“Home” will be the theme of the 2018 Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) Women’s Retreat. The retreat will take place at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center April 20-21.
Women who attend the always-anticipated Women’s Retreat can look forward to the teaching of Kay Arthur, Katherine Wolf and Ruth Chou Simons.
Arthur is an international Bible teacher, award-winning author and co-founder of Precept Ministries International. “I am thrilled to have Kay Arthur at the Women’s Retreat. Her Bible studies have made a huge impact on my life and many other women. I am also excited to introduce the other speakers to our state! They are incredible authors and godly women who are making a beautiful impact for Christ,” said Amy Cordova, BGCO Women’s Missions and Ministries specialist.
Kay Arthur’s exciting, practical approach to studying the Scriptures has influenced thousands to use the Precept™ Inductive Bible Study Method in their personal studies. Her distinguished Christian character, Bible teaching, championing of Biblical literacy and national radio and television programs motivate others to discover truth for themselves. Arthur’s passion is for people to be established in God’s Word.
Katherine Wolf is a survivor, storyteller, advocate and evangelist. In 2008, at the age of 26, Wolf nearly died from a catastrophic brainstem stroke. Her survival and recovery have been nothing short of miraculous. Katherine and her husband, Jay, are in full-time ministry together through Hope Heals, leveraging their story to encourage those with broken bodies, broken brains and broken hearts. They co-authored their first book, “Hope Heals” and currently reside in Los Angeles with their two sons, James and John.
Ruth Chou Simons is an artist, author, entrepreneur and speaker. Simons is most interested in how the Gospel intersects her daily life and longs to see beauty and truth together in any creative medium. Simons’ first book, “GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart” was released on Sept. 1, 2017 with Harvest House Publishers. Simons is a mom to six young boys and wife to Troy, with whom she leads GraceLaced’s “small -but-mighty team.” They call the western slope of Colorado, near Durango, home.
Worship will be led by a BGCO Women’s favorite, Eden Trentham. Trentham, a member at Broken Arrow, First, believes music is one of the most powerful expressions Christians possess to heal hearts, connect and worship God. Her heart is for worship to be a catalyst for encouragement and connection. Trentham and her husband Brandon, children’s pastor at Broken Arrow, First, have one daughter.
New to the 2018 Women’s Retreat is a slight schedule change. Check-in for groups will begin at 1 p.m. at the Atoka, First Cabin. The first pre-session breakout begins at 3 p.m., and the first general session begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 20. These changes were made to the retreat schedule in hopes that working women and stay-at-home moms will feel welcome to arrive after work or once their husbands are home to watch the children. The retreat will dismiss at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.
Recreation will be available Friday and Saturday afternoon. Available activities include the zip line, high ropes at the amphitheater and lawn games. “Recreation has become a highlight of the BGCO Women’s Retreat, and many look forward to this part of retreat,” Cordova said. One of the favorite events from year-to-year at Women’s Retreat is the 5k run on Saturday morning. This run follows the same harrowing route that is used during the youth weeks of Falls Creek.
There will be an interactive prayer experience in the Wynn Center for World Missions that will further enforce the theme, “Home.” In each room, women will be given prayer points and Scripture cards to utilize in praying over their homes. “Our desire is for women to be equipped to pray for the Gospel to be in their home,” Cordova said. “For instance, laundry is my least favorite household chore, but when I fold my children’s socks, I have a great opportunity to ask the Lord to guide their steps. As I put away the dishes, I pray God will remind me of neighbors and friends to invite into my home in order for me to share Christ with them. Our homes are a great tool to use in sharing the Gospel.”
The deadline for early registration is March 23. Cost for Women’s Retreat is $75 per person, while a reduced price of $50 is offered to teenage girls ages 13-18 who come with an adult. After March 24, the price for registration increases to $85 per person. The final day to register for Women’s Retreat is April 3.
For more information and complete retreat details, visit bgcowomen.org.
