Women’s Freedom and Restoration Conference Slated for Saturday

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

Amanda Reed and Alley Bell started their podcast three years ago.

Two big national speakers are coming to Oxford this week to speak at the first “Living Out Loud” Women’s Conference that will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Oxford Conference Center.

“Living Out Loud with Alley and Amanda” began three years ago as an inspirational podcast for women. The hosts—Alley Bell and Amanda Reed—have finally taken the steps to turn the podcast to a bigger stage with its inaugural conference, “Freedom and Restoration.”

Each month the podcast hosts one woman to share her story in hopes of encouraging other women in their day-to-day lives, said Amanda Reed, co-founder of the podcast.

“When we started the podcast, we also had a dream to do a conference one day for women here in Oxford,” Reed said. “Now that dream is becoming a reality.”

Reed said the conference will conduct a full day of worship, prayer, inspiration and encouragement for the attendees.

Keynote speakers include best selling author Rebekah Lyons and Cynthia Garrett, the first African American NBC late-night host.

Former Ole Miss football head coach Hugh Freeze’s wife Jill Freeze will be speaking at the event, as well as worship pastor at Pinelake Oxford Jon Gilley and his wife Heather, and podcast guests Whitney Cate and Mindy Lancaster.

“[The speakers] will be sharing how God freed and restored them,” Reed said. “Our hope is for [attendees] to be encouraged to find freedom and restoration in their own personal stories.”

Reed said she is excited the inaugural conference is taking place in Oxford. She hopes women will grab their friends and travel to Oxford to use this event as a “girls weekend” full of encouragement and bonding.

“We have such a great town,” she said. “It would make for a great getaway weekend for those who live away.”

The cost of the event is $35 and can be paid through the conference’s website, livingoutloud2018.eventbrite.com. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $50.

“I feel like [the conference] will be a part of history because it is the first one ever,” Reed said. “We want everyone to be able to come.”

For more information about Living Out Loud, visit their website here.