Montana Christian Women’s Retreat Touches Lives, Changes Hearts "Oh, are you going to Women’s Retreat?" That was the question that sped across Montana this fall—friend to friend, by e-mail and telephone. In October 2006, 130 women from all over the state gathered at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena for the 15th annual Montana Christian Women’s Retreat. "As I first walked into the meeting room full of ladies, I wondered if I really should have come," said Laura, a first-time attendee. "But as Ginny Allen, our keynote speaker, began to talk to us, my anxiety and uncertainty vanished. I had asked God to show me in a tangible way during the weekend that He really cared about me and about decisions that I am making in my life. "You know, He did speak to me through the speaker and the workshops. But more than that He spoke to me through the simple touch of care that a lady gave me who didn’t even know me. The retreat experience has enriched my friendships with other ladies and it has assured me that God truly hears my prayers." Workshops featured Montana women, including Jolynn Gugliotto from Condon, who gave us skills for personal Bible study; Cheryl Woolsey Desjarlais from Kalispell who shared with us principles of parenting that we can use in guiding our children—toddlers through grown adults; and Jeane Allison, also from Kalispell, a nurse practitioner and expert in female issues, who gave us practical instructions and solutions for several of the most common health problems that challenge women. Elaine, who had just joined the Seventh-day Adventist church a week before the retreat, said, "A friend encouraged me to attend this special weekend. What a fantastic group of Christian ladies. I thought to myself, ‘These could all be my friends; they are my sisters in Jesus.’" If you have never attended a Christian Women’s Retreat, do plan to join us next October!
Montana Christian Women’s Retreat
Touches Lives, Changes Hearts
"Oh, are you going to Women’s Retreat?" That was the question that sped across Montana this fall—friend to friend, by e-mail and telephone. In October 2006, 130 women from all over the state gathered at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena for the 15th annual Montana Christian Women’s Retreat.
"As I first walked into the meeting room full of ladies, I wondered if I really should have come," said Laura, a first-time attendee. "But as Ginny Allen, our keynote speaker, began to talk to us, my anxiety and uncertainty vanished. I had asked God to show me in a tangible way during the weekend that He really cared about me and about decisions that I am making in my life.
"You know, He did speak to me through the speaker and the workshops. But more than that He spoke to me through the simple touch of care that a lady gave me who didn’t even know me. The retreat experience has enriched my friendships with other ladies and it has assured me that God truly hears my prayers."
Workshops featured Montana women, including Jolynn Gugliotto from Condon, who gave us skills for personal Bible study; Cheryl Woolsey Desjarlais from Kalispell who shared with us principles of parenting that we can use in guiding our children—toddlers through grown adults; and Jeane Allison, also from Kalispell, a nurse practitioner and expert in female issues, who gave us practical instructions and solutions for several of the most common health problems that challenge women.
Elaine, who had just joined the Seventh-day Adventist church a week before the retreat, said, "A friend encouraged me to attend this special weekend. What a fantastic group of Christian ladies. I thought to myself, ‘These could all be my friends; they are my sisters in Jesus.’"
If you have never attended a Christian Women’s Retreat, do plan to join us next October!
Keynote speaker Ginny Allen is a retired nurse from Oregon who has spoken at many womens retreats around the country.
From left: Deanna Harris of Bozeman, Mont., and Judy Schwab of Whitehall, Mont., were two of our womens retreat committee members.
