Fall Retreat
Save the Date!
Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Swanzey, NH
We invite all women, ages 18 to 108 and beyond, to join us every year for time of learning, fellowship, and personal reflection in the beautiful setting of our East Coast Conference Center, Pilgrim Pines in Swanzey, NH.
Speaker: Jennifer Shaw | Singer, Author, Speaker // With a love for people and a heart to serve God, Jennifer wants nothing more than to point people toward the One who has changed everything in her own life. Both a special needs and adoptive mom, Jennifer is also a Telly Award-winning speaker, Amazon best-selling author. Although Jennifer’s new reality has been touched by trauma and grief, it also serves as a constant reminder of the immense beauty that can be found in following God’s direction. “Through it all,” Jennifer says, “I learned that God is amazingly powerful, and that He will use all things to the good of those who love Him, even when we can’t see how that could be possible in the moment. He’s never left me or forsaken me, and He’s made me braver each day. He’s given me a front-row seat to redemption. I want everyone to know this Jesus who’s changed everything in my life.”
Price: $195 Regular // $100 Pastors and Pastor’s Wives
10 Reasons to Attend a Women's Retreat by Lori Hatcher and Jen Cudmore
1. Because it’s hard to hear God’s voice above the noise of everyday life.
When is the last time you sat before God without a To Do list hanging over you, a pile of laundry the size of Texas Stadium in the background, or family members pressing in on all sides? If you can’t remember, you need to attend a retreat. “To retreat” means to leave our normally occupied positions and go to a place of safety, quiet, and seclusion. By going to a retreat, we physically remove ourselves from life’s distractions, the call of chores, and the demands of people in order to make space for God. If you think you’re less spiritual because you struggle to hear from God in the cacophony of your daily life, be encouraged. Even Jesus recognized the value and need to get away. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus retreated.
2. Because we need each other. Faith is contagious. Just like a virulent virus, it passes from person to person through close contact. Today’s busy world allows little time for women to share faith stories, pray together, and hear biblical messages written with women in mind. As we consider and apply God’s Word together, we learn from each other’s varied backgrounds, experiences, and insights. The better we understand God, the stronger our faith becomes. Then we can strengthen others. Hearing other women’s testimonies about God’s faithfulness helps me realize that God will also take care of me. Hebrews 10:25 spotlights the value of mutual encouragement and warns us not to neglect corporate worship: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”
3. Because meeting together spurs us on to “love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). The Greek word for “spur on” is paroxusmus, which means to stir someone up. It has negative connotations, such as stirring up disagreement, but in this passage, it underscores the fact that meeting together as believers helps us love and serve God and each other better.
4. Standing side by side with our sisters in Christ, and worshipping, praying, and learning about our precious Savior makes us stronger. When I join a group of women singing praise songs to God, I experience a taste of what Heaven’s going to be like when we’re gathered around his throne. When I sit with my sisters and open God’s Word, the insights I gain as we study together add weight and credence to its truth. When I pray for others, and they pray for me, I know I’m not alone, no matter how heavy my burden is. Some years their faith strengthens me, and other years my faith strengthens them. Together we bear each other’s burdens.
5. It is always worth overcoming the obstacles to get away. When my children were young, it took a great deal of planning and preparation to be away from my family. I’d prepare meals in advance, swap carpool duties, and cash in spend-the-night favors. Some years were financially challenging, and I had to find creative ways to finance my getaways. I’d save my birthday money, squirrel away coupon savings, or apply for scholarships. Other years I’ve struggled spiritually and had to push myself to go even though I didn’t want to. I’d invite a friend to join me so I couldn’t back out or commit to carpool with friends. On every occasion, I returned refreshed, strengthened, inspired, and closer to the Lord and my sisters in Christ. I’ve never regretted attending a retreat, but I’ve often regretted not attending. If you’ve never attended a retreat, or you haven’t in a while, why not make plans to attend one? You’ll be glad you did.
6. Comfort Zones: New experiences make us braver. As believers, getting uncomfortable stretches us and makes us better people. Every Bible character we read about had to do something that required courage in order to build their faith. Leaving home for a new adventure, sleeping in a new place, driving in a strange town, talking with multiple strangers – it pushes us to be brave and resourceful.
7. We get a fresh perspective on the same old thing. While we like routine in our lives, it can become monotonous, and we often don’t realize that life has grown stagnant. Speakers we don’t normally listen to can put a new spin on the truth and help us see it from a more meaningful viewpoint. A simple change in perspective may be all we need to hear God better.
8. Visiting places out of the ordinary makes us more alert. There is something about being in an unusual location that makes us sit up and pay attention. In our normal environment, we tend to miss details or take situations for granted. When we go to new places, our senses come alive. We anticipate goodness, and marvel when we encounter it. When I attend a retreat, I’m always excited to meet the speakers and soak up all I can from them. Even though He speaks to me at home, this is different because I had a heightened anticipation of what I would learn.
9. Making new friends and connections broadens our world. Meeting new people in our hometowns is limited, especially those of us who live in less-populated areas. To encounter those who have experienced life in ways we have not is vital to growing as an individual. Everyone has a story; hearing the stories of others can inspire and challenge us in ways we never imagined. These stories change us.
10. Our faith is strengthened in truth and love. Because people who attend retreat are all going with an attitude of learning, growing and seeking, there is a sense of comradery in each session. We’re all there for the same reason: to seek more from our God. We want to know Him more and come away better equipped for our calling. For the most part, large gatherings of believers bring out the best in us; we want to love, give and help. We focus more on following God’s will, and less on ourselves.
