For many women, the idea that the God of all Heaven and earth knows their names is a profound and touching new thought. This was the theme at the 2010 Oregon Christian Women’s Retreat, held in Florence, Ore., in October. Unpacking that theme was special guest speaker Heather-Dawn Small, Adventist world church women’s ministries director.
Guest speakers included, among others, Susie Hill, teacher at Texas Women’s University, who spoke about “My Secret Weapon” and “The Ten Things Women Should Know About Money;” Diana Fleming, co-author of The Full Plate Diet; and Angelina Wood on “Inner Healing and Wholeness in Christ.”
New this year was the invitation for teens to attend at the special rate of $25 each. About a dozen took advantage of that offer, enjoying the main retreat highlights plus a few special sessions of their own with speaker Cheri Gatton and coordinator Tawny Sportsman.
Another new feature of the retreat was a Sunday morning segment during which several women who are “making waves” for Christ were interviewed, including Linda Lydick about her community outreach initiatives in Florence; Jan Ellis, who teaches ESL in Chelan, Wash.; Bev Schultz, who is involved in prison ministries in the Bend, Ore., area; and Ginny Allen with the Care Bear project in Vancouver, Wash.
“I can't think of a retreat where the speakers were such highly dedicated Christian women, but also had the vision and skills — a world view, if you will — to reach a very broad range of people,” wrote one attendee. “I felt I could have invited my non-Adventist friends to this retreat …”
The dates and speakers for the next two years are already set. The 2011 retreat will be Oct. 14–16 with Janice Browne. For Oct. 19–21, 2012, the speaker will be Elizabeth Viera Talbot.
Some of the featured speakers for this year's Oregon Christian Women's Retreat held in Florence, Ore., are pictured here, from left: Ginny Allen, Jackie Johnson, Joyce Burkeen and Linda Lydick.
About a dozen teens attend the retreat for the first time this year, enjoying the main retreat highlights plus a few special sessions of their own with speaker Cheri Gatton (far left) and coordinator Tawny Sportsman (center, back row). Pictured here is a belated celebration of a special 16th birthday.
