Recap on Spring Retreat

Spring Retreat 2011

What an amazing weekend.  We were so glad that so many of you could be a part of it.  If you were unable to attend, hopefully this will convince you that you need to be a part of this weekend next year!  We plan to hold our 2012 Spring Retreat the weekend after Easter.  Plan on it!  How could you not attend with Barb's smiling face to greet you as you come in!

We had great facilities and food at the Westin!  And not to mention beautiful decorations!

We tried several new things this year including a marketplace with proceeds going to help women in ministry around the world!  The marketplace got such positive feedback we may need to bring it back for next year!

 This year we were blessed to have Ginger Millermon as our speaker.  She is a talented speaker, author, and recording artist.  Friday night she captivated us with her singing and testimony.  She has a powerful testimony about God's miraculous healing in her son's life and an adoption of a sweet girl from India.  She shared music with us from her latest albums.  If you missed out on this check out her website for her books and CDs at http://www.gingermillermon.com/.  Her daughter has also released a CD recently.  If you're looking for music with a positive influence be sure to check her out at Ginger's website.  You can find both of them on itunes as well (her daughter is under ckenzi millermon in itunes). 

Ginger also shared with us that she will be taking two of her children on a missions trip to an orphanage in Uganda in June.  Keep them in your prayers!  For updates you can follow her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ginger-Millermon/31484061066. 

On Saturday Ginger began her series about living a Worthy Life from Colossians.  What a challenge and blessing it was to hear from her on this topic! 

Worship with Ginger on Saturday:

Between Ginger's teaching sessions we tried something new...Breakout sessions.  We gave you the option of choosing 2 breakout sessions from the 6 that were available.  We were blessed to have several speakers willing to give their time to come speak with our women. 

Debbie Hardy discussed the challenges of step parenting in one session and moderated a panel that discussed how to deal with a health crisis in your family.  Thanks to all the women who participated in that panel!  Debbie has also written a book that recently debuted that acts as a guidebook for a journey through cancer.  You can check out her blog at: http://www.steppingthroughcancer.com/, http://steppingthrulife.blogspot.com/ or at http://steppingthroughcancer.blogspot.com/. 

Debie Montoro led a session about spiritual gifts!  Several of the women wanted more information on this topic!  Debie will be leading an Oasis seminar starting on April 13th!  Don't miss out!

  Kinsey discussed ways to talk to your kids about God's plan for purity.  She is passionate about teaching parents how to do sex education for their kids! 

Great resources for how to discuss sex with your children.  Check out authors Vicki Courtney (http://vickicourtney.com/about/) and Dr. Stanton Jones for great resources on sex education for the Christian parent!

KC Dierenfield was a guest speaker from Reigning Peace Ministries.  She has a heart for leaning to solve conflict in a Godly manner and led a seminar about peacemaking in friendships.  If you would like more information about her ministry be sure to visit her website: http://www.reigningpeace.org/.

Cheryl Meakins discussed how fasting can make a difference in your spiritual walk and shared her personal testimony about the role fasting has played in her life.

Great resources about fasting:

Friends and fellowship during the retreat:

After our last session with Ginger, many women took the opportunity to stay the night again and connect with their friends!  It was a great way to deepen friendships and develop new ones!

Sunday morning started with a prayer walk that was a powerful way to recap the retreat.

The prayer walk was a personal experience with God that ‘sealed’ the work God started in the retreat.

Each of us journeyed through a time of worship, confession, communion and blessing.  The back hallway of the conference center became our chapel and God truly walked with us. 

Many women said that the prayer walk was a powerful time and perfect ending to the retreat.

Ginger was able to lead worship and share her testimony at ACC Sunday morning!  It was great to continue to worship with Ginger in that way!   It is amazing how God can use a weekend away from distractions to do His work in your heart!