Based on Lamentations 3:22-24, the theme of this year’s women’s winter retreat was “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and boy did God deliver on His promise! This past week team ABM reached new heights serving women in ministry from all around the Arctic at our annual Winter Women’s Retreat. Some of our guests traveled up to 14 hours to attend, making this year the most well attended retreat held by ABM! What an honor and joy it is to comfort, serve and equip Christian leaders.
As our team walked the grounds just before the retreat, we prayed for God’s presence to go before us. We prayed for God to help us minister to our guests and to provide just what they would need to return back home to their ministries.
Women from villages all over bush Alaska arrived on a Thursday and stayed through Sunday afternoon. Guest speaker Cindy Barlow from Samaritan’s Purse and worship leader Melissa Glaves provided the women with challenging, life-giving teaching and worship. Several volunteers from the Lower 48 and the local community pitched in to make this year’s retreat a true gift of love, care and spiritual growth.
Here are a few comments from some of the women we served at the retreat:
“…I saw God renew and refresh my soul. I saw God bring together wonderful ladies to encourage and love on each other!! It was amazing…. It has really encouraged me to get in the Word more. To also focus on Christ more. To be more Christ-like to my husband and those around me…. Thank you so much everyone at ABM. You are a blessing to me! See you again soon!”
“God opened my eyes to how easy it is to find joy in Christ, and how I’ve been lacking joy.… The wife sets the mood of the house so I feel like by having the joy of Christ, it will be really encouraging to others around me. I will be going to Christ and His Word for that joy!”
“[Some positives were] peace, friendship, pampering…. Without the daily chores and cares I was able to listen to God…. This has helped me gain perspective! Being away brings refreshment and clarity—thanks!”
“From free time conversations that went deep real fast, some women were able to challenge me on something I don’t want to let go of… I love the small group times and how God speaks to us thru so many personal stories and directly where our group needs it most…. Also, now being in a place with no church but my family and I, it was such a blessing to be here with all these godly women. I’m not all better or perfect now because of this retreat, but I am so blessed because of it. Thank you ABM ladies for serving and loving me!”
We are thankful to God for all he accomplished in the hearts of the women who attended the retreat. We are thankful as well for the ministry partners and friends who stand with us in this ministry. Thank you for your prayer and financial support that make it possible for us to provide quality pastoral care. What an immense joy to work together with the Body of Christ! If you would like to give toward future ABM pastoral care retreats, click here.