In addition to being a writer, Michelle Ule is also a speaker.
She’s spoken in venues such as ladies’ teas, women’s Bible studies, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League rallies, educational meetings, and retreats.
Michelle speaks on the following topics:
How to be a Woman of Significance–No Matter Who You Are
Using the lives of Biddy Chambers and Lettie Cowman as a jumping-off point, Michelle provides an overview of their lives–and their frailties.
She then turns to the audience and invites them to recognize they, too, have significant roles to play in the Kingdom of God–no matter who or what they are.
Providing simple, practical examples, she encourages women to embrace their gifts–no matter how humble they may seem–for the Kingdom of God.
By providing ways to bless strangers, prayer for anyone, and simple steps anyone can do without feeling overwhelmed, Michelle also brings laughter and hope.
60 minutes, with or without a PowerPoint presentation.
Michelle gave this talk to 200 people at Louisville’s Southeastern Christian Church in June 2023. She’s also shared the ideas in smaller meetings and Bible studies.
You can examine the blog post she wrote on this talk here: How to be Significant like Biddy and Lettie.
Here’s a video of her presenting this talk in Sandpoint, Idaho in September 2024.
Oswald Chambers, Biddy and My Utmost for His Highest
Using a power point presentation, Michelle tells the story of Oswald Chambers’ life, including pictures, the themes and events which led to the writing of My Utmost for His Highest.
45-60 minutes, with some audience participation, if interested.
Q&A afterwards, 15 minutes or longer as needed.
A Call to Prayer and the Lives of My Utmost for His Highest’s Authors: A Case Study
Using a PowerPoint presentation, this talk examines prayer using Oswald and Biddy Chambers’ lives as a case study.
We learn what Oswald’s main thoughts on prayer were and then how they prayed, how God answered those prayers, and what that can teach us about prayer.
Features quotes from My Utmost for His Highest.
Michelle gave this talk at Church of the Apostles and at Clairmont Crest Retirement Home in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2019.
You can hear her Call to Prayer at Church of the Apostles here.
45-minute talk.
Biddy Chambers’ Life and the Writing of My Utmost for His Highest
How Biddy Chambers compiled My Utmost for His Highest 10 years after Oswald’s death. Michelle brings insight from her book, Mrs. Oswald Chambers (Baker Books), into a discussion of how Biddy, despite her circumstances, chose to live her own utmost for God’s highest good.
45 minutes, with some audience participation.
Mrs. Oswald Chambers and Resilience
Mrs. Oswald Chambers launched one week after the Ules fled their home during Sonoma County’s 2017 fires. A week later, Michelle spoke at the launch party on the subject of “Biddy Chambers and Resilience.”
From Biddy’s life story, Michelle draws spiritual truth on applying faith in difficult situations–whether natural disasters, personal loss, or challenging circumstances.
From that talk, she wrote four blog posts:
Resilience Lessons from Mrs. Oswald Chambers Part I
Widowhood Resiliency and Mrs. Oswald Chambers Part II
Resiliency Post WWI: Mrs. Oswald Chambers (Part III)
The London Blitz Test for Biddy’s Resilience (Part IV)
45 minutes.
The Importance of My Utmost for His Highest on Life Today
Using her unique insight as Biddy Chambers’ biographer, Michelle examines five core readings from My Utmost for His Highest and discusses how their timeless messages can apply to Christians today.
30 minutes
Adventures in Prayer
Using examples from her own life, Michelle discusses the importance of prayer along with who Christians pray to and how to pray.
She focuses on several key points, using stories: honesty, gossip and intercessory prayer, getting up early to pray, group praying, “offensive” prayer, and God’s often unexpected answers.
45 minutes with some group participation
The Advantage of Pursuing Personal Devotions
Michelle uses her own life to discuss the three facets of a personal daily devotion/ quiet time. She provides Scriptural support, examples of how to pray, and a quick overview of the most commonly used devotionals in the last century.
(This talk was made into a series of blog posts you can read here: Devotions or Quiet Time?; Devotions: Bible Reading; Devotions: Prayer; and How to Use a Devotional Book.
45 minutes
She’s also able to craft a talk for a specific need.
Bible and Church Year Talks/Studies
Two blog posts based on a Bible study of Psalm 62 that she presented at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention in June 2022:
A Man After God’s Own Heart? Why?
What’s the Deal with Stupid Sheep?
After 40 years of teaching Bible study, she also occasionally writes blog posts based on some of her lectures. The themes in these posts can be turned into talks–which she has given at her local church.
Here’s a roundup of posts about Holy Week in General: Jesus’ Ministry During Holy Week.
A similar post about Advent, a subject on which she also has written much (see the list of posts here): Another Look at the Advent Stories.
Who is Michelle?
An ecumenical speaker, she’s taught Bible study in various denominations around the United States and Hawai’i, including in conjunction with military chapels, for over 35 years.
She currently attends Hope Chapel in Sonoma County, California.
A more detailed biography is here.
You can contact her here.
Endorsements
“Two things our team observed while praying for and studying Michelle Ule from afar. First, she is refreshingly humble; a rare find among authors and speakers in today’s day and age of self-promotion. She will have none of it.
“Next, there is an ambiance that follows her personal ministry which you won’t see on the screen or in a book. A powerful force drives her inspiration, and especially her pen.
“However, having her speak in-person to our women stirred us in deep places that otherwise could not have been found in a book. Her quick-wit, humility, and authentic Christian lifestyle all combine for a unique gift-mesh which is both challenging and comforting, all at the same time.
“She is sound in her doctrine and safe in her delivery. She lingers as we ruminate on her thoughts and words. Our lives were touched by Michelle’s message. ” ~Elise Wilkes, Director of Women’s Ministries, The Church of The Apostles
“Michelle Ule uses her love of words to craft engaging stories that we enter into, journeying along with each character. Like reading a good book, you are sad when it’s over and you hunger for more!”
~Emily Davis Nelson Devotional Speaker, Beyond the Red Chair
“Michelle Ule spoke at our Lutheran Women’s Missionary League rally and inspired the audience with her presentation. She was knowledgeable about the subject and her message was easy to follow and very interesting. Michelle is a great speaker.”
~Elaine McFarlane President, LWML Zone 14
More Endorsements
“Michelle was a warm and extremely knowledgeable speaker on the life of Oswald and Biddy Chambers. Those ladies unfamiliar with My Utmost For His Highest went away blessed and excited to begin a new journey! Those of us who have been followers of Oswald Chambers were also blessed to continue on our journey with a richer understanding of who he was. We all are looking forward to Michelle’s book Mrs. Oswald Chambers!”
~ Sandy Johnson, secretary, New Life Community Church, Ukiah, California
Our “Books & Tea” group in our church sponsored the reading of Michelle’s book, Mrs. Oswald Chambers! We wlso were thrilled to have her as our speaker at our “Soiree” event where she mingled with our women in very warm and friendly manner even before she rose to speak.
In her presentation, which included a wonderful Powerpoint presentation, Michelle used her God-given gift in writing, research & speaking to not only made Biddy Chambers come to life, but she also challenged us with vibrant life lessons that were personal and powerful.
Our “Books & Tea” group eagerly awaits for her newest novel, A Poppy in Remembrance, that has both Biddy & Oswald Chambers woven throughout the story!
~Betty Beuving, Director of Women’s Ministries at Redwood Valley Community Church
Fees
Fees are variable based on the church size, talk requested, travel needs, and the ability to sell books at the back of the room.
She generally charges transportation costs, a hotel room, and a stipend. Some of this is subject to the size and needs of the meetings. She doesn’t mind staying with friends.
She lives in northern California (flying out of San Francisco) but is happy to speak at several venues with costs split among several churches. During a trip to Virginia, she spoke at four different churches.
She is flexible, well-traveled, and a lay counselor who loves to engage with people.
She’s also handled many interviews over the years and is comfortable in front of an audience.
For more information, contact her at michelleuleauthor@gmail.com
Examples of Michelle’s discussion abilities on television
Here is a snippet of Michelle discussing a fantastic story she discovered while researching The Gold Rush Christmas when she appeared on Writers, Authors, Books, and Beyond:
Here’s a half-hour interview Michelle did on the Barb Marshall Show, discussing her novel Bridging Two Hearts, and her 20-year experiences as a Navy wife:
Here is an Iphone video of her Adventures in Prayer talk from October 2015: