By Joni Wilkinson, Iowa WMU Director
Jean Johnson, Rolling Hills Community Church, Fort Dodge, used face paint on foam board to create the logo for the retreat.
On Friday evening and Saturday, Sept. 7-8, 2018, a group of ladies from several BCI churches attended a weekend women’s retreat at Hidden Acres Christian Camp in Dayton, Iowa.
The theme was “Beautiful.” Through worship, speaking sessions, painting, and staying on the restful grounds of Hidden Acres Camp, the women enjoyed fellowship together and contemplated the concept of beauty.
Thomas Aquinas defined “beauty” as “that which, when seen, pleases.” Jenni Miller, Southern Hills Baptist Church, Sioux City, was the retreat speaker. Through truths from God’s word and personal experience, Jenni pointed to God as the source of all beauty, and how that is seen in creation, in the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ, and how He is giving beauty in exchange for ashes in the lives of people who commit their lives to Him.
Psalm 90:17 says, “Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us.” The ladies contemplated on God’s desire to make them beautiful through their salvation experience, daily time spent with Him and in His word, and through life experiences which include difficulties, suffering, and loss.
In the last session, Jenni challenged the ladies that a beautiful, godly woman changes her world. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Amy Young, Waukee Baptist Church, led the worship times, and the ladies all enjoyed painting a mountain scene with the help of Ruth Gladwyn-Nash, an Iowa State student and member of Cornerstone Church in Ames.
The retreat was hosted by ladies from Rolling Hills Community Church, Fort Dodge, First Grace Baptist Church, Sheffield, and Iowa WMU. Other churches represented were Iglesia Comunitaria de la Colina, Fort Dodge, Van Meter Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Glenwood, Temple Baptist, Mason City, and Crestwood Baptist, Des Moines.
