2007 Ministers’ Wives Retreat
by Jennifer Lloyd
Women dream of a weekend retreat in a beautiful setting where they are treated to relaxing massages, creamy mochas, and delicious meals. This dream became a reality for 175 women during the Ministers’ Wives Retreat at Jenness Park Christian Camp held May 18-20, 2007. The theme this year, taken from Revelation 19:7, was “Beautiful, Beloved, Betrothed…Your Bridegroom Cometh.” According to Brynn Wagner the 2007 coordinator of the Ministers’ Wives, “The mission for the weekend was to provide an escape for pastors’ wives to be encouraged, to be free to worship the one who calls them beautiful and beloved, and to remember that He is returning for them.”
The Jenness Park staff provided an elaborate wedding reception atmosphere for the “Bridal Retreat” including posting gentlemen in tuxedos to greet the ladies as they arrived. Lana Sanford and Carolyn Scharmann from First Baptist Church, Manteca, laughed and said, “We drove right by the guys in tuxes. We didn’t think they could possibly be here for us. What made it even better was that they ran after us. They were determined to greet us and make us feel welcomed and special.”
“That is a great picture of the way Jesus pursues us,” commented Wagner, “Women with husbands in pastoral ministry are busy and sacrifice much of themselves. We want them to remember how loved they are by the Savior who sacrificed Himself for them.”
Roxanna Grimes from Shoreline Baptist Church in Fountain Valley has come to eight Ministers’ Wives retreats. She expressed appreciation at the special features provided during the weekend, “Every time I come to this retreat, God meets me here. Being pampered and having things done for me gives me time to think and pray through needs and concerns.”
Women attend this weekend for various reasons. Lana Sanford and Carolyn Scharmann attended the weekend as partners in ministry. “We made a pact to make this weekend a priority. We are spending some time praying for each other and for our church,” said Scharmann.
Isabel Patton from Bethel Baptist in Concord remarked, “I came overwhelmed and exhausted from a tough five months, and I will leave filled, refreshed, stuffed and blessed.”
The worship services were a highlight for many of the ladies. Rocio Watkins lead the music, and Dori Drabek was the speaker. Drabek, a dramatist and pastor’s wife, endeared herself to the women with heartwarming monologues and personal stories. In her opening address, Drabek encouraged the ladies, “I am regular, flawed, and often in need of a retreat myself. My pantyhose run and so does my nose. I hope that you find me as someone who understands.”
In her message Friday evening, Drabek shared how God had brought her from ashes to beauty. Her topic was taken from Isaiah 61:1-3, and her focus was on God’s transforming power.
The Saturday morning message focused on Hannah and the way God brought her from her place of bemoaning to her realization that she was beloved of God.
Saturday evening Drabek looked at the theme of betrothal. Using the setting of the death of Lazarus, Drabek pointed out that Jesus asked Martha the question that He poses to us all. “He POPS the BIG question!” exclaimed Drabek. In John 11:25 Jesus basically asks Martha, Do you believe in Me? Once we answer with a “YES!” we are His betrothed. Drabek followed up on Sunday morning by reminding the group that the Bridegroom will return for His betrothed.
Along with the inspiring worship services, the ladies were able to attend their choice of seminars with topics ranging from “The Runaway Bride: Have You Lost Your First Love?” to “Battered and Bruised: Dealing with Conflict in the Bride of Christ.” For the first time this year, some of the seminars were offered on Friday afternoon. There was also a Spanish track of seminars for the thirty women coming from Spanish speaking churches.
For those women seeking adventure, the midnight zipline was available as were the new go-carts. The ladies with a flair for drama and fashion participated in the Talentless Show and PJ Fashion Show. Many of the ladies also expressed appreciation for the time that they were able to spend in groups chatting with women in similar ministry positions in their churches.
After reflecting upon the benefits of the weekend, Maisha Dottery from St. John’s Baptist Church in Sacramento likened the experience to a family reunion. “This has been one of the most loving experiences I have ever had. The women here are the under-girders of the men who are doing the Lord’s work in our churches. I’ve been to many retreats, but this has been an awakening,” expressed Dottery.
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