Mom Camp

September 20, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Lake Mead Christian Academy
655 E Lake Mead Pkwy
Henderson, NV 89015

Unlike the summer camp of your youth, this half-day event is free of mosquitoes and cafeteria food. Mom Camp is a space for moms in every stage of life to connect with Jesus and each other, find encouragement, and refocus their identity. It’s a place to pack away mom guilt, shed unrealistic expectations, and receive practical parenting wisdom.

Take a breath, mama.

You’re not just going to make it—you’re doing better than you think. This year’s Mom Camp is all about creating space to breathe. We often hold our breath and hustle through packed schedules, hoping everything works out. But here’s the truth: enjoying motherhood is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.

Join hundreds of local moms as we discover joy in the journey!

  • Choose workshops tailored to your season of motherhood

  • Gain tools and encouragement from moms who’ve been there

  • Encounter Jesus and build lasting friendships

Check out the session options below. You will choose one from each session at registration.

Session 1

  • Ever feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster and wonder, What is happening to me? You’re not crazy—your body is speaking, and it’s time to start listening. This honest and grace-filled session is all about helping moms understand what’s really going on inside. From shifting hormones to sleep deprivation, overstimulation, nutrition needs, and movement, we’ll explore how your physical, emotional, and spiritual health are all connected. Motherhood requires a lot, and caring for others starts with caring for yourself. Learn how to tune in to your body’s signals, manage hormonal changes, and build rhythms that support energy, clarity, and peace. This session offers practical tools and empowering knowledge to help you steward your body well—so you can show up fully for the life God has called you to.

  • You’re juggling schedules, appointments, meal plans, emotional needs, and a million unseen details—and it’s exhausting. The mental load of motherhood is real, and if you’re not careful, it can lead to overwhelm, anxiety, and burnout. But God never meant for you to carry it all alone. In this honest and hope-filled session, we’ll name what’s weighing you down and learn how to lay it down. You’ll walk away with practical tools to lighten your mental load, build healthy rhythms, and breathe deeply again—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

  • The early years of motherhood can feel like a blur—endless diapers, sleepless nights, and constant demands that leave you wondering if you’re doing enough, or if you are enough. In the fog of raising little ones, it’s easy to forget who you are. Motherhood is holy work—but it’s not your only identity. It’s easy to lose sight of the woman God created you to be. Join us as we explore how to find yourself, not in spite of motherhood, but through it.

  • Parenting often feels like a nonstop cycle of reacting to crises, meltdowns, and urgent needs. But what if you could pause, breathe, and lead your family with intention instead of impulse? This session encourages moms to step out of the constant whirlwind and embrace a vision-driven approach to parenting—grounded in faith and purposeful leadership. You’ll learn practical strategies to slow down, align your daily choices with your family values, and respond with calm confidence—even in the most challenging moments. By leading with vision rather than reaction, you create a home where grace, growth, and peace can flourish.

  • Parenting doesn’t pause when life gets hard. Whether you’re walking through grief, disappointment, anxiety, or a personal storm, the weight of your own pain can make it feel impossible to show up for your children. But even in the heartache, God is near—and He offers you rest, strength, and grace for every breath. This session is a safe and sacred space for moms carrying heavy hearts. Together, we’ll explore how to parent with authenticity and faith in the middle of personal struggles—without guilt or shame. You’ll be reminded that you don’t have to have it all together to lead your family well. God meets you right where you are.

  • Somewhere along the way, many Christian moms began believing a damaging myth: that being “good” means always saying yes. But constantly overextending yourself isn’t Christlike—it’s exhausting. In this session, we’ll debunk the lie that self-sacrifice means self-neglect, and instead explore how boundaries are not only healthy, but holy. Learn how to say no without guilt, create emotional and mental space, and carve out margin for rest—so you can show up for your family from a place of strength, not survival. We’ll also discuss how to set healthy boundaries within your home that honor God, protect peace, and reflect your family’s values.

  • Watching your child struggle—whether it’s with friendships, failure, faith, or growing pains—can feel like heartbreak in slow motion. As moms, our instinct is to step in, fix it, protect them from pain. But what if our greatest act of love isn’t rescuing, but pausing—and trusting God to do what only He can? This session invites you to take a breath before you jump in. We’ll explore what it looks like to parent with wisdom instead of fear, faith instead of control. You’ll be equipped with tools to hold space for your child’s growth, even when it’s messy or painful, while staying anchored in truth and peace.

  • Words have the power to shape the atmosphere of your home—for better or for worse. In the chaos of motherhood, it’s easy for frustration, correction, and exhaustion to dominate our tone. But what if, instead of reacting, we paused to breathe in God’s truth—so we could speak life into the hearts entrusted to us? This session is an invitation to become a life-giver with your words. Through practical strategies, you’ll learn how to shift the language in your home from pressure to peace, from criticism to encouragement, from silence to sacred connection.

Session 2

Speakers

  • Vanessa has a heart for people to grow in intimacy with Christ. She is passionate about transforming potential into action. At the age of 24, Vanessa founded her ministry, Ignite Life, with the mission to equip, empower, and mobilize women to be the spark that ignites change in the world for the sake of Christ. Out of her desire to mobilize women in the church, one small conference gave birth to a movement of Christian women. Although this ministry is a huge priority in her life, her first ministry is her family. Vanessa has been married to her “Prince” Evan, for 11 years and her life is filled with joy and chaos raising her three children (Owen, 9; Ethan, 7; Charlotte, 5)

  • Kimberly Malloy is a licensed marriage, child & family therapist with the state of Nevada, currently in private practice. Kimberly serves as the CIO (Chief Inspirational Officer) for the Center for Relational Health- LV. Their mission is to promote personal and professional emotional health. Kimberly serves a blend of individual, corporate and non-profit clients. The therapy, workshops, corporate training, retreats and consultations of CRH-LV are geared toward improving relationships at home, work and in the community.

    Kimberly is a presenter for the Color Code Personality™ & Character Profile™ and a Facilitator for The Daring Way™ and is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator™ with Better Up, which is the based on the work of Dr. Brené Brown. Kimberly has been hired in a variety of arenas including military, legal, medical, prisons, schools, accounting and architectural firms, banking and education. She loves facilitating 3- day leadership retreats, Keynote talks, weekly training topics, walking organizations through painful changes or holding workshops. 

    Kimberly founded and hosted a women’s monthly luncheon for 14 years for women professionals, which provided networking and growth opportunities. Kimberly graduated from the Leadership Las Vegas program and served as Curriculum Chair for both the adult and youth LLV programs. In 2017, Kimberly was inducted into the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hall of Fame. She has served on her church advisory council twice. 

    What brings Kimberly the most joy is Jesus, her husband, Monty, their three wonderful daughters, 3 sons in love, 3 grandsons and 3 granddaughters.

  • Abby Peddieson is a Marriage and Family Therapist, licensed in the state of Nevada. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas, and master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

    Abby spent her internship years training under the Relational Wellness Institute, honing skills as a therapist, and building a private therapy practice. In 2017, she earned her title as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

    Originally a Kansas girl, Abby moved to the Las Vegas Valley in 2003. She married the love of her life in 2011 and became a mother in 2015. She loves the chaos of balancing the roles of wife, mom, therapist, sister, daughter, and friend. An extrovert by nature, Abby is always looking to spend time with the people she loves. Whether it is traveling with family, having coffee with a friend, or cuddling with therapy pups… she loves it all!

  • Jenny Christiansen brings 29 years of experience in Christian education and a deep passion for teaching God’s Word to audiences of all ages. Her heart is to inspire others to build their lives on the unshakable hope and healing found in Scripture. Jenny’s teaching style and genuine love for people reflect her lifelong commitment to sharing biblical truth in practical and transformative ways.

    She is married to her husband, Craig, and is a proud mother of two daughters and a joyful “Gigi” to eight grandchildren. A Montana native, Jenny cherishes every opportunity to spend time in her beloved home state. She’s also a true coffee enthusiast—always up for a good latte and a friend to share it with.

  • Elia Curls serves as the Care Director at Hope Church, LV. Through compassion, authenticity, and humor, Elia lives out her passion of helping hurting people experience the freedom and healing that can only be found in Jesus! She and her husband Shaun have been married 12 years, and they have a spirited 6-year-old daughter named Belle. Elia spends her free time watching reruns of The Office, saving recipes that she will never attempt, and playing Pickleball.

  • Merlelynn is a passionate wife, mother, bonus-Mom, Oma, bonus Oma, daughter and friend. She cares deeply about people: teaching, counseling and leading people to navigate life, follow Jesus, and find the best version of themselves. She  lives out this mission through her family, ministry, career, mentoring, and leadership pursuits.

    Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she competed with the Canadian National Basketball team for over 12 years, retiring after the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Merlelynn has also played basketball professionally and has lived in the Las Vegas Valley for the past thirty five years.

    She currently serves as the Clinical Director-Emeritus at Bridge Counseling (which now has 2 locations) and the Owner/Founder of Harris Counseling where she sees clients on a regular basis, as well as Adjacent Faculty at UNLV’s Couples and Family Therapy Graduate Program.

    Merlelynn received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Pre-Med from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her Master of Science degree in Counseling-Marriage and Family Therapy also from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

    When not parenting, counseling, consulting or coaching, Merlelynn can often be found enjoying an endless cup of coffee and a good book or in a gym cheering for one of her daughters!

  • Dr. Amy Oberg, PhD, is a cognitive psychologist, Christian counselor, and founder of the mental health center Hope and Health Hub where she helps people grow, heal, and thrive. Known for her down-to-earth wisdom and deep faith, Amy equips others to sow and grow sanity, stability, and sacredness in the midst of real-life struggles. She’s been married for 24 years, is a proud mom to a married daughter, and a joyful “Greema” to two grandkids—with grandbaby number three on the way.

  • Brett Detken seeks to inspire others to live “worthy of the calling they have received” (Eph 4:1). A professor at UNLV’s Lee Business School for seven years, she’s passionate about shaping future leaders. Since marrying Patrick in 1999, she has raised two amazing kids, Jackson and Mia, who are now off conquering the world. Brett loves spa days, her Peloton, and spontaneous travel.

  • Jennifer Antonucci is the Director of the Renewing Life Center. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She received her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. Jennifer and her husband Vince have started two churches. Through her years of counseling and ministry, Jennifer has seen amazing transformations in people's lives and knows real change is possible. She is passionate about partnering with her clients to give them hope in their journey towards healing and growth. Jennifer enjoys working with couples, individuals, families, and children. She offers EMDR therapy for clients that have been impacted by trauma. Jennifer and her husband Vince have been married for over thirty years and have two children.

  • Michelle is passionate about living out her life’s mission - “To teach, counsel, and lead people to navigate life, follow Jesus, and find the best version of themselves.” She endeavors to live out this mission through her family, career, mentoring, and leadership pursuits.

    Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Michelle has lived in the Las Vegas Valley for the past thirty six years.

    She currently serves as the Director of Counseling at Lake Mead Christian Academy and the Clinical Director of the Lake Mead Wellness Center where she sees clients on a regular basis.

    Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts in Post-Secondary Workforce Education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and spent many years in the classroom before finding passion in full-time counseling.

    Michelle received her Masters degrees in Human Services from Liberty University, Clinical Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University and Marriage and Family Therapy from Lincoln Christian University. Michelle attends the Church at Lake Mead, where her husband, Brad, is a pastor.

    Michelle and Brad are busy raising their beautiful family: an adventurous Enneagram type 7 first-born, college senior, Taryn and fourteen-year-old twin girls, Carson and Mackenzie. When not parenting or counseling Michelle can often be found enjoying an endless cup of iced coffee and a good book!

Let’s do Mom Life together!

Your job as a mom is important and you are better at it than you sometimes think! That's why we created Mom Life - a place for you to celebrate the small victories and gain confidence as a mother, while drawing nearer to Jesus. A space for you to sit in the quiet with other moms and be empowered to live out your calling.

Whether you are a single mom, a new mom, a stay-at-home mom, a working mom or a foster/adoptive mom, you will be empowered by knowing you have Mom Life - a community of mommas cheering you on!