Register for DFJ

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect from Desperate for Jesus
General Information

DFJ will be held Friday, July 21, 2023, from 7:00 pm  – 9:00 pm & Saturday, July 22, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Doors will open at 6:00 pm Friday and 8:00 am Saturday.

Conference times are in the Central Time zone (CT). You may use a time zone converter to find out what time to view from your location. 

The conference will take place at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, 1808 W. Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas Texas. The conference will also be livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person.  

Click here for directions to OCBF.

The cost is $50 per person for adults and teen girls to attend the two-day conference. Lunch from McAlister’s Deli is included in the registration cost.

The cost to watch the conference Simulcast Live Stream is $30 for individuals/small groups (up to 10 people) and $130 for churches (more than 10 people). Virtual registrants will receive an email confirmation with the details to access the conference closer to the event date.

The attire is casual and comfortable. You may consider bringing a wrap as the sanctuary will be air-conditioned.

Registration payments are non-refundable for both in-person and virtual attendance.

However, if you registered for the in-person conference and are unable to attend, you will receive a link to watch the live-stream conference or you can give your email confirmation to another person to attend the event under your name. However, the lunch selection cannot change.

Please direct all inquiries to:
dfj@ocbfchurch.org
214-672-9100 x 2602
In-Person Registration Information

DFJ is designed for women of all ages and seasons of life. Special programming for girls entering grades 6 – 12 will be available for the in-person experience only. Register to attend in person.

Yes. You can register a maximum of 10 women. There will be an automatic 10% discount applied to registered groups of 10.

Yes. You will receive an email confirming your registration. If you requested childcare, you will receive a registration link in your confirmation email after your registration is complete. You will then be able to register and pay for childcare for your child(ren). You must bring your email confirmation for entry into the conference.

You have the freedom to pick the sessions you attend. But attending the event in its entirety will help you to get the most out of the experience.

Yes. However, the lunch selection cannot change.

Registration payments are non-refundable for both in-person and virtual attendance.

However, if you registered for the in-person conference and are unable to attend, you will receive a link to watch the live-stream conference or you can give your email confirmation to another person to attend the event under your name. However, the lunch selection cannot change.

Virtual Conference Information

DFJ is designed for women of all ages and seasons of life. Special programming for girls entering grades 6 – 12 will be available for the in-person experience only. Register to attend DFJ virtually.

Yes. Small group viewing for up to 10 viewers is available for $30. Church or large group viewing of more than 10 women is available for $130. To enhance your experience, church or large group leaders will receive a Simulcast Host Guide and customizable promotional materials. 

Registered individuals and groups will receive an email confirmation with the details to access the virtual conference closer to the event date.

Virtual events bring the experience of an in-person conference to your personal computer, so just like an in-person conference, you have the freedom to pick the sessions you attend. But attending the event in its entirety will help you to get the most out of the experience. You will be able to re-watch sessions until 11:59 pm CDT on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

Desperate for Jesus Conference is broadcast from Dallas, Texas. The sessions streamed will follow the Central Daylight Time Zone (CDT). You may use a time zone converter to find out what time to view from your location. 

For the best experience, we suggest using a desktop or laptop computer or tablet and the Chrome browser. If you don’t already have Chrome, you can download it for free.  Please ensure that your operating systems and web browsers are updated prior to viewing. Additionally, a reliable high-speed internet connection is required.

As a virtual registrant, you will have access to the re-broadcast of the conference until 11:59 p.m. CDT on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

Registration payments are non-refundable for both in-person and virtual attendance.

However, you will have access to the conference replay until 11:59 pm CDT on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

Conference Features

Charlotte Gambill and Dr. Sarita Lyons are our speakers. Kierra Sheard-Kelly is the musical artist. For the teen girls on Saturday, Veronica Jones is the youth host, Vanessa Parra is the youth speaker and Shanandolan Ward is the musical artist.

Program details are not available at this time. However, our planning team has prayed and planned a program with you in mind, so please prepare to stay for the entire two-day event.

No. Women will remain in the auditorium on both days of the conference. Teen girls will remain in the auditorium on Friday with the adults. Then on Saturday, teen girls will have separate programming in the Education Center.

Yes. The teen girls will join the adults in the auditorium on Friday. Then on Saturday, they will have their own program and activities with guest speakers and topics relevant to them.

Our children’s ministry has planned exciting programming to engage your children, ages six months to 5th grade. The cost is $15 per child and must be reserved and paid for during registration. The registration will include lunch and two snacks at no additional charge.

Yes. A variety of vendors will sell clothing, accessories, home goods and much more!

Food Information

Yes. Food trucks will be available Friday evening for you to purchase food. On Saturday, food trucks will be available in the morning for you to purchase breakfast. Your registration includes a box lunch on Saturday from McAlister’s Deli.

11:00 am – 12:40 pm CDT.

Turkey & Cheddar –  served on 9-grain ciabatta bread with leaf lettuce, tomato, mayo, spicy mustard on the side; Sea Salt Spud Chips, cookie, bottled water

Ham & Cheddar  – served on 9-grain ciabatta bread with leaf lettuce, tomato, mayo, spicy mustard on the side; Sea Salt Spud Chips, cookie, bottled water

The Veggie – served on 9-grain ciabatta with spinach, tomato, cucumber, red onion, house-roasted multicolored peppers, avocado, salt and pepper, balsamic vinaigrette, fruit cup, bottled water 

Seating & Sign Interpretation

There are no reserved seats. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Yes. Please let the ushers know that you need assistance to the wheelchair-accessible seating area.

If you require sign interpretation, please indicate so when registering. The conference will provide a sign interpreter based on need.

Hotels/Transportation

There is no official conference hotel, but a list of surrounding hotels is available here.

No. Shuttle service will not be provided by OCBF.

Experience More

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Resources

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Copyright © 2023 Desperate for Jesus

Register for DFJ

Kierra
Sheard-Kelly

Musical Artist

Kierra Sheard-Kelly is a multi-talented artist known for her mesmerizing and dynamic voice. As the daughter of renowned gospel artist Karen Clark-Sheard of the legendary group, The Clark Sisters, Kierra has achieved great success as an artist, winning both a GRAMMY® and a Stellar Award. She has continued her family’s legacy as a gospel artist and has recently released her seventh studio album, All Yours.

In addition to her music career, Kierra is also an author and entrepreneur. She has written two devotional books for teens and young adults, Big, Bold and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be and The Vibes You Feel: What I’ve Learned about Life and Relationships through The Holy Spirit. Her upcoming children’s book, Kiki Finds Her Voice, encourages children to embrace their differences.

Kierra is also committed to giving back to the community through mentorship and fellowship.

Kierra alongside her husband, Jordan Kelly, leads the Youth and Young Adult Ministries at the Greater Emmanuel Church under the leadership of her parents. Stay updated with the latest from Kierra at iamKierraSheard.com.

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Charlotte Gambill

Speaker

Charlotte Gambill is an accomplished author, mentor and international teaching pastor with over 26 years of experience in church leadership. Her greatest joy is building her family with her husband of over 27 years, Steve, with whom she has two beautiful teenagers, Hope Cherish, and Noah Brave.

Charlotte is deeply passionate about seeing people connect with their God-given purpose. That passion led her to establish the We Are One and the Cherish foundation, where she aims to facilitate and support initiatives that bring the power of kindness into the most broken of places. She founded the Collective Co. Lab mentorship program, co-founded the Dare to Be movement and is the author of 16 books. Charlotte’s life commitment is to teach, train and invest in others, locally and globally. Stay in touch with Charlotte via her website CharlotteGambill.com.

Charlotte Gambill
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Sarita T. Lyons, JD, PhD

Speaker

Dr. Sarita Lyons is a wife, mother, speaker, women’s bible teacher and psychotherapist. Dr. Lyons and her husband, Pastor Mark Lyons, reside in Philadelphia with their four children, Malachi, Sophia, Olivia and Gabriella. She serves at Epiphany Fellowship Church as the Director of Discipleship and Women’s Ministry. And devotes her time to other churches through consulting services for their ministry and leadership development. Dr. Lyons is a contributing writer for the multi-award winning book: Urban Apologetics: How the Gospel Restores Black Dignity, General Editor Dr. Eric Mason. She also contributed a chapter for Urban Apologetics Vol. 2 release date to be determined. Dr. Lyons is a proud graduate of a Historically Black University, Florida A&M University, with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Psychology. She graduated from Villanova University School of Law and earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She received a PhD in Clinical and Forensic Psychology from Drexel University, where she taught for several years as an adjunct professor at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Dr. Sarita Lyons
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In-Person Registration Full

Virtual Registration Still Available

The DFJ Women’s Conference is just around the corner. You can still register for our VIRTUAL conference using the button below. Registration for our IN-PERSON conference has reached its capacity and is now closed.

We look forward to you joining us online for a spectacular time as we REMEMBER God’s goodness toward us.

Virtual Registration
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Niya Cotton

Worship Leader

With her dad as an original Richard Smallwood singer and her mom as a professional drummer, Niya Cotton was destined to find music as a way to communicate. She began singing in church at age 2 and has never looked back. Niya has acted and danced in several plays under the direction of Mike Malone and Debbie Allen and singing with artists like Michael Jackson, Michael Buble, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin and many others. In addition to performance art, Niya has written music for tv and film with Warner Brothers in Burbank, CA and tv and film composer Kurt Farquar. Niya and her college sweetheart and husband Roy are the proud parents of three amazingly hilarious children, Rocco, Eric Stone and Nyla Jade. Learn more about Niya at NiyaCotton.com.

Niya Cotton
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Veronica Jones

Teen Conference Host

Veronica is a dynamic speaker and author who empowers girls and women to live boldly through faith. She’s passionate about helping her audience discover their God-given purpose and identity in Jesus. Veronica is the published author of Just the Way God Made Me, with another book underway, Matters of the Heart: Prayers for Every Teen Girl. She uses her writing and speaking engagements to equip her audience with the tools to overcome fear and insecurity and live confidently. When not working, Veronica enjoys spending time with loved ones and seeking out new adventures.

Veronica Jones
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Shanandolan Ward

Youth Musical Artist

Shanandolan Ward, a Worship Leader from Dallas, Texas, finds hope and inspiration in her favorite verse of Scripture, Jeremiah 29:11. She began developing her vocal skills at age three and developed her talent at Booker T. Washington High School and Cedar Valley College. Shanandolan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Worship Arts and Music Ministry from Dallas Christian College. She has performed gospel music ranging from traditional hymns to jazz-infused contemporary pieces, sharing the stage with music legends like Josh Groban and Take 6. Shanandolan was a top 200 finalist on American Idol and a top 20 contestant on BET’s Sunday’s Best. Shanandolan counts her husband, son and daughter as her biggest inspirations, and the fulfillment of the promises of hope and a future.

Shanandolan Ward
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Vanessa Parra

Youth Speaker

Vanessa Parra is a living testimony of God’s redemption power. She’s a worship leader, prayer warrior and minister of the word of God. Vanessa believes that the Lord has given her a prophetic voice to impact the younger generation. Vanessa has a heart for young girls and women, bringing a word of freedom and power to edify God’s people. She’s an associate Pastor at Church Genesis, an international church in the United States and Mexico. Vanessa resides in Arlington, Texas, with her husband and three beautiful children.

Vanessa Parra
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Priscilla Shirer

Host

Priscilla Shirer is a wife and mom first but put a Bible in her hand and a message in her heart, and you’ll see why thousands meet God in powerful, personal ways at her conferences and through her Bible Study resources. Priscilla and her husband of 23 years, Jerry Shirer, are the proud parents of their three young adult sons – Jackson, Jerry Jr. and Jude. Together, they lead Going Beyond Ministries, through which they supply spiritual support and resources to the body of Christ. They count it a privilege to serve every denomination and culture across the spectrum of the church.

Priscilla is a New York Times Best Selling author of more than two dozen books and has had featured roles in movies like War Room (2015), I Can Only Imagine (2018) and Overcomer (2019). Stay updated with the latest from Priscilla at GoingBeyond.com.

Priscilla Shirer
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Chrystal Hurst

Host

Chrystal Evans Hurst is an encourager who teaches people to love God, to fulfill their potential in Christ, to love others, and to love themselves. Chrystal is a wife, mother of five and grandmother to four. She has known one church home, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and serves the Women’s Ministry in many capacities. She is a speaker, best-selling author of She’s Still There and Kingdom Woman and the newly released, The 28-Day Prayer Journey. 

Chrystal firmly believes God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans that I have for you…” and she desires to help other women to believe and apply that truth to their lives. You can find Chrystal passionately sharing encouragement as she poignantly reflects on faith and speaks with frank honesty about the everyday experiences of women via her podcasts and blogs at ChrystalEvansHurst.com.

Chrystal Hurst
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