We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kathy Bruins and Victoria Chapin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kathy and Victoria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE NAME OF OUR ORGANIZATION
KATHY: As the leadership team and I were talking about changing the focus from a writers conference to a conference for creatives, we started brainstorming about names. The Well came up and although I knew it was a name used for many organizations, it still hit something deep inside me. In biblical times, the well was a place where people would gather to get the refreshing, life-sustaining water for themselves and families, they would share and build one another up, and they would help one another as equipped to do. That is the mission of The Well, to equip, network, and refresh creatives with that same refreshing living water of Jesus Christ.
At The Well, there is no competition. We encourage everyone to help one another in their gifts.
THE STORY BEHIND YOUR MISSION
VICTORIA: When I heard the story behind the mission God gave Kathy, I was drawn to it. I knew He wanted me to speak and write a book about my journey of losing my teenage daughter, but I had no idea where to begin. I didn’t consider myself a speaker or writer and was a fish out of water attending a speaking/writing conference a few years before. I became overwhelmed by how much I didn’t know and doubt stopped me in my tracks. God kept nudging me, and when I saw the first retreat Kathy was hosting, I said, “That’s it, I’m signing up!”
That event changed my life. I felt a belonging, and now my heart desires to help others flourish in their creative pursuits. We live in a time where many voices influence the world; let it be God’s creatives. What an important mission to empower Christian Creatives to share Christ’s love by spreading the gospel through their God-given gifts.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
KATHY: I worked in many administrative roles in my younger years. I was “climbing the ladder” but found that God had a call on my life to be in ministry. I became the director of a nonprofit called Kids Hope USA. While doing that, I took college classes for business and then changed my degree goal to ministry. I graduated with a degree in Religious Education and then did a few semesters at a seminary. All this is to say that God was preparing me for the big call. He used everything in my life.
After attending many writing conferences as faculty, I loved the community that was being built and decided that I could run a conference like that. I started talking to some people about it, and we decided to begin meeting to put something together. As the meetings happened, there was a time I thought God wanted something more from this. It was one of His strong nudges I felt. He made it clear to me through people and visions I could see that God wanted all His creatives to become a community. I didn’t fully realize the reason for this until it happened. Creatives felt alone in their gifting. Some felt misunderstood or that they had a lower level of success than “real” jobs. These types of feelings kept them from fully living out the call God has on their life. They needed to feel free of the negatives to push their way to serving God fully. That is critical when one is called to spread the message of Jesus Christ in their creativeness.
We welcome all creatives, including writers, speakers, actors, artists, musicians, and more. There are tracks at the conference for all of these creatives. We also have Splash of The Well events throughout the year to keep in contact with our creative community. People receive messages in many ways, and creatives are needed to fill the gaps in sending God’s message to the masses. It is working. Many people who are part of The Well have said they have never felt so accepted and loved. Creatives are not in competition; they are part of a team used by God to reach a hurting world.
VICTORIA: I was a wife and mom doing customer service, and hospitality-related jobs (mostly around my husband’s schedule) so I could be home with my children as much as possible. I’d been through much heartache and grief but learned adversity was often my best teacher. I read the Bible, prayed, and journaled, and my relationship with Jesus grew deeper. My faith and trust in God encouraged me to embrace a contentment where pain and joy co-existed and I longed to share that with others. I delved into the creative community for help in sharing my message. Now I get to encourage others the same way others encouraged me.
While we offer conference and virtual sessions to equip speakers, writers, actors, artists, musicians, and more, I love the refreshing part of our ministry the most. Creatives often pour their gifts out to others, leaving their buckets empty. We know the need for refreshment so we provide a place at The Well to be filled by support sessions such as spiritual/personal growth and biblical studies.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
KATHY: The first Well Conference was small, but it was still a great experience for all. I was looking forward to the second one, but tech issues forced me to cancel that one. But we did what was called A Splash of The Well at Baker Book House. It was a great experience, which started the Splashes that continue today. A Splash of The Well is not the whole conference but just a peak into what it is like using talks and teaching. The following year, 2020, was COVID and it was cancelled. In 2021, we sought after a place to have The Well, but most venues were not ready to open up for a conference because of COVID. I spoke with 45 churches and only one or two were open to it. We chose the one at Harbor Churches in Grand Rapids. We had to wear masks and continually clean counters and such, but it was so worth it. Again, there were high marks for what God did. Along with the stress of finding a venue, there were financial stressors since the conference was growing in some ways including faculty and a larger venue needed. It was tough to make ends meet, but God supplied. So we keep going believing that God has plans for each conference.
VICTORIA: We’ve had a lot stacked against us, but God continues to show up time after time. It’s been a thrilling yet challenging ride with winding roads, detours, and times we’ve had to slam on the brakes. I was diagnosed with a rare cancerous lung tumor and didn’t know if I’d be able to continue with The Well. For almost 3 years I continued, but wondered, “Is this my last year?” I didn’t give up and now I’m healed and cancer free!
Although we’ve had health issues, deals gone bad, promises not kept, low numbers, and other disappointments, it only takes ONE testimony of a creative’s life being changed to make it ALL worth it. It only takes ONE, but we hear story after story of what God has done in and through our creative community. In Kathy’s famous words, “It’s God’s conference.” To Him be ALL the glory.
How’d you meet your business partner?
KATHY: Victoria was at the first conference and wanted to be involved. I thanked her for her interest, but didn’t think any more on it. Later, she contacted me again expressing her interest to help at The Well. I said we should meet over coffee. At the coffee shop, we got to know each other a bit, and I asked questions about what she has done and how she would like to help The Well. She was thinking more along the lines of hospitality, but God had more in mind. When she left the coffee shop, she was an administrative helper, which quickly turned into becoming co-director of The Well. She now is the director and while I am very involved as the founder, I am very busy with my new organization, The Well Publishers. Victoria is a very gifted lady and God knew what He was doing when He called her to The Well.
VICTORIA: Remember that event I signed up for that changed my life? That was the first year of The Well in early 2018 and I was one of 23 attendees. I instantly knew these were the people I wanted to rub shoulders with and learn from. By the end of the retreat, I offered to volunteer at the next conference. I let Kathy know that I lived locally, had experience in hospitality, and could lend a helping hand next time. In the fall of 2019, I saw an advertisement on Facebook for The Well 2020 so I messaged Kathy and said, “Do you remember me? I offered to help you in 2018.” We agreed to meet for coffee and the rest is history. I thought I was volunteering for hospitality, but as Kathy said, “God had a different plan!” Going from Kathy’s sidekick to Co-Director and now Director, I am blessed to have grown with The Well. I appreciate the confidence placed in me (when I didn’t have it in myself), and Kathy and I make a pretty great team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seeyouatthewell.net/
- Instagram: seeyouatthewell
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWellMinistryForCreatives/
- Youtube: @thewellministryforcreatives
Image Credits
Indirah Michmerhuizen, Family Life Photography