Our Story
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15)
In 2017, writers Michelle Van Loon and Amanda Cleary Eastep launched ThePerennialGen.com in order to amplify the voices of women and men at midlife and beyond. Van Loon had been writing about spiritual formation in the second half of life for several years on sites including Christianity Today, Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog, and on her own website. She was a contributor to author Leslie Leyland Fields's 2018 book of essays entitled The Wonder Years: 40 Women Over 40 on Aging, Faith, Beauty, and Strength. She worked with Leslie to create a framework for an in-person gatherings addresssing the unique needs of older women of faith, who often found themselves feeling sidelined in their local churches as they faced empty nests, increased caregiving responsibilities, health challenges, and more. They were able to have one Wonder Years Gathering in February, 2020 just weeks before Covid-19 shutdowns took effect, and were able to host a well-regarded online event focused on practical peacemaking in family, church, and world. In 2020, Michelle released her book about midlife spiritual formation, Becoming Sage: Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife.
Because the mission of ThePerennialGen.com and the Wonder Years Gatherings are so closely-aligned, we brought them together. The Sage Forum is the result. It is the goal of the Sage Forum team to resource and strengthen maturing women so they can continue to deepen their faith and live with purpose, intention, and hope in this rich, complex season of life.
We believe whole-life discipleship is a life-long pursuit (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). We affirm maturity is not an age or stage, but describes the loam of spiritual formation and life experience that leads to ongoing fruitfulness; which is to say, a life marked by ongoing increasing wisdom and love (Proverbs 3, 1 Corinthians 13).
The mission of The Sage Forum is to equip, encourage, and empower women over 40 to their true place in the kingdom as sage women rich in experience and wisdom.
Equip
Our monthly newsletter is packed with information and inspiration designed to address the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of women in their Wonder Years.
Encourage
The Sage Forum offers a menu of online book clubs and seminars led by faith-filled subject matter experts. There are plans in the works for future small-scale regional gatherings, too.
Empower
Support for those looking to create and sustain meaningful spiritual formation for women over 40.
- Coaching
- Resources
- Access to speakers
- Programming helps
From the first ever Wonder Years Gathering, Mt. Hermon Conference Center, CA in February, 2019.
Our Team
Michelle Van Loon
Michelle Van Loon
Michelle Van Loon
Since coming to faith in her Messiah during the Jesus Movement, Michelle Van Loon’s Jewish heritage, spiritual hunger, and storyteller’s sensibilities have shaped her faith journey and informed her writing. She is the author of seven books including Becoming Sage: Cultivating Maturity, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife and Translating
Since coming to faith in her Messiah during the Jesus Movement, Michelle Van Loon’s Jewish heritage, spiritual hunger, and storyteller’s sensibilities have shaped her faith journey and informed her writing. She is the author of seven books including Becoming Sage: Cultivating Maturity, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife and Translating Your Past: Finding Meaning in Family Ancestry, Genetic Clues, and Generational Trauma. Click here to visit her website.
Carole Duff
Michelle Van Loon
Michelle Van Loon
Carole Duff is a veteran teacher, flutist, and writer of narrative nonfiction. She posts weekly to her long-standing blog Notes from Vanaprastha, has written for The Perennial Gen, Streetlight Magazine’s Blog, and Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog. She is working on a book titled Wisdom Builds Her House.. Carole lives in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mou
Carole Duff is a veteran teacher, flutist, and writer of narrative nonfiction. She posts weekly to her long-standing blog Notes from Vanaprastha, has written for The Perennial Gen, Streetlight Magazine’s Blog, and Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog. She is working on a book titled Wisdom Builds Her House.. Carole lives in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband Keith Kenny, also a writer, and three overly-friendly dogs. You can find her website here, and her Twitter feed here.
Rachel Campbell
Rachel Campbell
Rachel Campbell
Rachel Campbell is from the UK; she is married to New Zealander Grant and they have three children. In recent years she has undertaken a ministry course and an MA in Theology. Rachel believes God’s gift of life in all its fullness is found in family, friendships, community, and God’s wonderful Word and world. Her Twitter feed is linked here, and her Instagram account is here.
Dorothy Greco
Rachel Campbell
Rachel Campbell
Dorothy Littell Greco is the author of Making Marriage Beautiful and Marriage in the Middle. When she’s not writing or making photos, she loves to kayak and hike with her husband. You can find more of Dorothy’s work on her website. Follow Dorothy on Substack and on Instagram.
Judy Allen
Rachel Campbell
Sharla Fritz
Judy Allen is a writer and a Bible teacher and who explores transforming faith, relationships, theology, books, culture, and the intersection of vocation, work, and Christianity. She has been published in Fathom Magazine, The Institute for Faith Work and Economics, Open the Bible, Perennial Gen, iBelieve, and has been writing her personal
Judy Allen is a writer and a Bible teacher and who explores transforming faith, relationships, theology, books, culture, and the intersection of vocation, work, and Christianity. She has been published in Fathom Magazine, The Institute for Faith Work and Economics, Open the Bible, Perennial Gen, iBelieve, and has been writing her personal blog for over ten years. She lives near Chicago with her husband, Dan, has three adult children, five grandchildren, and enjoys entertaining, traveling, hiking, and reading. Connect with Judy on Instagram or her blog.
Sharla Fritz
Pamela Nichols
Sharla Fritz
Sharla Fritz is a Christian author and speaker who weaves honest and humorous stories into life-changing Bible study. Author of eight Bible studies including Measured by Grace, God’s Relentless Love, and Enough for Now, Sharla writes about God’s transforming grace. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her amusing pastor husband. You can
Sharla Fritz is a Christian author and speaker who weaves honest and humorous stories into life-changing Bible study. Author of eight Bible studies including Measured by Grace, God’s Relentless Love, and Enough for Now, Sharla writes about God’s transforming grace. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her amusing pastor husband. You can connect with Sharla on her website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
Pamela Nichols
Pamela Nichols
Pamela Nichols
Pamela Nichols is a former journalist who believes the right word at the right time could change your life. She writes Christian fiction and non-fiction exploring challenging family, spiritual and societal themes. She also hosts the Healing Words podcast, where she interviews authors whose work models healing and growth. A former homescho
Pamela Nichols is a former journalist who believes the right word at the right time could change your life. She writes Christian fiction and non-fiction exploring challenging family, spiritual and societal themes. She also hosts the Healing Words podcast, where she interviews authors whose work models healing and growth. A former homeschool mom, she lives in Hampton Roads VA. Contact her at her website, on Facebook or at her YouTube channel.