Are you coordinating a women’s retreat and finding some women are hesitant to take the plunge? Maybe a woman who is considering signing up shares her anxiety with you. Questions about participating in a retreat are normal and can be anticipated. When you address common concerns, many women will feel comfortable joining the retreat adventure.
Concerns About Women’s Retreats
Here are barriers a woman may be facing and how to minimize her hesitations:
I won’t know anyone very well.
Women often feel everyone else at the retreat will already know each other. This feeds insecurity. Assure her she is not the only one who feels this way and the retreat actually provides an ideal setting to build new friendships.Think of another woman or small group leader who could come alongside her and if needed, connect the two of them to share in transportation and logistics.
This is my first retreat.
A woman who has not attended a retreat before could feel intimidated. She may struggle to feel like she measures up to the other women who, in her eyes, have it “all together.” Ease her fears by sharing what goes on at the retreat, including personal time she will have. Emphasize that the Christian faith is a journey. While some women have been on the journey longer, each brings her unique personality and experience to the retreat community.
My life is busy, and I am wondering if a retreat is worth my time.
When a woman is weighing her options, ask, “What are you hoping to get out of a retreat?” Depending on her answer, address the benefits of a retreat and the principles from the Bible that make a retreat time well spent.
I am wondering about the sleeping arrangements and/or I have dietary restrictions.
Women in different ages and stages can find sleeping away from home harder than others. Try to find a venue which offers multiple sleeping arrangements. For instance, venues where women can pay more for a private or semi-private room are helpful. On the registration form, ask women what dietary restrictions or other needs they have and do your best to accommodate. Another idea is to host a one-day retreat, eliminating sleeping arrangement problems as well as reducing meal planning.
I am struggling financially, to find childcare, etc.
Practical barriers like paying for a retreat and finding childcare can arise. Consider offering partial or full scholarships. Ask a woman how much she can contribute and then go from there. Brainstorm with a woman and pray with her about ways she can arrange for childcare.
How to Overcome Anxiety about Fellowship and Retreats
You can overcome anxiety about fellowships and retreats by assuring a woman that feelings of hesitancy are common. Ask her questions to discern what her barriers are. What feels challenging about attending the retreat? If she attends, what is she looking forward to? What is she hoping to get out of the retreat? Her responses shed insight on how to address her concerns.
Cast vision to the women who have signed up to invite women in their circles as a personal invite goes a long way. Another way to ease anxiety is to ask a woman who attended a retreat in the past to share. Courtney Garrett, Founder of 101 Christianity and former Women’s Ministry Director at Grace Bible Church in Houston, Texas, agrees. “Testimonials from diverse age groups help overcome anxiety,” says Garrett. “A woman can share in written or spoken form about why she was hesitant and how she had a good experience.”
Christi Smith, Women’s Minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church, highlights building trust with the women who are considering attending. “Vision casting along with transparency is important to help women trust the leadership. To get across the idea of ‘come as you are,’ consider releasing a video on social media featuring an invite without your hair or makeup done.”
Why You Should Go on a Women’s Retreat
A woman can enjoy refreshing moments with God at a retreat as she grows in her knowledge of Him and His Word. Whether she is extroverted or introverted, she can build friendships and be part of other women’s stories. Sharing the benefits of a women’s retreat encourages a woman to consider how she can move past her hesitancy.
You may address a woman’s concerns and she may delay her participation, or she may decide to take a leap to join the retreat. The important thing is that you and those in your community have taken time to know her better and extend a personal invite, leaving the outcome in God’s hands.
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