Women 'Sparkle' at River Valley Church Conference

Becca Ketterling is a self-described glam girl.

But her personal taste wasn’t the only things considered when she chose the name ‘Sparkle’ for the women’s conference she began three years ago at Apple Valley’s .

“To me, ‘sparkle,’ is more shining from the inside out,” said Ketterling, who directs River Valley’s women’s ministries. “I think that women have such influence in our society …. We can make a difference.”

That idea is what Ketterling and some 250 staff and volunteers kept in mind when organizing the third Sparkle conference, which about 1,000 women attended on Friday and Saturday. Sparkle brings multiple generations of women together to have fun and worship, but also to be encouraged and inspired and to support a worthwhile cause, Ketterling said.

“We just want them to feel blessed,” she said.

This year’s Hope-themed event included church service followed by a social event with food, merchandise and a pamper zone, including massages; the entire building was decorated inside, and attendees received small gifts.

“We just try to go above and beyond,” Ketterling said, which likely is part of the reason attendance has grown from 300 women during Sparkle’s first year.

The main speaker this year was Christine Caine, a renowned speaker, pastor and advocate for the A21 Campaign, which aims to rescue women from the practice of human trafficking.

“She’s phenomenal,” said attendee Mary Mueller, who noted the appeal of River Valley’s strong women’s programs. Mueller said Caine emphasized that everyone could do their part to help end human trafficking.

Mueller also said Caine’s points praying and not giving up on your dreams—at any age—stuck out to her.

The nature of the event also helps River Valley reach out to women who don’t necessarily attend church, said Faye Harrison, one of the Sparkle organizers. It also seemed like more young women attended this year, she said.

And though it’s focused mainly on women, each year Sparkle also involves many men at River Valley. It’s up to them to keep the conference activities running, Ketterling said, and some also partake in the lighthearted Mr. Sparkle contest.

Ketterling said she ultimately hoped the people involved with Sparkle this year walked away with their hope restored and strengthened.

“Once you do that, you’re able to help others as well,” she said, with the feeling that “there’s nothing we can’t do.”