well, with a day of (in)courage meetups - think mini beach house parties - all around the country and globe and a webcast for everyone to tune into. A local meetup on a global scale; friends will gather to watch live webcasts of (in)courage contributors and community, connect with one another, and discover new friendships they didn't know were right around the corner!

There will be something for everyone - walking, talking, laughing, hugging blog content - served right in the comfort of your very own living room. See the full agenda by clicking here.

Friday:
The (in)RL webcast kicks off on Friday, April 27 and (in)RL meetups follow on Saturday, April 28. Tune in by yourself for an hour on Friday for the community keynotes.
{You. Your computer. In your jammies eating popcorn & M&M's. How awesome is that?}

Saturday:
On Saturday meet up with old friends and new to spend a few hours in real life community. Think of it as a retreat where you don't have to leave town. Just imagine thousands of (in)courage women all over the world getting together in homes, coffee shops, restaurants, or churches - you name it - to connect in real life! We'll be providing video content that meet ups can tune into, which explores the topic of gritty, beautiful, messy, real life community.
{So you. Your friends. Meet new friends. Hang out. Be (in)couraged. Eat Snacks. That is even more awesome!}

Registration:
$10 and you will receive a t-shirt and free pack of greeting cards. Go here to register. Then find your city location and RSVP there too, so your local coordinator will know how many to plan for.

There will be a free T-shirt for everyone who registers, fabulous giveaways, a beach house in a box available for hosts, and the fun of meeting women from our local communities who all read (in)courage - it'll be the online beach house (in)real life! We get giddy excited just imagining it!

How to sign up? It's easy - first, register here and then sign up here to host or attend an (in)RL beach house party.

We love the online world, but there's only so far a comment box can go to connect us. We're looking forward to stepping through blog posts and into each other's real lives - on April 27-28 and beyond. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of connecting (in)courage in real life.

"For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." Matthew 18:20.

Friday April 27, 2012; Opening (in)RL Session {An hour and a half-ish}

Tune in by yourself for an hour on Friday for the opening session of (in)RL.
{You. Your computer. In your comfy clothes eating popcorn & M&M's. How awesome is that?}

Screening times (EDT): 9am / 1pm / 6pm / 9pm
All times are in Eastern Daylight Time {North America} - just click them to find your corresponding local time and tune in.

  1. Welcome to (in)RL - Kick Off {10 mins}
    Kick back with Lisa-Jo Baker, Holley Gerth and a whole host of women from the (in)courage community as we get comfy, get a snack, and get started sharing what community means to us.
  2. How Community Can Make or Break Us {Keynote: 60 minutes}
    Whoever said "Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you" must not have gone to junior high, been a woman or spent time as a blogger. Spend 60 minutes with 17 of the writers from (in)courage who get real honest, gritty, and vulnerable about the ways they've been hurt by community, how they've fought hard to find their way back into community, how they've been healed by community and what suggestions they offer for finding friends right where you are.
  3. Choose Joy: Sara's Story {30 minutes}
    Sara Frankl, also known as Gitzen Girl after her much-beloved blog, changed the world without leaving the four walls of her condo. Though she was confined by an illness, she was never defined by her limitations. Sara lived her motto, "Choose Joy" and inspired a following of thousands.
    Sara passed away on September 24, 2011, but her story lives on in the lives of hundreds who can testify to how they were changed by her. This is a glimpse into their stories. And the mosaic they make up of all the many ways we are connected - the pattern of community when the virtual becomes real and how everyone is changed in the process.
  4. (in)RL Outtakes and Bloopers {5 mins}
    Laughing at ourselves - the best kind of medicine.

Saturday April 28, 2012; Meetup and watch together

{About two and a half hours and it's up to your meetup how much you all tune in for}

Screening times: all videos will be available for a 48 hour period starting Friday night at midnight (EDT). So, when you're ready, just log on anytime and the videos will be ready for you. And sure you can still watch the ones you didn't have time for at your meetup.

On Saturday meet up with old friends and new to spend a few hours in real life community. Think of it as a retreat where you don't have to leave town. Pick the topics that interest you most or watch 'em all - it's totally your call.
{So you. Your friends. Meet new friends. Hang out. Watch webcast. Be (in)couraged. Eat Snacks.}

  1. Welcome to the (in)RL Worldwide Meetup Day! {10 mins}
    In a nutshell, why today matters. Why we're not just having a regular conference and why we're so thrilled you've stepped out on this (in)RL limb with us!
  2. A Social Media Love {Thy Neighbor} Story {6 or 7 minutes each}
    The Internet is changing who our neighbors are. We no longer need to live in the same zip code to be a good neighbor. We can connect with other women half way around the world and discover how much we have in common. This is a collection of four social media love stories. Four ways women have reached out and connected with their sisters in Christ who live long plane rides and far countries away. These are the stories of how everyone involved, everyone who read along, and everyone who joined in were changed.
    • Mercy House: One blogger's accidental mission to Kenya
    • Bloom (in)courage: Beyond the Books
    • When Women Pray: Connections forged in the comment box of (in)courage's monthly prayer requests
    • A Christmas Card Drive of Epic Proportions for Compassion Ecuador
  3. The Myth that Anyone Can "Do it All" {35 minutes}
    When it comes to a choice between perfect and real, something has to give. Spend time on the sofa with feet up on the coffee table with several (in)courage writers as they talk about the impossibility of balancing everything, including our own expectations of one another and our selves.
  4. The Rubber Band Gang: Winner of the Community Video Submission Contest {15 minutes}
    We're delighted to share with you the story of nine friends who see the funny in the ordinary, the brave in the crisis, and the cement in friendship. This is a two thumb's up endorsement for the wildly wonderful women of the Rubber Band Gang who have shared their achingly beautiful journey with us, with you. They remind us that friendship is the best kind of hard work and by the end we think you'll all be looking into bracelets for each of your BFFs
  5. A God-Sized Dream-umentary: How (in)courage was Born {25 minutes}
    You're invited to be a fly on the wall as (in)courage co-founders Holley Gerth and Stephanie Bryant share the back story to (in)courage with community manager, Lisa-Jo Baker, who happily took the baton from them two years ago. This is the story of friends who have been following a God-sized dream and are still amazed at where it lead them.
  6. 8 of Your Favorite Posts from (in)courage Read by the Authors {60 minutes}
    Readings from eight of the community's most (in)couraging posts from the last year. Get comfy, grab your coffee or Chai or Coke float and come sink into some of the most delicious words.
  7. A Virtual Community Bible Reading {15 minutes}
    20 women from across the globe participated in a virtual Scripture reading. It's one of those things you just have to see to believe.