Women can wear many hats: daughter, mother, friend, coworker, wife or girlfriend, caretaker, pickleball partner. With multiple roles to juggle, most women struggle to build time into their schedules to slow down. Sometimes it’s just the hassle of figuring out where and how she can do so. A women’s retreat is a unique opportunity to carve out time to renew perspective and connect with God and others.

What will you get out of a women’s retreat?

Connection with Others

Whether introvert or extrovert, a woman needs to know she is not alone in the journey of life. A retreat is a focused time to be with other women who are also pursuing time to reflect and learn. By providing space for organic and intentional conversation, women can enter into each other’s stories and challenges. This experience of sharing the journey, even for a short time, lightens a woman’s burdens. Many times friendships are built which last beyond the retreat.

Connection with God

A women’s spiritual retreat is designed to help a woman pursue her relationship with God through study of the Scripture, worship, and discussion about applying Biblical truth to her circumstances. Taking time to listen for God’s voice and set her mind on the spiritual realm helps produce spiritual growth.

Time to Pause

A retreat usually lasts a day or several days. The break from everyday routines to focus on spiritual truth, fun moments, and like-minded community provides huge benefits. Christine King, a lay leader of the Women’s Ministry Team at Trinity Presbyterian in Charlottesville, Virginia, weighs in. “Someone else plans your experience so you can just show up—if you go away alone, you have to plan all the details.”

Stretching Herself

Attending a retreat may feel awkward and out of a woman’s comfort zone, especially if she doesn’t know anyone else. When a woman braves the uncertainty and leans into the experience, she may come away with more confidence in God and new insight to apply to her life and relationships.

How to choose a women’s retreat?

Retreats come in all shapes and sizes. When deciding which one to attend, consider the following factors:

• Community.
  A retreat is a great opportunity for a woman to invest time in getting to know and being known to others in her small group or church community. Retreats can also be an avenue to help women who have not been part of a community to become involved. Dr. Sandra Glahn, Professor of Media Arts & Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, emphasizes, “I’ve heard it said one can do a year’s worth of relationship building in a one-weekend retreat. I suspect it’s more than a year’s worth.”
• Theme and topic.
  A woman who has a draw to explore a certain theme can look at retreats which revolve around a central message like forgiveness, storytelling, emotional healing, or a silent retreat. A retreat where a woman will likely not see the participants again will feel different than one she is attending with her community.
• Location and Activities.
  A woman may want to travel to enjoy scenery or a specific setting which provides outdoor activities like hiking or biking. She may aim to learn a skill or sport like knitting, watercolor painting, tennis, or communication skills. She may ask a friend or two to join this type of retreat.

What do women have to say?

“I really needed this sweet encouragement in this season. I’m grateful for this opportunity!” Janae, Sacred Story Retreat, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Virginia

“The messages were so rich. I feel like I just had a big steak meal, like three times in a row!” Liz, The Belong Conference, Houston’s First Baptist Church, Texas

“It really felt like our group of women bonded as we leaned into the message and encouragement of Colossians.” Kim, Christ Community Church Retreat, Idaho

“This retreat was the catalyst to reignite our women’s ministry.” Leslie, New Vida Church of God Retreat, Texas