Month: July 2017

Women’s Retreat Activities

Women’s Retreat Activities

A Christian women’s retreat is meant to provide women with a place be encouraged on issues that women commonly face in our world today. Women’s Retreat Activities depend basically on the theme of the retreat and the duration of the retreat. As you plan your retreat, it is advisable that you choose activities that revolve around your theme. This will help fulfil the general purpose of the retreat.

Below are some ideas of women’s retreat activities. They may not perfectly suit your purpose but you can tweak them to get that which is perfect for you.

Women’s Retreat Activities Ideas

Stress Relieving Activities

Attending a women’s retreat is an opportunity to take some time out from the stress of everyday life. You should include self-care activities when planning a retreat. For instance, providing every woman with a 15-minute massage, offering free manicures, pedicures or facial treatments, are great examples. You can include quiet time for each woman to be able to reflect. Be sure to include physical activities such as workout sessions, short group walk, a short group hike…

Games and Interactive Activities

Not everyone in attendance may be from the same local church or women group. Give the women an opportunity to get to know each other better and bond.   Include games that will make them interact with each other.
Women Retreat Activities such as Interview, Encouragement Basket, and Super Strength are great ways of breaking the ice.

The Interview game

Pair them up in groups and each woman must interview another woman she isn’t familiar with. She must ask three to five questions about the other woman and get to know her. After a while, select a woman randomly to share her findings.

The Encouragement Basket

This game involves placing a small basket full of flowers, along with small slips of paper. Provide writing utensils for each lady. Everyone is to write something encouraging about another, fold it up and then place it the other person’s basket.

The Super Strength game

This should be played towards the end of the retreat. During the game, each woman writes down what she’s observed is another woman’s greatest strength during the retreat.

Include board games that allow for interaction in the list of women’s retreat activities. Arrange for plenty of discussion in small groups, with no more than five women per group. This allows everyone to go deeper, grow closer, and build lasting relationships.

Skits, Dramas and Talks

This is another group of women’s retreat activities that will help the women grow. You should inform the speaker of the theme of the retreat beforehand. He/She must speak on topics that will help develop the women on the matter of discourse. Ensure that writing pads are available. This way, important lessons will not be forgotten easily after the retreat.

Spirit uplifting Activities

This kind of women’s retreat activities seek to build up the women spiritually. Invite a guest speaker with an in-depth understanding of God’s word. There should be special classes based on different areas. Areas such as leadership, developing ministry gifts, etc. Certificates should be awarded to women who excel in these sections too.

It’s worth mentioning that…

While compiling your list of women’s retreat activities, be sure to do a thorough research and involve your team members. They may have exceptional ideas too. This will encourage them and motivate them to contribute more to making the retreat an amazing experience.

Women’s Retreat Themes

A women’s retreat is a great way to build intimate connections, with God and with each other. A well-planned and executed retreat gives the women a lasting experience that will go on in defining their lives. Carefully choosing a theme will help you stay in line with the purpose of the retreat when planning a women’s retreat. However, the possibilities are endless and sometimes, it is difficult to get your creative juices flowing. To help you get started, we have included a few guidelines to observe while you make your choice. 

Women’s Retreat Themes: Resources

Choosing a theme that captures the purpose of the retreat is a great place to start. To get your creative juices flowing, I’d recommend that you:

  • Write down the purpose of the retreat, whom it is targeted to and what aim you’d like to achieve in the lives of the attendees. For instance, your target audience for the retreat could be women who are struggling with Self-worth. The women’s retreat theme has to be tied to the audience and their healing.
  • Your choice of women’s retreat theme should be warm and welcoming to anyone who sees it and not off-putting. It shouldn’t emphasize more on their problem, rather it should be the solution.
  • Skits can be an entertaining way to reinforce your women’s retreat theme idea. Watching some related skits that throw more light on the purpose of the retreat can help you come up with a great theme.
  • You could also read related ministry resources. This will help you create amazing themes related to the retreat.
  • Choose themes based on relevant challenges women face in everyday life.
  • Involve your pastor, team member and other women who have experience on coming up with women retreat themes. If you have someone around you who is gifted at copywriting, that will be of great advantage to you and your team.

Your Women’s Retreat Themes could be based on:

  • Specific Bible Verse that is relevant to the idea behind the retreat
  • A Specific song lyrics or title that captures the message. Using a song title as a retreat theme gives your event a memorable anthem.
  • Build an acronym from the key points your retreat stands for, and use the letters to form a catchy, memorable phrase. You can also plan the women’s retreat activities around the acronym, with each word representing a different phase of the retreat.
  • Fruits of the Spirit
  • Spiritual Gifts
  • Emotional Healing
  • Biblical Womanhood
  • God’s Purpose for the Woman
  • Communication
  • Friendships
  • Self Esteem
  • Making Choices
  • Personal Testimonies
Keep Reading: Gift Bag Ideas for Women’s Retreat

Women’s Retreat Themes – Ideas

This is a list of ideas on women’s retreat themes to aid your decision. I must emphasise that this is only a piece of the puzzle to help spark your creativity.

  • Broken yet Beautiful
  • Living Free
  • Stayed on Him
  • Clothed in Grace
  • His Masterpiece
  • MAD (Making A Difference)

  • In conclusion, use your imagination and you’ll find no shortage of amazing themes! Enlist the help of those around you to help enhance your thought. If your problem is narrowing it down, consider which idea most fundamentally represents your desired goal. Just be sure to find a theme that represents your retreat goals to the core and stick to it!

     

 

Women’s Retreat Ideas

Taking time away from home to a serene environment is every mother’s dream but most of them aren’t willing to take the risk. This is because they have their families’ needs to cater for. A women’s retreat is an opportunity for these women to get time away from home activities. The purpose of this is to help them deepen their relationship with God and bond with each other through shared experiences and various other activities. Instead of planning your women’s retreat in the routine and traditional manner, we have put together a small list of women’s retreat ideas. Try one or more of these ideas to bring life your next retreat. I hope this helps!

Women’s Retreat Ideas

Making a women’s retreat come alive is not an easy thing to do. You need to have an all-engaging schedule that feeds the women spiritually, emotionally, physically and helps them bond with each other on a personal level.

The theme of the women’s retreat should be one that helps them recharge, feel encouraged, and be spiritually fed. Before choosing a theme, it is important that you have a defined goal for the retreat. It is advised that you choose an idea targeted at challenges women face and how they can live out their God-given identity in every area of life. For instance, the theme of the retreat could be centered on prayer, healing, discovering their identity, true beauty or any other appropriate theme. Network with other people who have experience at planning women’s retreat and ask questions on theme ideas.

The activities done at women’s retreat should help them bond with each other, reduce stress from home activities, reflect on their lives, worship God, deepen their relationship with Him, receive further instruction and also encourage them on issues that women commonly face. Icebreaker games, morning exercises, and even sports activities can be part of the itinerary, helping the ladies express themselves freely and get to know each other. Other activities like seminars, group discussions, Bible studies and other spiritual growth tools can be a part of your schedule.

The curriculum to be used for study during the retreat should be rich with Bible studies content that addresses challenges women face during large and small group times. You can do an online research yourself and develop the curriculum. or you can purchase pre-written curriculum studies. Alternatively, the resource persons for the program can also provide their own material for both large and small group times. If you have the luxury of a skilled curriculum writer who can produce material for your retreat, that’d be great.

There are a wide variety of gift bag ideas for women’s retreat. The idea of gift bags is to make the women feel appreciated and take that feeling home with them. Be sure to fill these gift bags with things that are valuable; not things that can be easily disposed of. Make it personal. The retreat gift bag should speak for itself and its content as well.

To help come up with additional ideas, you can share the ideas you have with your team and church elders. Listen to their own idea. Who know, you may hear ideas different from what is included here. Remember; one can chase a thousand and two can chase ten thousand.

 

Planning a women’s retreat

Planning a women’s retreat is usually exciting at first but it can become quite challenging as you go on. Whether it is a weekend getaway with a few sisters in your local church, a group of female friends or a larger retreat organized through your church, It is important that you pay attention to every little detail even those you think are insignificant. We put this resource together to help you plan better and take the edge off.

Reason for Planning a Women’s Retreat

First things First! You need to establish the purpose for a retreat before moving forward to plan one. A retreat allows women to bond with each other through shared experiences as well as deepen their relationship with God. You get to deliberately focus on growing your relationship with God, renewing your mind with the Word and interactive sessions with other women. Jesus who is our model, engaged in personal retreats often times and this really helped His ministry. One of the benefits of engaging in this type of retreat is that you come back with a renewed sense of direction for living. It is a great way to get to know each other on a more personal level.

Tips on Planning a Women’s Retreat

While planning a women’s retreat, there are several things to keep in mind. The first and most important thing you must bear in mind is this: You cannot pull this off alone. Delegating work to other members of your team – you should have one- is key so that you do not end up frustrated. Don’t hesitate to ask for ideas that work well or considerations from anyone you know is capable in that area.

Here are some guidelines on that will be of great help to you while planning a women’s retreat:

  • Pray

A lot of people have underestimated the essence of prayers as the foundation in whatever thing you engage in. For you to succeed, you need to lay the right foundation. It is never too early to start praying. Begin by praying for members of your team, those who will attend the retreat. Pray against all that the devil may use to prevent them from coming – health, finances… It is important that you ask God for wisdom- for you and your team- even as you plan.

  • Get a Venue

If you do not have a venue in mind yet, you can add it to your prayer list so that God will lead you there. However, there are a couple of places you could consider while planning a women’s retreat.  You could hold it at your Church, recreation center, hotel, someone’s home, vacation home, a retreat center, or you can use a summer camp in the offseason. Just make sure that the location fits the activities you would want the women to engage in. For instance, a place without sports facilities or a nearby one automatically cancels out sports from the itinerary.

  • Choosing your team

This is a very crucial stage. It is important that you lay the foundation of prayers before going ahead to make your choice. You will need a general co-ordinator unless you want to assume the responsibility yourself. It is important to let the Holy Spirit guide you in these matters. Here are a few helpful tips: When choosing your team, seek out people who have a passion for connecting Women to God and bringing them closer to each other. The coordinator – if it is not you – should be one with great administrative gifts and people skills. These are just guidelines. Just trust the Holy Spirit to guide so you can discern accurately who is supposed to be on your team.

  • Cover all the Bases

    It is important that you pay attention to detail. For instance, when it comes to feeding the women, you need to have a plan. Are you having your event catered or is there another plan for food? Is your host providing food? It is important you pay attention to these details so you don’t have hungry and angry women on your plate. If your ladies will bring their own food, consider having a sign-up list so you’d know what each person is bringing. You ould also assign menus to them so 2 or more people do not end up bringing the same thing. Do not forget to put plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and napkins on the list.

In summary, here is a  checklist for planning a women’s retreat.
  • Reasons for having a retreat
  • Define the goal for this retreat
  • Choose a Theme for the retreat
  • Pick the Date range
  • Choose a suitable venue
  • Who are the Leaders and your team members?
  • What activities will the women engage in and what comprises the program?
  • Have Contingency plans in place in case of any eventualities
  • Create a Meal Plan
  • Finances: Expenses to be covered
  • Daily Schedule for the retreat
  • Transportation Plan
  • Policies: Rules and regulations to be adhered to by the women during the retreat
  • Publicity: Getting the word out!!! Social media, Handbills, and word of mouth are great ways to publicize the retreat.
  • Plans for Registration

This list is not exclusive. However, they will help you get started on planning a women’s retreat.

Women Preachers in History of The Church

Throughout history, God has used women as vessels of His work of revival on earth. These women ministered with great success at a time in history where women preachers were an abomination. They rose above the status quo of women of that time and remained faithful to God’s call. Their steadfastness, courage and deep relationship with the Holy Spirit is of great encouragement to every woman in ministry today.

Some of these women preachers include:

Kathryn Kuhlman:

Kathryn Johanna Kuhlman was an American healing evangelist and televangelist. She was one of the most influential women preachers that walked the face of this earth. Born May 9, 1907, in Concordia, Missouri, she was one of four children. She was converted, when she was 14, at an evangelistic meeting held in a small Methodist church. 

1947 was the beginning of the Healing Revival (sometimes referred to as the Latter Rain Revival). Kathryn had a weekly TV program in the 1960s and 1970s called I Believe in Miracles that was aired nationally. She had a 30-minute nationwide radio ministry of teaching from the Bible where she frequently featured excerpts from her healing services. She was diagnosed with a heart problem in 1955 and she died on February 20, 1976, in Tulsa. More of her sermons here. 

Ida B. Robinson:

Another one of the pioneer woman preachers Ida B. Robinson, paved the way for Pentecostal woman to preach. She was the first African American woman to start a denomination to ordain women. Born in Hazlehurst, Georgia on August 3, 1891, she was an American Pentecostal-Holiness and Charismatic denominational leader. When she was 17 years old, she heard the Gospel for the first time and gave her life to Christ. She was the founder, first Senior Bishop and President of the Mount Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. Robinson formed the organization in response to her vision and divine call. She secured an organizational home where women preachers would be welcomed and encouraged. She became very sick in April 1946 and died on April 20, 1946. 

Aimee Semple McPherson:

Aimee Semple McPherson [Sister Aimee] was the most publicized Christian evangelist in her time. She was a Canadian-American Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church. Born on October 9, 1890, she disappeared mysteriously on September 27, 1944. She put on theatrical church services and used ground-breaking radio broadcasts to teach the gospel.

Elizabeth Hooton:

Elizabeth Hooton was an English Dissenter and one of the earliest preachers in the Religious Society of Friends. She was born in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire in the 1600s. Elizabeth Hooton suffered a lot of persecution as the first Quaker minister. Quaker ministers were people who based their message on the religious belief that Christ has come to teach his people Himself. They stressed the importance of a personal and direct relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Beaten and imprisoned for propagating her beliefs, she kept pressing on. She challenged those who were unjust and using the opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. On January 8, 1672, she passed on peacefully.

Ivey Glenshaw Campbell:

Ivey Campbell was born on November 15, 1874, at Raccoon Township, Beaver County Pennsylvania. She was a seamstress, who became an early Pentecostal evangelist. She was one of the greatest women preachers, leader and revivalist to come out from the Azusa Street Revival in the summer of 1906. Campbell had experienced God personally in a life-changing way. After her encounter with the Holy Spirit, she traveled around ministering to others about their need for salvation, sanctification and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Negative rumors about her seemed to arouse the interest of people and bring them to her meetings where they encountered Christ. She preached and ministered in revivals throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ivey Campbell died in Los Angeles on the 26th day of June 1918 at the age of 44.

Alice Belle Garrigus:

Born in Rockville, Connecticut on August 2, 1858, Alice Belle Garrigus was a Pentecostal evangelist. She founded the Pentecostal Church in Newfoundland and Labrador. The theme of her preaching was personal salvation through Christ and his imminent return for His people. Alice Garrigus remained in Newfoundland for the rest of her life. She continued to be a principal figure in the Pentecostal church. Alice died on August 30, 1949, at Clarke’s Beach, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Maria Beulah Woodworth-Etter:

She was born on July 22, 1844, in New Life Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio. Marie was an American healing evangelist. She became born again at the beginning of the Third Great Awakening at the age of thirteen. Maria immediately heard the call of God and began preaching the Lord’s divine will in healing. Her ministry style served as a model for Pentecostalism. In 1912, she joined the young Pentecostal movement and preached widely in Pentecostal circles until her death. She helped in founding the Assemblies of God in 1914. In 1918, she founded what is today Lakeview Church (Temple) of Indianapolis, Indiana. Her health declined, and she died on September 16, 1924, honored as a woman of God.