Michigan State Women Active for Christ. Special Retreat Edition!

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1 Michigan State Women Active for Christ NEWSLETTER 2012 Retreat Edition Michigan State WAC Executive Board: Officers: President: Mattie Riley Vice President: Sherry McBroom Sec y/treas: Pauline Penix Ass t Sec y/treas: Angela McGinnis Field Worker: Katy Taylor Ass t Field Worker: Rosemary Fairchild Members at Large: Fellowship District Donna Riley Liberty District Joyce Kincaid West MI District Geraldine Muncy Wolverine District Susan Newton Inside this issue: Special Retreat Edition! 2012: Michigan WAC Annual Retreat by Sherry McBroom I can t tell you how many times I heard some sister say at the retreat this was a wonderful theme. The theme, A Woman of Many Hats using Proverbs 31:10 as the theme verse, provided a broad range of topics. The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 certainly was a resourceful woman and the example God gave each of us to follow. There were 136 women who attended the week-end retreat and 138 present for the banquet. Forty women attended the Thursday night prayer room led by Kim Slater, Rouge FWB. This year Kim did something a ing out of friends that had not been seen since last year! Ladies also perused the used book table before the meeting and whenever there was a break from the meetings. Thank you to all the ladies who continue to bring their books so they can be purchased by others. A very special thank you to those faithful sisters who haul those boxes of books back and forth, set up the tables and work at sales during the retreat! Your dedication is appreciated. Rebekah Seymour, Central FWB, led our music during the Our seminars spoke to the characteristics of the Virtuous Woman. Mary Johnson, North Warren FWB, presented our first seminar The Charitable Woman. Sherry Young, Trinity FWB, A Woman of Many Hats! Editor: Sherry McBroom North Warren FWB slmcbroom@comcast.net little different. Rather than everyone giving their prayer requests out loud, a few were taken, but then each of us wrote our special request on an index card, put them in a basket, and then drew someone s card before we left. We were asked to pray for that person s request. Thank you Kim for leading this prayer group and allowing the Lord to touch our hearts and get us ready for a great retreat! Friday morning started as usual with registration and the seek- sessions. As always, she was full of energy and kept the ladies moving! President, Mattie Riley, Rouge, FWB, welcomed the ladies and shared that she wasn t feeling stable on her feet (as a result of past medical issues) and would be asking Sherry McBroom, VP, North Warren for assistance during the retreat. After the recognition of guests, we were blessed by the song He s Alive (Lauren Talley version) by Marji Penix, Woodhaven FWB. (Picture at top of next column). spoke to us about the Christian Woman using a display of Christian hats that were associated with friends and family. Her daughter, Nicole, assisted her with the display. Continued on page 2

2 MI WAC Newsletter Now on State Association website: Look for the WAC tab and find updates and our newsletter. Annual Retreat Continued! The ladies from Heritage FWB did a funny skit about a woman (Laura Landrum) who went to the doctor to get fitted for something! She was apprehensive so sought the advice of the ladies sitting in the waiting room. Laura spoke about the Creative Woman. Page 2 from we just had to try it all! Sis. Pauline Penix, Secretary, did a great job with the menu selection as always. We appreciate WNAC for all they do for FWB women and missions. Thank you! Those observing had no idea what they were referring to until the end, and you could hear the ladies in the assembly whispering what are they talking about? It was so comical! As the nurse asked her (Laura) questions, a different hat was added to Laura s head. She also had a display of items that creative ladies had made, explaining the various ways we can use our creative talents. The morning session ended and the afternoon was spent in free time with many resting, reading or shopping. It was different to see the hallways filled with ladies all donned in their beautiful hats on the way to the evening service. Even the hotel guests wondered what was going on! The banquet started with a game Pass the Poem, written by Sue Newton, Pontiac, FWB and Mattie and Sherry drew After all those calories, it was certainly fitting that Rebekah led us in a song that had us clapping! And now on the sentimental side! Two of our precious ladies serving as officers informed us at our State Meeting in April that they felt it was necessary to step down from their positions: Sis. Mattie Riley, our President and Sis. Pauline Penix, Secretary/Treasurer. They have both served our MI WAC faithfully and sacrificially. So we had planned a surprise for them, and a surprise it was. Katy Taylor, Field Worker and VP elect, gave a little history on Finally, the doctor appears and it s clear what Laura needs to wear all those hats! A neck brace! names for door prizes. Thank you to the Executive Board for their donation of the gifts for prizes. Next, was the banquet meal! each lady sharing some facts about their journey of service over the years. WNAC P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN Thanks ladies for the entertainment. You did a great job with a skit that was so appropriate for our theme! After the skit, our third and final seminar was presented by Laura Jones, Southgate FWB. There was so much to choose Continued on page 3

3 Free Will Baptist International Missions Mailing Address P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN Phone (615) Annual Retreat Continued! The ladies were asked to come forward and were presented with a gift from the MI WAC ladies, a beautiful coffee table edition of the book Into the Darkness which shares the history of Free Will Baptist Missons over the past 75 years. began she gave us an update. Joann Baker, Rouge FWB, blessed us with a couple of special songs before Elizabeth presented the message. the morning worship. Page 3 Thank you Rebekah, for all you do to inspire us through music Please pray for our Missionaries Sis. Pauline was surprised even further when it was brought to her attention that she had special guests standing in the back. While they had been there the entire time of the presentation, she did not notice that her husband, son and grandson had slipped in. A photo op was missed when she finally realized they were there! She was so surprised, she had to sit down and the closet place was the stage. Her daughter and granddaughter were present for the banquet. Here s a picture of her when she joined them after the presentation. We were blessed and touched as Sis. Elizabeth shared her message with us on the many hats of a Godly woman. She shared a copy of her power point presentation with each lady so notes could be taken. during our state meetings. You are a blessing to us! Sis. Elizabeth presented the morning devotion before brunch was served. Thank you for giving of your time to share this week-end with us, Elizabeth. You were such a blessing to all of us and we are grateful that we had the opportunity to spend more time with you and get to know you better. Brunch was served! While the Tim and Kristi Johnson tjohnson@fwbgo.com Verlin and Debbie Anderson vanderson@fwbgo.com Steve and Becky Riggs sriggs@fwbgo.com It was also a special treat to have Sis. Mattie s sister, Joy Price and her niece, Jackie Freeman present at the entire retreat to share this time with her. Next on the program was a special report from WNAC. We were privileged to have the Executive Director, Elizabeth Hodges as our guest speaker for the retreat and before the devotional part of the service The evening concluded with the location assignments for prayer rooms and everyone was encouraged to attend the one that was most fitting to their individual needs. Our retreat concluded Saturday but not before we had a blessed morning. We started with some songs led by Rebekah and even though some were tired, she had selected songs that got our hearts in tune for tables were being dismissed, ladies had the opportunity to visit and catch up on conversation. Continued on page 4

4 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19 & 20 Local WAC Auxiliaries: Are you working on Your provision closet items for 2012/2013? Annual Retreat Continued! One of the most looked forward to sessions of our retreat is the Praise and Worship. After a wonderful week-end of fun, food, fellowship and spiritual blessings, it seems only appropriate to close our weekend thanking and praising our Heavenly Father for His goodness. Donna Locklear, Woodhaven FWB, led the Praise and Worship as she has the past several years. Donna led us in song accompanied by Rebekah on the piano. She read scripture between some of the praise songs and we had a glorious time in worship. other locations to be presented to the ladies. We have chosen the most economical location during these difficult times when many are out of work and have been struggling. But, we will do our best to provide some other options for you to vote on. Please be much in prayer regarding this. A Great Big Thank You to the Heritage FWB WAC for the lovely notepads and pen given to each lady at the retreat! We appreciate your generosity Some Candid Photos! Page 4 Jeff and Charissa Isaacs pastorjeffisaacs@yahoo.com Greg and Lea Floars g.floars@yahoo.com Donna closed our retreat with a beautiful prayer and ladies left with tearfilled eyes and hearts filled with the beautiful messages and all the blessings of the retreat. As I think back on this retreat I realize we will never be in this particular setting again. Even as we look forward to the next year, there will be new ones attend and some of those present this year will not be able to attend. A realization that we need to embrace every moment God gives us in love and gratefulness! This retreat touched my heart! Our 2013 retreat has been scheduled for September 27 & 28 in Perrysburg. The Executive Board will be looking into Continued on page 5

5 Free Will Baptists National Home Missions Mailing Address P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN Phone Toll Free: (877) (615) Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Prayer Room Recaps Elsie Anderson, Central FWB: The Caregivers Prayer Room had six attendees. Each individual was asked to participate in sharing their particular involvement as a primary care giver. Three of the attendees were widows and could share their experience gained from caring for their loved one; one was involved in ministry and visitation to nursing home residents; a pastor's wife and a member of her congregation shared their concern for a sister in their church who was evidencing some beginning signs of dementia/or other illness; another shared the need for wisdom as they made decisions regarding care for aging parents who could no longer cope with health issues. After discussion and prayer, each attendee was given a handout listing Bible references and Christian books to read for spiritual and practical help to sustain them through this difficult time. Verbal encouragement to seek Christian-based legal counsel was given to ones who seemed to have a need for it. Kim Slater, Rouge FWB: The Minister s Wives prayer room was attended by 5, which included me. We basically discussed how each of our churches are being challenged by the economy, different outreach programs we are involved in and specific needs both corporately and as individuals. I can see that interest in the prayer rooms is waning. Attendance is way down! I still enjoy getting together, meeting new ladies, encouraging them that they are not alone. Can I say also how much I personally appreciate Mary Johnson. She has always been a rock of sweet encouragement & blessings to me. Just good common Christian sense. Barb Osborne, Woodhaven FWB: My prayer room was for Working Women. I had two women attend and one of the two I roomed with, so, I believe many did not attend the prayer rooms that night. Unfortunately, we may be seeing a sign of the times. I pray not. It would have been easy to just sit and "chat" about this, that and the other, but, I insisted on going ahead with the planned agenda. I figured, if the Lord led one to come, the least I could do was deliver His message. Mostly I talked and read a devotion about women who work, but, don't or can't find the time to spend with the Lord. It was mostly about the importance of making time to be with the Lord to have "balance" in your life. This update is not exactly uplifting, but, this is how it was. We ll be praying for a better turnout next year. From: Sherry McBroom I only received these three prayer room updates although I was expecting a couple more. I encourage you to still send your recap to me for the November/ December newsletter. In addition to these comments, a few prayer room leaders at the retreat indicated that attendance was down considerably this year. This is concerning in a time when many of our children and grandchildren are lost, the economy is broken, churches are struggling, and our Christianity is being attacked. If ever we needed to pray, it is NOW! Satan trembles when he sees, a child of God on her knees. Love you all! Page 5 More Memories Made! Continued on page 6

6 Page 6 More Pictures... Some mine, and some received from other ladies! Annual Retreat! Holiday Inn, French Quarters Perrysburg, Ohio September Applications will be given out at the State Meeting at Heritage FWB, April 20, View all pictures on our MI WAC Facebook Page! Thank you to those who contributed articles and pictures for this special edition of the newsletter. Stay tuned for the November/December regular edition!