To purchase any of these resources, please visit the
Proverbs 31 Ministries web site at: http://shopp31.com/
or go directly to
From the Pound to the Palace book
From the Pound to the Palace DVD
Little Halos book


FROM THE POUND TO THE PALACE
Read the story of a naughty puppy turned obedient dog to your children. This delightful children's book includes Bible verses and questions that will encourage the most important dialog you will ever have with your child, one that will open the door to a personal relationship with Jesus.

FROM THE POUND TO THE PALACE DVD
Listen to the story of a naughty puppy who tells the story of how he was lost and then how his master found him and took him home. Watch as a little boy and his mother step into the kennel to choose a dog and take him home. Help your child connect the story of a little dog to their own need for Master Jesus to lead them on a journey to live with Him forever.



LITTLE HALOS
Whoever said a mother needed to get away from her children to a remote place in order to spend quiet time with God? Hands on, family friendly LITTLE HALOS is filled with a variety of activities that guides mothers and their children deep into God’s Word. While Mommy chooses a spiritual topic to ponder every day, she can match it with an age appropriate activity for each one of her children. Together they turn a pursuit for God into a joyeous and meaningful lifestyle practiced by the entire family.

Van Walton’s childhood experiences in the South American jungles exposed her to mission work and foreign cultures, introducing her to Jesus’ great commission: Love God and neighbor. Today she pursues God’s purpose for her life through writing and speaking. She also teaches Bible and parenting classes to Latina women at the Charlotte, North Carolina Pregnancy Care Center. Van rejoices in her marriage of 36 years and the wondrous adventure of parenting two sons.

Van delights in weaving Biblical Truth into life’s journey. Her early experiences in Venezuela and Colombia combined with multiple moves fanned her passion to pursue God’s purpose. From teaching teenagers in high school to challenging children in church, Jesus’ command has remained Van’s compass. Of her calling, she says, “Absolute joy is found in shining the light of The Word on a woman’s path to Jesus and celebrating freedom in Christ.”

Van, the director of the Hispanic Ministry for Proverbs 31 Ministries is also a member of the Speakers Team. She is a trained CLASS (Christian Leaders and Speakers Services) speaker, and a Certified Personality Trainer. She is the author of a children’s book, a contributing author to several publications, a graduate of Kay Arthur’s Precepts Bible Study Training, has presented and taught with Dr. Ken Canfield, Center for Fathering, at FATHER / DAUGHTER SUMMITS, and has appeared on INSP ( i-life tv) RAISING AN AMAZING GENERATION.

Pack your bags—get on board as Van packs your heart with valuable gear, preparing you for an extreme passage, a pilgrimage to the promised land where life explodes with purpose. Van uses her Christian legacy as she combines the greatest commandment, love God and neighbor, with the great commission, go forth teaching, to move you from a life of aimless wandering through everyday pitfalls into an existence of assured well-being, resting on God’s eternal promises.

Speaking schedule:

2010
October 30: Community Fall Reteat: Chatam, NC

June 12: Vacation Bible School family picnic,              Holiday Island, AR

May 13: Parents & Personalities: Charlotte, NC
April 29: Parent Open House: Charlotte, NC
April 23: Ladies Spring Luncheon, Pinehurst, NC
March 3: High School Chapel, Charlotte, NC
January 22: Banquete de Damas (Ladies Winter Banquet), Athens, GA


2009
December 3: Moms In Touch, Christmas party, Charlotte, NC
August 12: Professional Staff Developement, Faculty retreat, United Faith Christian Academy, Charlotte, NC
August 3: Girlz N Charge 'tween leadership camp, Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte, NC
June 15: Girlz N Charge 'tween leadership camp, Charlotte Chrsitian School, Charlotte, NC
June 12- 13: Girlz N Charge 'tween leadership retreat, Iglesia Jesucristo de las Naciones, Monroe, Charlotte, NC
June 6: Meet the Author with Girl Scout Troop 3201, Charlotte, NC
March 24: Young Moms' Bible Study, Church at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
March 23: Story Time and Meet the Author, Higher Learning Child Care, Shelby, NC
March 14: Story time and Meet the Author with TOT TIME, Church at Charlotte, Charlotte,NC
March 5: GCACSI teachers' conference, Charlotte, NC
February 27: Women's Retreat, Christ Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico
February 18: Story time and Meet the Author, United Faith Academy, Charlotte, NC
February 14:Radio Interview: Dr. Deb Gunderson, Walking in the Way KKIM_AM 1000 Albuquerque NM and FM94.7 Santa Fe and northern NM
February 5: Story time and Meet the Author, Weddington Church Pre-school, Weddington, NC
January 28: Story time and Meet the Author, Central Academny at Lake Park, Indian Trail, NC


2008
November 18: Church at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
July 28-31: Girlz N Charge: The Pathway to Godly Leadership Seminar for Girls, Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte, NC
June 19 - July 23: Wait Training Bible Study Wednesday evenings, Church at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
July 25-26: Women's leadership conference GEMS Girl Club Counselor's Conference Ridgecrest Conference Center Asheville, NC
June 7: Story Time and Meet the Author,First Baptist Church, Matthews, NC
May 20: Story Time and Meet the Author Sonshine Christian Academy Charlotte, NC
April 13: Story Time with Air and Meet the Author Prospect United Methodies Church, Monroe, NC
April 10th: Getting to Know Me: Becoming acquainted with myself so I can better understand others - A Study of Personality Styles Private Home, Waxau, NC

March 22: Storytime & Meet the Author Liberty Baptist Church Mooresville, NC
March 18: Getting to Know Me - A Study of the Personalities Church at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

March 8 & 9: Book Signing Calvary Child Development Center Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC

February 16: La Mujer Ejemplar Iglesia Shalom Adonai Charlotte, NC
January 22: From the Pound to the Palace Mom's Bible Study Church at Charlotte Charlotte,NC
January 15: Storytime & Meet the Author Christ Covenant Home School Bible Study Charlotte, NC
January 7: Storytime & Meet the Author Christian Montessori School at Lake Norman Huntersville, NC
2007
December 5: Christmas Devotional Charlotte Pregnancy Care Center
December 3: Story time & Meet the Author Lake Norman Christian Ministries
November 20: MOPS Jamestown United Methodist Church Jamestown, NC
October 13: Golden Girls Luncheon Golden Baptist Church Golden, MO
September 8: Storytime at Kerusso's Fall Gospelfest Eureka Springs, Arkansas
August 10-14: Proverbs 31 Speaker Team to Ecuador Compassion International
July 30 – August 1: You Be the Author Charlotte Christian School Summer Day Camp
July 28: Los Suenos de la Mujer Iglesia Jesus de Las Naciones Monroe, NC

TOPICS:

If I was Created for the Garden, Why am I living in the Jungle?

This is the story of Van’s faith journey. Born in South America to a career oilman father and a teacher/writer mother, she grew up exploring the rain forest with her dad and investigating Indian legends with her mother. Join Van in her adventures and learn to

• accept God’s word as the source of life’s purpose

• apply biblical Truth to every day’s uncertainties

• allow grace and mercy to transform the agony of painful circumstances into joy

• answer God’s call, however challenging, with hope and confidence.


The Wait of the World: When life’s burdens become too heavy to bear

Does it feel like each “wait” God hands you grows heavier as time passes? In her presentation Van describes how times of waiting resemble the regimen an athlete experiences in the weight room. Waiting, like weight lifting, might feel like torture as muscles stretch, yet time spent in God’s Wait Room can build spiritual strength and God confidence. So, while you wait for God to change the circumstances of your life, be encouraged to:

• Build your faith as you face trials

• Increase your ability to comfort others using lessons learned during hard times
• Find biblical truths to replace despair and defeat with hope and victory.

• Face your fears and frustrations convinced God fights your battles



GirlZNCHARGE:
Tweens Christian Leadership Program encouraging girls to confidently take charge of life decisions, leading them along a path founded on biblical principles.




From the Pound to the Palace
Defy despair ~ Discover dignity (Based on Van’s children’s book, this presentation can be tailored toward women, mothers, children.)

When Van stepped into the dog pound looking for a family pet, her first impression of the abandoned and stray animals reminded her of the human condition— life laced with fear, loss, rejection and hopelessness. In this message, Van describes how the little dog she brought home forever changed her perspective of herself and her relationship with God. Paralleling God’s invitation to adopt us into His family, Van invites her audience to experience God's best for them as they sit at their Master's feet, walk by His side, and find purpose for their lives through His instructions and promises.


Knowing Me, Knowing You
(Based on Personality Plus a study of personality styles)

The popular song says, "There is nothing we can do..." when relationships begin to break apart. The fact is, there absolutely is something we can do. We can learn to accept others and embrace their God-given personalities, a successful route to a life of harmony. Van invites you to better understand yourself so you can become more intimately acquainted with others, through her fun-filled, interactive and enlightening presentation.
Consider inviting Van to your next Parenting Seminar, Teacher Training,
Team Building Workshop
Mother Daughter Banquet
Valentine’s Dinner
Teenage Girl’s Night Out or
Ministry Leadership Retreat



Secrets Woven in the Robe (Parents)

Hannah began praying for her son before he was born! Then, after weaning him, she sent Samuel to the temple where he grew to be a priest, a prophet, a judge, and a known man of God. Van has learned Hannah’s secrets. Listen as she shares how you too can be an important influence in your child’s spiritual development.


Ewes Moving (Women Who Move)

How do women respond to God's call when we hear that we are facing a major, long distance move? Do we listen, allowing the Shepherd to lead us, or do we pine for the past? Van’s stories encourage the “contemporary corporate pilgrim" to experience the move as God's calling to "higher pastures."


In A Nutshell

Van shares her many lessons from God’s creation, including the life-styles of squirrels. Listen to her warm and inspiring stories learned from the nature in her backyard. You will be encouraged to go out on a limb to build your faith

While walking around in my yard, cleaning up after a heavy rain storm, a misplaced garden creature caught my eye. Upon further investigation and a closer study I found a tiny, cream colored frog tucked tightly behind the framing of a window. There he lay, ever so still. I wondered, “Did he think he was hidden from all the world, safe and protected from threatening storms and prowling predators?” I thought about myself. Where do I go to hide when storms blow my way? Where do I find safety when fear reaches out to strangle me? Like my friend the frog I find a safe place away from life’s hard blows, roll up and tuck in, close my eyes in a dark corner and block out all threats.

There, in that quiet place I remember the Psalmist’s words,

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,'

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”

Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)