Thrive Gathering 2025

Summer Conference

Date: June 6-7, 2025
Time: View Full Schedule
Location:
Crossings Community Church
14600 N Portland Ave
Oklahoma City, OK

Tickets: $35 per mom
Childcare: $5 per family
Provided for ages birth - 11 years
Hotels: View Preferred Hotels

Event Highlights

  • Inspirational Speakers

  • Breakout Sessions

  • Catered Meals

  • Fabulous Door Prizes

  • Connect Time with Other Single Moms

About the Event

THRIVE is a fun and inspiring event for single moms seeking community, encouragement, and guidance.

The Thrive Gathering is a one-of-a-kind gathering specifically for single moms. Held in Oklahoma City, women from all over the country will gather to be encouraged and empowered to flourish as single parents. In addition to inspiring teaching, Thrive Gathering connects attendees with other single moms and kids walking the same road.  

June 6 - 7, 2025

Event Schedule

Friday, June 6

  • 5:45 PM — Registration Check-In

  • 6:30 - 8:00 PM — Main Session #1
    Worship with Lisa Leininger and Speaker Mel Hiett

  • 8:00 - 9:00 PM — Food and connection

Saturday, June 7

  • 8:15 - 8:55 AM — Breakfast

  • 9:00 - 10:15 AM — Main Session #2
    Worship with Lisa Leininger and Speaker Kenya Ulmer

  • 10:15 - 10:30 AM — Break

  • 10:30 - 11:20 AM — Breakout Session #1

  • 11:20 - 11:30 AM — Break

  • 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM — Breakout Session #2

  • 12:20 - 1:30 PM — Lunch

  • 1:30 - 2:20 PM — Breakout Session #3

  • 2:20 - 2:30 PM — Break

  • 2:30 - 3:45 PM — Main Session #3
    Doorprizes, Testimonies, Speaker Mel Hiett

Meet Our Leaders

  • Mel Hiett

    Mel joined the Arise team as project development director in 2020 after serving 16 years as a youth pastor. While working with teens, she especially appreciated their curiosity and their many questions that oftentimes led to deep conversations. Mel was a single mom of two young boys—one now an adult son and one a middle schooler—for nine years before marrying her husband, Trae. Together they have five children, a dog, and some chickens. Mel is honored to walk alongside single moms in their journey and has a handful of wild stories and God moments to share with all of you.

  • Shelley Pulliam

    Shelley enjoys travel, genealogy, and spending time with friends. Single, never married, she’s aformer teacher of hormone-filled eighth graders. She was named teacher of the year and outstanding national Holocaust educator because of her innovative teaching methods. She loves kids and is passionate about impacting the lives of our next generation. Shelley is a voracious reader, loves sports, and enjoys movie marathons at the theater (her record stands at six in one day). Shelley is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Arise Single Moms, but her favorite title is aunt.

  • Kenya Ulmer

    Kenya, a Certified Life Coach, business strategist, and speaker, teaches women how to ditch the drama and distractions to step on the road to their destiny. Nothing bothers Kenya more than seeing women not understand the power they possess and know their true worth in Jesus. Kenya has been featured on ABC7’s “Good Morning Washington”and FOX 5’s“Good Day DC.” From 2018 to 2023,Kenya led her church’s Single Parents Ministry, which doubled under her leadership. Kenya’s proudest accomplishment is her young adult daughter, Sydney. Together, they love to laugh and enjoy watching Disney movies. Connect with Kenya at singlemamawithnodrama.com.

  • Lisa Leininger

    Lisa’s greatest desire is for people to realize the powerful, never-ending love of Jesus. She’s passionate about creating an environment that allows believers to be honest and genuine in expressing their worship to God. While serving locally in various churches, her one mission is to point others to thehope of Christ. Lisa lives in Edmond, OK and has the joy of homeschooling and raising her four children.

Explore our Breakout Sessions & Speakers

Breakout Session #1 & Breakout Session #2

Chiquita Miller Johnson

  • So often as single moms it’s easy to doubt ourselves and worry about what we do wrong. Between statistics and two-parent homes, we find ourselves full of fear as to how our children will turn out. Did you know that we also do things right? Yes, you heard me. We’ve been equipped with everything we need to succeed as a mother, and our relationship status didn’t change that! Join me and learn how to silence the fears of failure and recognize what you are doing right.

  • Chiquita Miller Johnson, aka God’s Girl, wears many hats: entrepreneur, best-selling author, playwright, Christian comedienne, recording artist, certified counselor, certified coaching specialist, and ordained minister. She has received two honorary doctorates: one in social work services for her labor in the community restoring families and the other in Christian business and leadership for her innovative marketplace ministry. She is the founder of God’s Girl Ministries and is also a salon manager/master stylist for JCPenney. She and her late husband, Otis, have a blended family of 14 children and 20 grandchildren. (godsgirlministries.org)

Micah James

  • Being a single mom comes with unique financial challenges, but with the right tools, budgeting can become a powerful way to achieve stability and reduce stress. In this session, we’ll focus on practical, actionable strategies tailored to single mothers navigating busy schedules and limited resources. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refine your current budget, this seminar will equip you with the skills and confidence to take charge of your finances. Join us and discover how budgeting can empower you and create peace of mind for your family.

  • Micah James serves as the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empowering Financial Coaching, bringing a wealth of experience from her background in education, ministry, and coaching. With a degree in education and a Master of Divinity, she has honed her ability to engage diverse learning styles, offer compassionate support, and lead teams with purpose. Her professional journey, driven by a passion for helping others, includes earning her Certified Fundraising Executive certification. Inspired by her own financial challenges and triumphs—and the support that made a difference—Micah co-founded Empowering Financial Coaching to help individuals and families discover strategies to achieve financial empowerment and lasting success. Enjoy FREE resources at empoweringfinancialcoaching.com/free.

Angela Cotner

  • DATING! It’s a hot topic for single moms. Perhaps you’re currently dating or considering dating. Maybe you have questions: How do I not repeat past relationship mistakes? When do I introduce a man to my kids? Why do I even bother dating? This session addresses those issues and MORE. It will provide wise tips every single mom needs to tuck in her back pocket. If you’re going to date, why not set it up to be successful?

  • Angela Cotner is an English professor at a two-year college in Oklahoma City and an educational consultant, helping high school students and parents decide between AP and concurrent classes. She was a single mom for ten years and spent seven years teaching a single moms’ Sunday school class at Crossings Community Church. When she’s not convincing students to write their own papers instead of using AI, she loves a good book, a hazelnut latte, and a fuzzy blanket.

Morgan Evans

  • Taking care of your mental health is an act of courage and self-love and is key to thriving as a single mom. In this breakout session, we’ll dive into the real, unfiltered challenges of mental health and uncover ways to find strength, balance, and hope—even on the toughest days. In an uplifting conversation-style, you’ll gain tools to navigate stress, quiet the inner critic, and prioritize your emotional health without guilt—all while building a practical toolkit that works for your life. Expect to leave feeling less alone, empowered to prioritize your mental health, and equipped with strategies to help you thrive. You’re not in this alone, and this session is here to remind you of that.

  • Morgan Evans is passionate about empowering individuals to prioritize their mental health and build meaningful connections. She serves as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Candidate and the Kids Associate for OKC Community Church. Her professional experience is deeply informed by her upbringing in a single-parent household, giving her a personal connection to the experiences of families navigating similar journeys. Morgan is dedicated to creating safe and empowering spaces for growth and healing. Known for her relatable and encouraging style, she equips individuals with practical tools to prioritize their mental health and build resilience in everyday life. She’s an Oklahoma City native and graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

Jordan Park

  • In a world where every one of us will experience grief, the topic continues to feel taboo and overwhelming to discuss. The idea of talking to children about grief can feel daunting, unfair, and confusing. In this presentation we’ll discuss the different types of grief children can experience, grief myths we’ve been told, types of language to use with children when discussing grief, and how to support children in their grief. We’ll also cover how to take care of yourself as the caregiver.

  • Jordan Park is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She received her master’s degree at Oklahoma State University in Human Development and Family Science with an option in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2017. Jordan has served in various roles throughout her six years of employment at Calm Waters and is currently a full-time therapist, seeing individuals, families, and couples who’ve experienced a death or pregnancy loss or are experiencing anticipatory grief or infertility. She’s very passionate about healthy relationships and encourages individuals to know they are worthy of love and of being seen, heard, and valued.

Kathy Lonsinger

  • Do you ever feel “less than”? Broken? Unworthy? Do you wish the broken and discarded pieces of your life would be made whole again? Is that possible? Or do you think you’ve messed up more than could ever be mended? Kathy will share how God is able to take the broken pieces of our lives and glue them together with his grace and his word to form a mosaic of hope, healing, gratitude and faith.

  • Once a professional marketing and advertising executive, Kathy Lonsinger traded in her high heels, briefcase, and client lunches for babies, bibs and bad hair days! After many life-altering events, including the loss of her husband, Richard, Kathy had to determine if she did truly trust the God of the Bible. As the event speaker for A Gentle Answer Ministries, she uses her humor and experiences to share with other women how God can take our brokenness and make all things new. Kathy works as a Business Development Representative for Paycom Software. She enjoys spending time with her family as the proud mom of four grown children and “Nana Kat” to three grandchildren. Kathy resides in Edmond and attends Crossings Church.

Amber Given

  • Parenting is a gift, but it can also be a challenge! If you long to have a healthier, fun, and more connected relationship with your child, then this breakout session is for you. We will explore how to parent with a sense of curiosity, understand your child’s emotional world, support them in successfully managing their emotions, help stay calm, improve connection, and find ways to fully delight in your child or young adult. You’ll learn practical tips and strategies that you can take home and implement immediately.

  • Amber Given has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for over 25 years. Overcoming the harm she experienced as a child, she’s passionate about helping others find their worth in the Lord and heal from trauma and attachment wounds. In her practice, she delights in watching people move forward toward a healthier concept of who God created them to be. Her hope for each person is to have a healthier, more connected relationship with God and others. She loves spending time with her family and friends, going to sporting events, playing pickleball, and walking her dog, Ellie.

Crystal Heard

  • In this breakout session, explore the essence of patient hope as depicted in Romans 8:25. Discover the power of waiting with confidence and faith in promises yet to be seen, and how this steadfast hope shapes our perspective and resilience in daily life.

  • Crystal Heard is the Deputy Director of the 38th Cyberspace Engineering and Installation Group within the United States Air Force. She is a graduate of both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. When you put a microphone and a Bible in her hand, you wonder if she is an engineer or a preacher! It is her desire to educate and motivate individuals to think positively and to change perspectives on adversity. Her modus operandi: “I have been given the tongue of the wise to speak a word in due season to them that are weary.” Crystal is married and has two sons.

Breakout Session #3

Elizabeth Dyer Colvard

  • Considering the devastation that widowhood brings, how could thriving even be an option? This session will focus on the HOPE of Scripture in healing our broken hearts after loss. Who am I in Christ? How does that change me? How do I handle decision-making fatigue? Solo parenting can be exhausting, but God promises to be father to the fatherless.

  • Elizabeth Dyer Colvard is a writer and speaker with A Widow’s Might, a Christian ministry to widows by widows sharing the hope of Christ in healing hearts after loss. She and her husband, Mickey Colvard, both experienced the loss of their spouses and love to share the miracle of second chances. Their blended family includes ten children, aged from high school to adults. They facilitate grief classes at their church where Elizabeth also teaches the women’s Sunday School class. Elizabeth is a recent transplant to the “country,” where she has a donkey who doesn’t bray, a horse, goats, three dogs, a few chickens who may or may not lay eggs, indoor cats, and outdoor mousers.

Detective Sgt. Jason Kushmaul

  • Parents of the 21st century face vastly different challenges than parents experienced in the 80s and 90s. Children now grow up with technology infused into their daily lives, and along with that, unique challenges. If you’re a parent, then no doubt you’ve spent time worrying about how to protect your children from online dangers. In this session we’ll discuss social media, dangerous apps, digital citizenship, and the problems plaguing children online.

  • Detective Sgt. Jason Kushmaul has been in law enforcement since 1998 and has been with the Edmond Police Department since 2001. He is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. Detective Sgt. Kushmaul is a digital forensics investigator. He investigates many different types of crimes, including homicides, counterfeiting, sexual assaults, and insurance fraud. Additionally, he is a Task Force Officer with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force where he spends most of his time going after perpetrators exploiting children online.

Brooke Conkin

  • Whether you are newly postpartum or it’s been years since becoming a mom, pelvic floor physical therapy can play an important role in restoring normalcy to your daily life. We often think of experiencing urine leakage, pelvic discomfort, low back pain or SI joint pain as normal after having children and/or while caring for children. Although these issues are common, they are not normal. Pelvic floor physical therapy can address these issues (and more) to eliminate pain and improve function. Learn about the pelvic floor, its function, and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help you feel more confident and comfortable in all areas of your busy life.

  • Brooke Conkin, PT, DPT, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health, has over 15 years of experience treating patients with pelvic floor and orthopedic diagnoses. She has extensive training in pelvic health through the American Physical Therapy Association, and this is her area of expertise and dedication. In 2024, she opened her physical therapy practice, Conkin Pelvic Health, in Edmond. She lives in Edmond with her husband and two children after moving from Wisconsin to Oklahoma in 2011.

Dr. Christina R. Kirk

  • This interactive workshop is designed for parents and guardians of middle and high school students. Come learn practical, tangible steps to support and encourage your child through the college admissions process. The session will cover key topics, including understanding college admissions trends, supporting academic success, navigating standardized testing, and fostering emotional and mental readiness. You’ll also gain insights into financial planning for college, including scholarships and financial aid options. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a personalized action plan tailored to your child’s needs, helping them stay on track at every stage.

  • Dr. Christina R. Kirk is an attorney, author, educator, and municipal court judge who focuses on encouraging and empowering families to seek a life of good success through educational advancement. She is the founder of Prep University, a college mentoring and preparation program for girls. Christina serves on community-oriented organization boards and is a proud, active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has received several awards including Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year 2019, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award, and 2023 Queen Smith Award for Commitment to Urban Public Education. She appears on national television shows, radio broadcasts, and podcasts and also provides workshops and keynote addresses at conferences and community events advocating for education. Christina’s guiding life principle is to be the person she needed when she was growing up to someone else.

Shea Hoskinson

  • This session offers support and guidance for moms raising children with special needs. We’ll discuss strategies for managing daily challenges, self-care, and building a strong support system. Together, we’ll explore resources, share experiences, and celebrate the resilience that comes with motherhood. This space fosters understanding, connection, and empowerment, helping moms feel equipped to care for both their children and themselves. Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis or seeking ongoing support, this session provides tools to help you thrive as a mother of a special needs child.

  • Shea Hoskinson is a dedicated mother and advocate for children with special needs, with a personal understanding of the challenges that come with raising a child with unique needs. She is the proud mother of a 16-year-old son with a rare chromosome disorder, a journey that has shaped her perspective and fueled her passion for supporting other parents and families. Shea is committed to raising awareness, sharing her experiences, and providing encouragement to those navigating similar paths. Her mission is to empower mothers and caregivers to embrace their resilience, build strong support networks, and advocate for the best possible care for their children.

Mel Hiett

  • Step into a space designed to empower you on your leadership journey. This breakout will bring leaders together with tools, strategies, and fresh perspectives to strengthen their impact. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, you'll gain insights to overcome challenges, inspire your single moms, and reignite your passion for leadership. Walk away with the confidence that you are a resilient leader, ready to lead with greater clarity, purpose, and impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your growth as a leader! (For current leaders of single mom small groups in the Arise Leadership Network.)

  • Mel Heitt joined the Arise team as project development director in 2020 after serving 16 years as a youth pastor. While working with teens, she especially appreciated their curiosity and their many questions that oftentimes led to deep conversations. Mel was a single mom of two young boys—one now an adult son and one a middle schooler—for nine years before marrying her husband, Trae. Together they have five children, a dog, and some chickens. Mel is honored to walk alongside single moms in their journey and has a handful of wild stories and God moments to share with all of you.

Lyn Watson

  • This session explores the concept of integrating work, personal, and community aspects of life to achieve overall satisfaction. It contrasts the traditional idea of “work-life balance” with the modern notion of “work-life blend,” emphasizing the inseparability of various life aspects. Key topics include identifying areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, overcoming barriers, and implementing strategies through self-care, boundary setting, mentorship, and intentional planning. Inspirational quotes and actionable exercises aim to empower participants to take control of their lives while embracing persistence and adaptability.

  • Lyn Watson is the Pastor of People & Culture at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. Lyn brings over 35 years of experience in HR, corporate training, employee development, keynote speaking, recruiting, and organizational development. As a former business owner, Lyn understands the challenges many organizations face and welcomes the opportunity to lead others to success. She has served her community by engaging in various non-profit boards, leading small groups at her church, and volunteering with the Junior League of Oklahoma City. In addition, Lyn served on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board for a four-year term. Lyn is married to Brad, and they have two adult children, two precious grandkids, and a COVID fur baby.

Where to Stay

Hotels are not included in the registration fee and are not mandatory. Accommodation arrangements are to be made at your discretion. The following hotels are offering discounted rates for attendees of this event.

Country Inn

13501 W Memorial Park
Oklahoma City, OK 73120

King or Queen - $93/night
Queen Suite - $103/night

Reserve by 5/13/25. Book under Arise Single Moms.

Book Online

Four Points

3117 NW 137th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73134

King or Queen - $89/night

Reserve by 5/23/25. Book under Arise Single Moms.

Book Online

La QUinta

3003 W Memorial Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73134

King or Queen - $89/night

Reserve by 5/7/25. Book under Arise Single Moms.

Book Online

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors.