The Bloggers and Authors Meetup Is Coming to Cru25

We’re continuing the great events sponsored by Judy Douglass and eQuipping for eMinistry for the past several U.S. Staff Conferences. Our special thanks to Deanne Reid for organizing this year’s event.

Writers, Readers, and Intrigued Are Invited!

Since 2011, the Bloggers & Authors Meetup ( BAM) has gathered staff during our national conferences. BAM’s vision is to provide a meetup time where interested Cru staff can receive encouragement, conversation, and “how-to’s” in the journey of being a writer (whether as a hobby or as a published author.)

Join us in 2025 to hear from Judy Douglass and other mentors (see list below), mingle and talk, peruse our display of staff-authored books, and ask questions at mentor tables.  For more info, contact: Deanne Reid at cru.org.

Mark Your Calendar

Mentor Table Topics

• Blogging
• Traditional and Self-publishing
• Book Launch and Marketing
• CruPress Publishing
• Cru Legal (Intellectual Property, copyrights, etc.)
• Podcasting
• Script Writing

We have table hosts from Cru Campus, Cru City, Women’s Resources, AIA, Family Life, Jesus Film, and more!

• Judy Douglass: Author, Speaker, Blogger, Podcaster, Fire-starter
• Carolyn West: Pioneer Women of Cru project Team Leader, book Her Calling, Our Legacy Vol 1 (seeking adjunct writers for second volume)
• John Vampatella: Multi-published author (self-publishing, traditional publishing, CruPress publishing)
• Tracy Harper: Author, book launch & marketing, publishing paths, significance as a writer
• Sus Schmitt: Blogging, eQuipping for eMinistry
• Cru Press / Jason Weimer: Director of Publishing
• Cru Legal / Derick Henderson: Team Lead for Intellectual Property team at the GCO
• Cas Monaco: VP of Missiology and Gospel Engagement for FamilyLife, blogging, traditional publishing, self-publishing Bible studies
• Zack Russell: Science Fiction writer and co-host of the Fantastical Truth podcast
• Brent Larson: Developing writers, Script writing, Jesus Film’s Global Media dept.
• Amy Lootens: Managing Editor, Global Staff Women Website, writing articles by staff women for staff women

Opportunities to Connect and Share

• Share your info as a writer at our Meetup. Please add your information to our “Writers in the Room” slideshow. This will be playing during BAM.
• Provide a book for our giveaways (You must bring the book to Cru25 and email Deanne Reid).
• If you would like to display your books or website cards in the room, please email Deanne. (We cannot sell books at this event, but you can provide a QR code to direct people to online ordering.)

In addition to meeting with our table hosts, we encourage you to mingle with others.

This and That

Please indicate your interest in our Bloggers and Authors Meetup at Cru25 on our Workvivo event. And spread the word!

Join the Called to Write Workvivo community to share our stories together for God’s glory.

We will be doing another Kindle Fire giveaway at BAM.

SPECIAL THANKS to Deanne Reid for organizing our event this year. Deanne came to BAM19 and ended up with an award-winning book in 2024! Read her story at Traveling God’s Road from Parked to Published.

We hope to see you there! You don’t need to be a writer to attend – all interested staff are welcome.