What People Are Saying...

“Are you looking for an inspiring speaker who can address the concerns and challenges of your leaders? I would heartily recommend Lucinda Secrest McDowellwho speaks often at our leadership events. Because Lucinda has been very involved as a leader herself, she knows how to encourage and inspire women who are often beleaguered in serving in a variety of capacities. Our women were refreshed and revitalized through her speaking ministry to us and I hope you will consider Lucinda for your next leadership retreat or gathering!”
Linda Moore, Director of “by design ministries” in New England

 

“For the past two years, Lucinda Secrest McDowell has been a treasured part of Florida Christian Writers Conference. Her energy is infectious, not only to other faculty members, but most especially to our conferees. She has brought knowledge and insight married to encouragement for all.”
Eva Marie Everson, co-director Florida Christian Writers Conference“

 

Lucinda Secrest McDowell has been both a speaker and the Emcee at an Iron Sharpens Iron Women’s Conference for several years and we have LOVED having her be one of the voices of our ministry. She is fun, encouraging, insightful, and inspiring. The women have laughed with her, cried with her, and left her seminars impacted and excited to continue their walk with the Lord.”
Iron Sharpens Iron Women’s Conference

 

“I have been in attendance at least twelve times when Lucinda Secrest McDowell was speaking or emceeing an event. Lucinda has the ability to draw her audience in and make each person feel like they have known her forever. She is also a talented, engaging speaker who has a superb knowledge of God’s Word. Lucinda has written three Bible studies for the First Place for Health program and I highly recommend her for any event where you need someone of her ability.”
Carole Lewis, National Director Emeritus, First Place 4 Health

 

“At our BREATHE retreat, Lucinda spoke with truth, grace, and a very engaging sense of humor. Her open and genuinely loving manner invites women to relax and receive God’s message through her. Lucinda’s approach is “all in,” and she quickly felt like one of the group as she spent much time just hanging out with us and making time for private conversations. It was truly hard to see the weekend come to an end!”
National Presbyterian Church, Washington DC

 

“It was such a joy to have Lucinda Secrest McDowell as our guest speaker at The Salvation Army Women’s Retreat COME TO THE WATERS. We are grateful for her sound handling of the Word and engaging delivery. Lucinda’s ability to communicate biblical truths to our women in a relevant manner not only inspired them for the weekend but will serve to empower them in the days ahead. I especially enjoyed the way she connected Old and New Testament teaching. From the time I first met Lucinda for a planning coffee at Starbucks until the time we had our final embrace, I sensed that she was the right woman for the hour that God had planned for us. May we forever live by grace, under His grace.”
Salvation Army Women’s Ministry, Central New England

“The board of Kauai of Women of Faith all agreed that Lucinda Secrest McDowell was one of our favorite speakers. With God’s strength and power she communicates her struggles, her passions, her victories, and most importantly her desire to glorify God in all her relationships and accomplishments. Both Cindy and Mike encouraged us very much in the ministry that we have with the youth on our island and generally just blessed us with their wisdom and kind words. Love her!”
Kauai Women of Faith, Hawaii

 

“At our BREATHE retreat, Lucinda’s transparency and humor engaged our women immediately–from the brand new mom to the retired missionary. With her delightful story-telling and insightful application of God’s Word, she met women on many different levels and sent us home with nuggets of truth to ponder and integrate into our lives.”
Christ Community Church, Montreat NC

 

Comments on “A Day to Dwell” for leaders, Valley Church, Avon CT

“Lucinda’s teaching and insight were refreshing, sincere, biblical and relevant. I loved the fellowship during lunch and the time alone with God. What a wonderful time of ‘sitting in the Presence’ – I felt immediately at home.”

“Best part of day was time alone with God in such a beautiful setting, surrounded by other women. Great speaker and preparation of materials for time in prayer. Everything felt so warm and inviting, so well prepared for us.”

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell delivered an amazing presentation on “Role of a Lifetime” this spring at our historic church. She was totally engaged in giving our women a message that was clearly inspired, humorous and pertinent to the lives of everyone. She connected with our multi-aged group about their heart’s desire…finding a unique place of significance in the Kingdom of God. We’ve already invited her back.”
St. Philips Episcopal Church in Charleston SC

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell, who spoke at our Christmas Outreach, is professional yet personable -- a really engaging and poignant speaker who has a heart for people and believes in the power of prayer. Her message, “Shine,” was written especially for us and made an impact. In my years of ministry, I have seen many altar calls that put people uncomfortably on the spot, especially here in the New England. Lucinda creatively wove that into her closing prayer in a way that was genuine and not threatening or contrived in the least. It’s no wonder lives were touch and people responded.”
Presbyterian Church, Newton MA

 

“We love to have Lucinda Secrest McDowell speak at our retreats and here is why we have asked her to come again and again: She not only blesses the women with deep Biblical truths, humorous stories, and authentic Christianity during her speaking sessions, but she actively participates in all the aspects of the weekend. Lucinda sees our event as the “Lord’s event” during which she is ‘poured out’ and available for the sake of souls who need encouragement. We are so grateful for how she joins our team in ministry when she is here! She encourages us too!”
Singing Hills Conference Center, New Hampshire

 

“Lucinda loves to talk about the things of God. With grace and enthusiasm, she presented the Word of God in fresh and intelligent ways through her DWELL theme at our annual Silent Retreat. She speaks from the foundation of her own steadfast commitment to Him. You will love her and her joy for life.”
Calvary Fellowship, Downingtown PA

“I do want to tell you how you inspired me more than I have been inspired in a very long time. The first night you spoke you made the comment, “Is God here in your life in the moment? If not He can be.” I have been practicing being more conscience of living that way moment by moment and it has really made a difference for me. Thank you! Also, I babysat our youngest granddaughter yesterday and rocked her to sleep singing to her. It was very sweet! Thank you again for singing over us. It was such a gift to me and others I’m sure. I continue to go over my notes from this weekend and share with others the things I learned.”
A letter from a participant at the Silent Retreat

 

“We are still in awe at God’s goodness in connecting us with Lucinda who has blessed us with her teaching for three different conferences over the years. Through her willingness to be transparent we could all relate to her, and as a gifted speaker she has the ability to lift with laughter or lovingly correct and direct with God’s Word. Most of all, she has been a godly example to all of us of a woman who loves God, her husband and children, and the Body of Christ, and is especially discerning and sensitive to the needs of women. We hope to continue our association with Lucinda for many years to come and highly recommend her to all!”
Resurrection Life Church in Rome, NY

 

“At our recent Women’s Conference, Lucinda was not only a pleasure to work with, but her messages were well organized and left me with some great insights, motivating me to draw closer to God. As a 27-year-old mom, I am now enjoying her devotional, Dwelling Places -- her charisma and passion for the Lord come right through the pages.”
Grace Fellowship, N. Stonington CT

 

“Having Lucinda speak at our Annual Christmas Luncheon was a true blessing! She was warm, energetic and fun to listen to, but more importantly, she pointed us straight to the manger in Bethlehem and the Child who was born to be a King. The women who attended responded enthusiastically and came away with new insights as to how we could honor God and respond to His incredible Gift to us in our celebration of the upcoming Christmas Season.”
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda MD

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell spoke on “Refresh Your Soul” at our spring luncheon, -- uplifting our souls while helping us strive toward a deeper dependence on God. Her friendly personality made you feel as though you had known her for years. I would highly recommend Lucinda for women’s event and would definitely consider her again for future women’s events at our church.”
Cranston Christian Fellowship, Cranston Rhode Island

 

“Lucinda is so seasoned in the word of God and has a gift with which to pass it on to others. I feel very blessed to have heard from God through her at our DWELL women’s conference. One of the things that touched me so, was when she sang and then prayed over us -- surely inspired from our heavenly Father. We thank God for her ministering to the ladies in a very loving and kind way.”
Thomas Village Baptist Church, Duffield VA

 

“It’s been a hard winter in the northeast, and our ladies were all just hanging on by their fingernails. They needed encouragement, hope, laughter, and to be reminded of who they are in Christ, which Lucinda most certainly did in our SOUL CARE retreat. From the onset of planning, she was accessible, encouraging and provided wise counsel. Lucinda genuinely cared about our ladies and her sincerity and warmth was felt by all.”
Woodstock Evangelical Covenant Church, Woodstock CT

 

“Lucinda blessed my congregation by speaking such words of truth and encouragement to our women at our “Soul Care – Moving from Worry to Wisdom” event. She impacted families and children as well.
Lakewood United Methodist Church, Houston TX

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell spoke on HOPE at our Spiritual Lenten Retreat. Her biblical teaching about the disciple Peter and her heartfelt personal testimony were effective in helping us visualize what hope in the Lord looks like. A delight to listen to and to learn from, Lucinda’s sense of humor was woven into each teaching which made it all the more enjoyable! A highlight for us was when Lucinda sang over us in prayer — as intimate and soothing to the heart as a baby in her mother’s arms. She is a role model as a Leader, Teacher and Encourager and we were blessed by her gifts and thankful the Lord brought her to us.”
Armenian Presbyterian Church, Paramus, NJ

 

“What a refreshing, inspiring evening in our home with with Lucinda Secrest McDowell speaking on the timely subject of “Fear or Wonder – Your Soul in the Midst of Change.” An engaging, lively speaker, Lucinda speaks with honesty and real-life stories that reach you where you are. Her words reflect her own deep personal walk with the Lord. A beautiful closing prayer hymn sung over us all at the close ministered to us body, mind and spirit. She helped turn our fear to wonder as we were brought closer to trusting our loving heavenly Father for all things.”
Private Gathering in Salisbury CT

 

“Our church group loved Lucinda Secrest McDowell so much as a speaker that we invited her back TWO years in a row for our annual retreat! She has an incredible gift of affirmation, encouragement, and glorifying Christ in the way she speaks to women’s hearts. Whenever we read our retreat evaluations, every single attendee mentions that one of their favorite parts of each retreat is– LUCINDA! The Lord has used her to touch hearts, water weary souls, and transform women’s lives in extraordinary ways. Her ministry is VERY aptly named: “Encouraging Words!” We love Lucinda!”
New Beginnings Bible Church, New Jersey

 

“The women of our community of faith have been blessed with Cindy’s encouraging words on three occasions -two retreats and a banquet! We have also used her books for our summer book clubs. Her spiritual wisdom is practical, down to earth and from the heart — as well as sprinkled with humor!”
St. James Catholic Parish, Stratford CT

 

“What a blessing Lucinda poured out upon our women at our “Spa for the Soul” retreat this weekend! She spoke from her heart about her life experiences with love and humor we all can relate to in one way or another… what a joy is was to laugh, sing, pray and worship God with her!”
Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian, Bloomfield Hills, MI

 

“Lucinda spoke on ‘More than Conquerors’ at our Joni and Friends Annual Dinner. She and her husband also spoke for a week of JAF Family Camp one summer. We so appreciate her sharing from both God’s Word and her own family’s experience with disabilities. People were blessed!”
Joni and Friends, New England

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell brought an unusual combination of deep scriptural insight and warm personal vivacity to our women’s retreat. Her lively sense of humor and gift for storytelling made the Bible come alive, in ways that we could understand and apply to our everyday lives. Lucinda kept us completely engaged from the moment she began to speak right to the end, and she planted many seeds of spiritual growth that have continued to bloom over the months following the retreat.”
Memorial Baptist Church, Middlebury VT

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell is wise and comforting and challenging all at once. She talks about Scripture and life with insight and clarity, generously illustrating her points with her own personal experiences. She sings, she laughs, she interacts with women as if they were her old friends. We loved having her speak at our women’s retreat – TWICE!”
Hamburg Wesleyan, New York

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell is a gifted speaker who is comfortable sharing God’s Word in a variety of settings. Whether it is on stage in front of a large group of people, in the pulpit at church, or in a small intimate Bible study, she shares her passion for Jesus and His message with great authority, given to her by God the Father. She gives the message of salvation in Christ with deep conviction, with humor and is totally biblically sound.”
First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, CT

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell’s retreat “Focused Living in a World of Distraction” was spiritually relevant for today’s woman and her gifts as an author came through explicitly in her storytelling. Each woman we spoke with told us they felt as if Lucinda was talking directly to them because has a special way of connecting with each individual while staying focused and on track. She delivered her message in a powerful, challenging, thought provoking way with humor mixed in. Lucinda was very personable and the ladies felt comfortable speaking and praying with her after the retreat. We loved Cindy and her message and would highly recommend her to any group that is looking to grow spiritually in a loving, nurturing, challenging yet humorous way!”
Three Village Church, Setauket (Long Island) New York

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell was a wonderful blessing with her retreat “With God on the Journey” —just what the ladies needed to hear and their positive responses reflected that. Lucinda knows the Word and imparted the Word in a genuine, heartfelt, receivable way. She is truly a Colossians 3:16-17 servant of God.”
Salem Evangelical Church, Marion, OH

 

“Lucinda Secrest McDowell was our guest speaker at our Women’s Christmas Tea. Overflowing with warmth, humor, and refreshing honesty, she shared rich stories from her life; and inspired us to lay down our burdens amidst the busyness of the season. And per our request, she brought some of her beautiful handmade quilts to remind us that the Lord is the Master Weaver of our lives. It was a beautiful and memorable night of drawing close to each other and Emmanuel, God with us.
Wellspring Church, Kensington, CT

“We are thankful to Lucinda for a wonderful contribution that she brought to our “Role of a Lifetime” So many women at our conference needed what the Lord presented through her. She was a wonderful mix of wit and depth and challenge and encouragement. The whole event exceeded our expectations and the Spirit was present and active.
Evangelical Baptist, Laconia NH

“What a delight it was to have Lucinda Secrest McDowell at Harvest Bible Chapel’s Revive conference and returning the next year for our Christmas event. We had a great time of getting to know God more through her words and every woman felt encouraged know God loves them and will not fail them. Cindy, thanks so much for being you!”
Harvest Bible Chapel, Lake Zurich, IL

 

“WOW” is only one word to express Lucinda’s capable way of connecting with the ladies while allowing the Holy Spirit to use her to minister. Cindy’s knowledge of the scriptures allows her to teach at a personal level that everyone in their own personal way can catch a hold of. With this, the ladies are taught biblically and are challenged to never give up even when they don’t understand, for our God is always with them. We so enjoyed the laughter tears and true life adventures that she shared, we want more and hope to invite her back!”
Faith Evangelical Free Church, Waterville Maine