Women's Retreats

This weekend I was able to have Saturday all to myself. I so very seldom have alone time but when I do I always start thinking about what I can learn to pass on to other women for growth.  I get so excited about things that will help make a difference in the lives of women for Christ.  I love finding things that I could pass on to other women for their own ministries.  So, today I ran across Creating a Standout Women's Retreat. 

This is a conversation by two ladies who work in ministry for women and are being interviewed about tips for planning a women's retreat.  Listening to them, I was excited because it was one of the most balanced and defined conversations that I have heard to help women interested in retreat planning. These ladies discuss retreats, conferences and ways for all size churches to build and meet the needs of their ladies.  I strongly suggest you take a few minutes to listen to this podcast if you are part of a group planning a retreat OR if you just want to get excited about retreats in general.  It is excellent.  http://ministryservingministry.com/2010/03/30/creating-a-standout-womens-retreat/

Creating a stand out retreat is something many women start now to think about for spring or fall.  Retreats take a lot of careful planning but the results can be incredible and life changing.  Retreats are a great way to impact others in spiritual and relational growth in the name of Christ. As one who works at a retreat center and works with many types of womens group for retreats, I know how much it takes to put something effective together for growth and relational building.  I often talk with the committee members numerous times before they actually arrive to ensure the details are covered.

If you are interested in a retreat and plan to do one at an offsite location from your church, such as a retreat center, be sure to begin looking for a place early.  You want to be in the position of having options rather than having to compromise your desires because space is no longer available.  A good rule of thumb is to start looking no less than 6 months to a year ahead.  The size of your group will determine the time frame with which you should begin the process. If you have a group of 20-30 women you can wait longer in some cases than you can if you are planning for a  group of 100 or more.  Also, realize that certain months of the year may be more popular than others and you will need to plan accordingly in reserving your space.

If you have an interest in participating in a retreat or are in a group wanting to plan one, take time to listen to these two women from LifeWay who really know the inner workings of planning a retreat and share candidly about it. You will be inspired to step out to make a difference with your women's retreat.