Church Girl Unplugged Conference: Living Life Beyond the Pew

Two days of honest conversation, sisterhood, and practical tools for living a whole, faithful life beyond the pew. December 11–12, 2026 | Chicago, IL About the conference We learned how to pray, serve, sacrifice, forgive, and stay faithful. But where did we learn what to do with grief, church hurt, complicated relationships, or the guilt that can come with setting a boundary? Church Girl Unplugged is not about leaving the church. It creates room for faith and real life to finally sit at the same table. Together, we’ll talk honestly about mental health, trauma, parenting, sexuality, relationships, and the work of becoming whole. You can love God, ask hard questions, and tell the truth about what you’ve lived through. If you’ve ever wondered whether there was room for your whole story, come sit with us. Friday, December 11 | What Happened to Us? We’ll open with When Church Girls Tell the Truth: Faith Beyond the Four Walls Unlearning, healing, and discovering what it means to live for God beyond organized religion and church tradition. The Three Church Girls (Yesssss, We're Baccck!) will engage in honest Red Table Style conversations about the relationship between faith, church culture, personal experiences, and spiritual growth. We will explore what the church gave us, what it may have cost us, and how we can hold on to God while examining traditions, expectations, and beliefs that may no longer serve our spiritual and emotional well-being. The night will close with a HAPPY Hour, because Joy is Holy!! A DJ-led celebration featuring gospel classics, nostalgic church-girl favorites, inspirational R&B, dancing, MOCKtails, fellowship, vendors, and photographs. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 Beyond the Pew: Doing the Work of Becoming Whole Friday night, we tell the truth. Saturday, we do the work! Saturday is where faith meets real life. We're moving beyond conversations about what we've experienced and into the work of healing, growing, setting boundaries, building healthy relationships, and becoming whole. Expect powerful sessions, meaningful sisterhood, honest dialogue, practical tools, good food, and a little old-school church-girl fun! 8:30 AM | Doors Open Registration, Vendors & Connection Arrive early, grab your coffee, connect with other women, visit our vendors, and capture a few memories before the day begins. 9:00 AM | The Church Girl Breakfast We're gathering around the table for more than breakfast! Enjoy a continental breakfast and intentional table conversations designed to build connections and create space for the questions we don't always ask out loud. 9:30 AM | Morning Welcome Setting the Table for Truth, Healing & Growth We'll set the tone for an empowering day of honest conversations, courageous reflection, and sisterhood. 10:00 AM | Session One Unlearning to Believe: Faith, Identity & Finding Your Truth Facilitator: Charlom Wilcher What happens when the beliefs, expectations, and traditions that shaped us begin to collide with our lived experiences? We'll explore faith, identity, church hurt, forgiveness, and spiritual healing. This session invites women to examine what they've inherited, name what has wounded them, and begin separating their relationship with God from the expectations of others. 11:45 AM | Session Two Face It and Fix It: Healing Beyond the Hallelujah Facilitator: Chantelle Bittings Because everything cannot be prayed away without also being addressed. We're going beyond the familiar responses of "just pray about it" and "give it to God" to have honest conversations about mental health, grief, trauma, therapy, and emotional wellness. This session focuses on recognizing what needs attention, seeking support without shame, and developing practical tools for healing. 1:15 PM | The Fellowship Hall Lunch Experience Food, Fellowship & a Little Church Girl Fun! Remember when the fellowship hall was where all the good conversations happened? We're bringing that spirit back with a shared meal, music, laughter, meaningful connections, and a few surprises! Get ready for Church Girl Trivia, familiar church sayings, a little musical nostalgia, and our special Church Girl Confessions experience. What happens in the Fellowship Hall... well, you'll have to be there! 2:45 PM | The Love Sessions Relationships, Romance & Remembering YOU! Whether you're single, dating, or married, one thing remains true: Your relationship status should never cost you your identity. Choose the conversation that speaks to your season of life: Single, Settled & Satisfied Discovering contentment, confidence, and purpose without allowing relationship status to define your worth. Doing Life, Dating & Dancing Daily Navigating modern dating, emotional availability, boundaries, and the beautiful complexities of companionship. Mated, Married & Maintaining ME! Loving deeply, building partnership, and maintaining your individuality, voice, and emotional well-being. These candid breakout conversations create space to discuss love, intimacy, expectations, boundaries, and the work of building healthy relationships without losing ourselves. 4:15 PM | The Church Girl Prayer Unplugged, Unburdened & Unashamed We'll close the conference in collective prayer, reflecting on what we're ready to release, what we're determined to reclaim, and what it means to move forward with renewed faith, courage, and clarity. Because we aren't leaving our faith behind. We're learning how to carry it into every part of our lives. Come as You Are. Leave With More. More clarity. More connection. More courage. More language for what you've experienced. More tools for what comes next. Church Girl Unplugged: Living Life Beyond the Pew is for every woman who loves God but recognizes that becoming whole requires more than simply showing up for church. You can love God, honor your faith, ask hard questions, seek therapy, establish boundaries, experience joy, and live a full, emotionally healthy life. There is room for ALL of that at this table. Register now and invite a woman you’d love to share the room with.