THRIVE RETREAT UPDATE
Laura Longville
I just returned from an amazing experience with Thrive Ministries. Their mission is to journey with women ministering overseas by providing spiritual resources, transformative experiences, and authentic one-on-one relationships to replenish them as they invest in the Kingdom work.
I volunteered as a counselor for one of the transformative experiences, a yearly retreat in Beaver Creek, CO. Thrive cared for the twenty-eight volunteers through team building, encouragement and rest so we were ready to minister to the weary, yet excited women.
During our four days together, 39 attendees had the opportunity to experience spiritual, emotional, and physical restoration through worship, studying Scripture, prayer, self-care, confidential counseling, and more. The retreat is a gift to the attendees.
Many women are home on furlough from the country where they serve, some are in transition from one ministry country to another, and several were unsure where they would serve or if they could return to the country they had been serving prior to the pandemic.
All of us have been impacted by COVID 19 and for many of the global workers, there continue to be life-changing challenges. Below you will find a few testimonies of the attendees.
“The Thrive retreat=refreshment and encouragement! What a gift for my soul to sit under teaching instead of having to prepare bible lessons. To have a gifted worship leader, the wonderful boutique and bookstore, and all the many other gifts we received BIG and small. I appreciated the listening ears and the pampering too!” ~Anonymous
“This has been awesome and amazing. I feel so blessed-so loved on-so worthy. Thank you for making it possible to be ministered to and refreshed for our next sending out for service. It has been a tough 2+ years with lots of loss, grief, and disappointment. The retreat has helped me process so much of what we’ve been through. Thank you.” ~Sally serving in Thailand
“This retreat was an incredible blessing! The volunteers poured out so much love on us, and made us feel beautiful and cherished! I was blown away by the extravagant blessings we received! ~Anonymous
Our retreat blogger, KATHIE KOERWER wrote in her blog,
“A recent study revealed that one out of 14 global workers leaves their agency each year and 2/3 of those leave for potentially preventable reasons. In order to thrive, these women need restoration in every aspect of their being.
K returned to the US after a difficult final six months in her assignment. She was barely holding it together and had totally shut down. Her only goal was to be restored. After a few days of rest, good food, fellowship, new clothes and a new haircut, she felt like “the real me” was finally starting to emerge. She is smiling for the first time in months.”
Not only were the attendees’ lives changed but so were the volunteers, including me. I have a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices a global worker makes when they follow God’s calling. My heart is opened to the pain and joy, the uncertainty and courage of global women workers. Their commitment has profoundly touched me.
To read more about how the volunteers were impacted, read this short blog. Click here to learn more about Thrive Ministry, click here to donate, click here for more information on how to volunteer or here if you know someone who could benefit from attending a retreat.
