On a sunny day in mid-September, 23 women gathered for a Women in Ministry Day Retreat. This is an account of that beautiful, God-potent day.

Around 9 a.m., ladies began showing up. There was a mixture of low, quiet Saturday morning energy and “I’ve already done 14 things this morning” energy. There were hugs of familiarity and brave handshakes of introduction.

Over coffee, one woman remarked that driving down the dirt road reminded her of the driveway of the camp her kids go to each summer, but that at the end of this road, was a holy time and place for her spiritual nourishment.

When we opened the retreat registration just a few weeks prior, the spots quickly filled in just four days. It was clear there was a desire for this kind of gathering. 

The day consisted of icebreakers, a reminder of our context and covenant as we come together across traditions, and our stories. 

The most meaningful part of the day for me was the group spiritual direction, where I undoubtedly experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence. We each took turns sharing the season we sense we are in, how God is showing up, and our response. The structure and what it allowed for is what I found most beautiful. It provided an opportunity for us:

• to share equally

• thoughtful or slower external processors to share without the conversation moving on before we were done 

• to see the person sharing as God sees them 

• to sit in God’s responses through others and prayerfully discern what it meant

It was in this space and through these women that I felt I was in the company of Christ, as if He was the one sharing words of encouragement, asking hard questions rooted in love and desire for goodness, affirming who I am, and providing communion with those around the table. 

Participants offered this feedback about the day. 

If you are a woman in ministry and are interested in connecting, check out our future offerings at collaborationproject.us/women-in-ministry/