The Southern Oregon Christian Women’s Retreat celebrated a milestone in June. This was the 10th retreat held at lovely Milo Adventist Academy in Days Creek. The founding committee, headed by Pat Young, didn’t dare to dream, back in 2005, that the concept of a low-cost, high-quality women’s retreat in southern Oregon would be so well-received and long-lasting.
This year’s theme, “Reunion,” began as Corleen Johnson explored the way Jesus helps us deal with our past. Fonda Cox told attendees how to have peace in their present, and Tawny Sportsman spoke about preparing and staying ready for that grand reunion in heaven.
Breakout sessions included checklists for healthy relational, spiritual and physical lives and were presented by Margie Kruse, Beth Boram and Linnea Stonebraker, and Connie Allred.
This year’s outreach projects included pillowcase bags of essentials and toys for children removed from their homes and placed in foster care. A special offering was taken up for Bangla Hope, supporting the women of Pollywog Handicrafts.
Beautiful blue skies and sunshine combined with good food, meeting old and new friends, singing choruses around the oval by candlelight, an anointing service, and the traditional pajama party all intertwined to make a most memorable weekend.
The theme quotation this year was from Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen White, p. 204, and expresses the heart feelings of the members of the retreat committee: “In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history."
On Sunday morning, retreat attendees gather by the Milo bridge wearing their white scarves as symbolic “robes” of Jesus’ righteousness.
The ladies pack pillowcase bags with toiletries and toys for children taken from their parents and placed in foster homes.
Willing Hearts arrive at Milo by car. Willing Hearts is a singing group from the Valley View Church in Medford.
Cheri Corder, Oregon Conference women's ministries leader; Pat Young, Central Point Church women's ministries leader and retreat committee chairwoman; and Corleen Johnson, former Oregon Conference women's ministries leader.
