Tickets Going Fast For This Weekend’s

         Free Ruth Graham & Friends Twin Cities Conference

Contacts:           Tex Reardon                                 Doug Hovelson            

                          Ruth Graham & Friends              Big Thunder                   

                          651-261-1964                                612-722-5501                 

                          treardonjr@comcast.net           dhovelson@bigthunderpr.com

MINNEAPOLIS – (Feb. 17, 2009) The times being what they are, it’s no surprise that people are eager to find real answers to their life’s problems – and those types of answers are what the free Ruth Graham & Friends Twin Cities Get Growing Conference will deliver this weekend.

      Led by Ruth Graham, author and youngest daughter of Rev. Billy Graham, the conference also includes musical performances by nationally known musicians Jason Catron and Huntley Brown.

The conference, to be held Feb. 20-21 at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills, Minn., is close to a sell-out for the event. Still, there are a limited number of tickets available. Although free, tickets must be reserved in advance at www.ruthgrahamandfriends.org – for this event, which features a variety of experts speakers and workshop leaders focusing on delivering information to help people understand better how to deal with major life issues such as depression, addiction, anger, abuse, pornography and more. All with the goal of helping people overcome such issues and get on a positive personal growth path again.

      How people use that information is up to them. Some people come to the conferences to find help for themselves. Others come to find ways to help people they care about, such as friends, family members and co-workers. Some may come just to hear Graham’s Friday night personal testimony, or to sample a specific workshop or two on Saturday. 

      “We create a safe, comfortable and low-key environment where people can open their minds and spirits to new ideas and new ways of looking at issues that affect all of us,” says Graham.  “Our conferences are high in energy and hope, but low on formality and pressure -- we even try to have some fun along the way,” says Graham.

      People can come and go as they choose at the conference, so long as they have obtained the free tickets in advance (last minute walk-ups may be able to obtain tickets at the door depending on their availability). People who reserve in advance also have the option of purchasing a $6 lunch voucher for Saturday.

      A pair of Twin Citians will be among the conference speakers:  Steve Wiese, associate pastor at NHLC and head of the Center for Christian Psychological Services in Roseville, Minn., will lead workshops on “Telling Yourself The Truth About Anger” and “The Illusion of Control;”   and Kim Ketola, founder of the Life Redeemed ministry and a long-time Twin Cities radio personality, will speak on “Life Redeemed: Healing and Hope after Abortion.” Other speakers will include Dr. Linda Mintle introducing a new subject, “Three Truths For Your Relationships,” (Dr. Linda on the weekly ABC Family Living the Life TV show;) Dr. Don Miles, an expert on depression; Dr. Jimmie Ray Lee, founder of the Living Free ministries; Tal Prince, host of satellite radio’s Tal Prince Live! show and an expert on the pornography epidemic; Cheryl Torain, speaker on The Unequally Yoked; Aleta Nichols, an expert on addictions; as well as musical guests Jason Catron and Huntley Brown.

      Ruth Graham, youngest daughter of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, founded Ruth Graham & Friends to help the church provide care for people experiencing life and its constant challenges.

      Ruth Graham & Friends conferences have been attended by more than 8,500 people in more than 12 U.S. and Canadian locations. Also on the schedule for 2009 are Get Growing conferences in Casper, Wyo., April 24-25 and Midland, Tex., Sept. 18-19. For information on hosting a Ruth Graham & Friends conference in your community, call (877) 743-7884 or send an email to info@ruthgrahamandfriends.org.

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