Jarena Lee Preaching Academy student iNFORMATION page

On-Site Questions for WomanPreach! Inc. Program Team

Ava, Jené, and Dean Carla will be around throughout the week if you have any questions or need anything. If you have a question and we’re not immediately around, text the team at 513-916-1260, and one of us will respond. This number is the best way to ask a question because all three of us will be checking it, and you don’t have to wait to find someone if you have a quick question or need. We will be checking messages from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. You may text us any time, and we will respond between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm daily. We encourage you to use each other as a resource. The Participant WhatsApp Group is a great place to ask each other questions.

Lodging

All participants will be staying in the DeWire Residence Hall. You will receive a digital room key to access the building and your room. The JLPA Team will inform you when to look out for this communication. Please note, there is no elevator in the DeWire Residence Hall.

Schedules

You can find a color-coded grid schedule here: 2026 Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Grid Schedule.

Arrivals, Check-In, and Departures

Due to the myriad factors affecting flights and the time required at airports, we are allowing students to arrive on Saturday, June 13, 2026, beginning at 1 pm. You may check into your room beginning at 1:00 pm ET on Saturday, June 13th. Please check your flight for any changes and share them if they occur. MTSO’s campus is approximately 40 - 60 minutes from the airport. We highly encourage you to use the Participant WhatsApp Group to share rides to and from the airport.

Meals

Our first meal together will be at 6:00 pm on Sunday. No meals will be provided before this time. There are many wonderful restaurants accessible by car near campus, and meal delivery apps such as DoorDash and GrubHub deliver to campus. All breakfasts are Monday - Saturday, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. All lunches are Monday - Friday, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. All dinners are Sunday - Friday, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Our last program meal will be breakfast on Saturday. All meals are included for JLPA Participants.

Weather

Weather in the Midwest can vary widely in the summer (even on a single day). Please check the weather frequently and prepare for heat, humidity, heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, sun, and cooler days. Please also be mindful of the UV index and air quality. These conditions can be challenging, especially in the Midwest summer humidity.

Photography

We will have a professional photographer with us for the entire week. All photos will be used for WomanPreach! Inc. digital and print materials, as well as historical records. No individual audio or video recording of sessions is allowed. Please let Jené know if you have any questions. Please share quotes or photos online only after obtaining permission from those you are documenting. Please tag WomanPreach! Inc. to all posts on social media.

What to Pack

MTSO will provide linens (sheets and towels). There is also a laundry room on-site in DeWire that you may use if needed. Pack comfortable clothing. We are coming together to practice, be in community, and rest. Wear what would make you most comfortable in a working space. Bring something all-black to wear on Thursday to participate in “Thursdays in Black.” Please save your Jarena Lee Preaching Academy t-shirt for Friday. Be prepared to walk outside between buildings and be inside air-conditioned classrooms. Layered options are always wise during the summer in the Midwest. Many buildings are on a single system, so individual classrooms and larger meeting spaces, such as the Centrum, Dining Hall, and Walnut Room, are more difficult to adjust. You may find that those spaces are quite chilly. Feel free to bring your laptops and/or iPads to take notes and engage in sermon writing. A notebook, water bottle, and pen will be included in your JLPA Welcome Bag. You may also bring games or cards, as there will be ample free time and dedicated time on Sunday and Wednesday to meet and spend time with the other participants. If you want to use a physical Bible, please bring it with you.

A Note on Rest

WomanPreach! Inc. is committed to liberating beliefs about our need to rest. We have intentionally designed this experience to include significant blocks of free time. There will be a lot of content and learning. It is good for the mind, body, and soul to rest after engaging the curriculum from our plenaries and cohort sessions. We also know Black women are not offered the space and time to rest often enough. This week, please get extra sleep and catch up on your favorite shows. Watch a movie you haven’t had the time to. Bask in the sun outside. Go on a local adventure uninterrupted in whatever delights you during your free time.

All Links
JLPA Student WhatsApp Group
Grid Schedule
MTSO Campus Map