A Christian women’s retreat brings women together for meaningful connection. Not to mention personal growth, laughter, and refreshing moments. As you brainstorm and plan for an upcoming retreat, consider the audience you’ll be inviting.
- What challenges and needs do they have?
- Is there a theme or passage of the Bible your church or group is already focusing on?
- What retreat experiences have encouraged you in the past?
- What do you want the women to be saying about the retreat afterwards?
As you pray, here are categories which can help give shape to retreat ideas.
Women’s Retreat Ideas
Identity
In a culture which places value on appearances, success, and reputation, it’s helpful to renew a woman’s mind about how God sees her. The message focuses on a woman’s true identity as a citizen of heaven and God’s beloved daughter.
Purpose
Being forgiven and accepted into God’s family is the beginning of the Christian’s relationship with Jesus. Having a new identity means embracing a new purpose. The content focuses on the goal of becoming more Christlike and being a light to others through reaching out.
Relationships
Living in a broken world means relationships break down. Helping a woman navigate the friendships and family dynamics around her will encourage her to pursue forgiveness, love, and unity. The content highlights principles from Scripture about communication and heart attitudes toward others.
Story
The Bible describes the Greatest Story Ever Told from the garden in Genesis to the new heaven and earth in Revelation. Within God’s grand epic, women live their individual stories which matter to the generations. The process helps a woman reflect on and write her story of God’s faithfulness.
Womanhood
Women are created in the image of God and as a result, each woman can fulfill unique roles and responsibilities. This content provides an overview of womanhood while encouraging each woman to pursue God’s design in her unique situation and stage of life.
Endurance
Life comes with suffering, hardship, and injustice. A woman may be overwhelmed and discouraged by unexpected circumstances which are testing her faith. The messages revolve around the purpose of suffering and how to endure so that faith is exercised and hope is renewed.
Spiritual Disciplines
Seeking the presence of Christ is paramount to being His follower. Spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, journaling, meditation, and observing beauty can be incorporated to draw a woman into God’s presence. The content highlights specific disciplines and gives a woman a chance to put them into practice.
Wellness
Self-care and soul care can go hand in hand. Many women lead busy lives and as a result, they crave time to take a nap, eat healthy food, exercise, and enjoy nature. The content revolves around integrating mind, body, and soul while connecting with God.
How to Plan a Women’s Retreat
Prayer
Start with asking God’s guidance and involvement in every decision. Christine King, a lay leader on the women’s ministry team at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, agrees. “Identify a prayer team who is committed to praying regularly during the preparation,” she says.
Recruit a team
Depending on the size of the retreat, recruit one to several dozen women to serve with you. Be sure to give them specific responsibilities and let them take the reins. Larger retreats take six months or more to plan; smaller ones can be planned in two to four months. It’s better to allow more time than to be in a hurry.
Cammie Howard, Minister to Women and Youth at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, NC, offers feedback about rallying a team, “Make sure you have someone who is very detail-oriented, who can help with finances, registrations, housing, etc. I try to get a good mix of ages. We also give half off registration to women who are on the team.”
Select a date and a venue
While nailing down details of when and where, select a theme with a central message to meet the vision. If your retreat structure includes enlisting an outside speaker(s), reach out early.
Or consider asking gifted women in your community to use their teaching gifts to share content around the theme. Dr. Sandra Glahn, Professor of Media Arts & Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, shares why this is important, “Use as much local talent as possible. This is the biggest chance for most women leaders in the church to help sisters develop their talents, especially those with speaking and teaching gifts who often have no other outlets.”
Set a tentative agenda
An agenda will help guide the flow of the retreat. Plan to tweak as needed. If an emcee role will be part of the retreat, identify and ask someone.
Promote the retreat
This step may occur at the same time the steps above are being carried out. Begin with a save-the-date as soon as you determine the time and place.
Design themed items
Consider creating or purchasing items like Scripture printed on cards, bookmarks, t-shirts, and other items which reinforce the theme.
Recruit volunteers
Areas where volunteers can serve include welcoming and registration. They also may bring food or coordinate meals. Other ways to serve could be assisting in worship, technical needs, and creative outlets. Beyond the retreat schedule, make sure volunteers are ready to do tasks like distribute supplies and assist the speaker(s) in whatever way needed.
Holly Crain, former Women’s Ministry Director of Single Parent and Blended Families at Houston’s First Baptist, shares her perspective: “One of the biggest things I learned was to empower volunteers to help with planning and leading. This gave them natural opportunities to not just serve but to invest in the vision of the retreat and those who attend.”
Enjoy the retreat
Make time to connect with the women who come even as you give direction. This could be as simple as smiling at a woman and saying hello or being present during worship. At the end of the retreat while the women are in person, take time to have them fill out an evaluation by hand or in a digital form. Be sure to include a drawing for a giveaway as a fun incentive for completing it.
Putting on a women’s retreat takes effort. Yet the rewards are long lasting. Brainstorming with your team while being prayerful will bring forward Spirit-led ideas. Your partnership with God in this endeavor will bring about life change for those who attend!