News from Eastern District past events



2007 Events:

Leadership Training Conference
Tuscarora Retreat 2007:
Using Biblical examples, and personal stories, Cheryl emphasized that God brings good out of the "junk" in our lives, as we allow Him to work in us.

"The Tale of the Refugees: Naomi and Ruth" - Melting grief and bitterness
"Who in the world is Aristarchus?" - Journey from insignificance to importance
"Two Men and a Kid: Paul, Barnabas and John Mark" - Broken plans; God's plans
"A Better Boaz" - Acceptance of a challenge to change
2006 Events:

Spring event:

Our format was new this year, with our time spent mainly in prayer for each of our women’s groups in our district, and a time of sharing “ideas that work” in an effort to encourage each other. This new format was well received, and we will be doing more prayer for each other in the future as a result.

We also had a time of praise and worship led by ladies from Huntington, and a wonderful luncheon. We had a low turnout, but are confident that those who were in attendance were who God wanted to be there.

Tuscarora Women's Fall 2006 Retreats

LIVING WITH BROKEN DREAMS

The Eastern District Women’s Ministry Fall Retreat was, as usual, a wonderful time for getting in touch with our Lord and Savior and “retreating” away from our busy lives. There was time for laughter, time for prayer, time for learning, time for crying, time for reflecting and time went quickly.

Our speaker, Barbara Fletcher, is the pastor of adult ministries at Salem Alliance Church, Salem, Oregon, overseeing 1000+ Bible Studies among her other responsibilities. Barbara shared her life with us on the first night and how God carried and guided her through her broken dreams. She shared family photos, childhood dreams and the devastating loss of her husband.

Throughout the weekend, we learned of the broken dreams of Jacob that pressed him closer to the heart of God. We learned of Rachael, who unlike Jacob, looked in the wrong places for help, and was discontented, bitter, and jealous. We then learned about Leah’s broken dreams, and how God changed her from wanting love to wanting honor from Jacob. Out of Leah’s son, Judah, came the Lord Jesus Christ’s lineage. We all have broken dreams, but we also have a choice to be like Jacob and Leah and turn to God always, or to be like Rachel, discontented, bitter, and jealous. Don’t we all want to grow in our trust and faith in God for the next broken dream that will come?

Our Missionary speaker for the retreat was Rachel Venberg, who with her husband, Dan and children Gabe, Sylvia and Tevianna is a missionary serving in Doh, Chad, Africa. The Venbergs are on home assignment until April 2007 when they return to Chad. Rachel shared her prayer that her friends in Africa will be with her in heaven one day. Chad is one of the poorest nations (in the bottom 5), and most of the unreached people groups are Muslim. They live among the Fulbe people who are mostly nomadic. Rachel and Dan spend their time building relationships. Rachel shared the heart wrenching experience of Dan and Sylvia getting sick. How it would take 4 hours to get them to a hospital and how it seemed near impossible – since the airstrip where the plane would land that would have to get them there was 2 hours away by oxcart, canoe and car. She was in a dry place. She shared how she doubted, she cried out to God, and how others prayed for her, how God worked miracles and brought her out of her “dry place.” Praise God for what He is doing in Chad, Africa.

Before our weekend began, the EDWM were notified of our mission’s fundraiser, the “Spare Change Project.” We were all asked to collect spare change in our churches and bring it to the retreat to be donated to our missionaries. During the course of the retreat, we had many fun times, raising additional change for missions. On the last evening we had a “Missions March” where we all marched forward with our spare change, singing and dancing. We had a blast, and God multiplied the monies to more than we have ever raised!

Part of our retreat included a business meeting, where our new officers were elected. Continuing as president is Alyssa McIvor, and as secretary is Karen Lawson. Outgoing vice-president is Ruth Christenson and outgoing treasurer is Elsie Stoutland. Our new vice-president is Linda Scragg and our new treasurer is Nancy Sinclair. Thank you to Elsie and Ruth as outgoing officers for their hard work as they served the Lord through Women’s Ministries.


2005 Event:

On November 2-6, the women of the Eastern District gathered for our annual retreat at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center, Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania. Some women came during the week (Nov. 2-4), and others came for the weekend (Nov. 4-6). Our speaker was Rhea Briscoe – a passionate woman with a heart for sharing the truth of God's Word and its promises with other women. She challenged us to let its truths be A Spa for the Soul, which was our retreat theme.

Our missionary speaker was Kirsten Holzner, from Chad, Africa. She shared pictures and stories of the ministry that she and her family have, and of how God has worked in powerful ways to draw the Bilala people to Himself. We were all challenged to re-think our view of what God is capable of doing, and to trust that He can indeed do anything, through any of us, if we are willing.

With some tears, we said goodbye to our district president, Barb Westfall, and now look forward to seeing how God will use her in the future. We will miss her, but are grateful for her service and enthusiasm for the Lord, and for Women's Ministries. We are all looking forward to our next retreat, Nov. 1-5, 2006! God is always at work when we gather in His name. All praise and glory to Him!

-Alyssa McIvor, new Eastern District President