Women of Faith

Above: Prayer has been an integral part of the Women’s Retreat since the beginning. Women at the 6th Annual Women’s Retreat take time to pray for one another.

The serenity of the lake and the mountains of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Camp AJ calls the women of the surrounding counties to come find rest. Gloria Christy is one of those women who made time to attend CAP’s 15th annual Women’s Retreat.

“It gives me a chance to get away from the everyday things that I do with the cooking, the cleaning, and the everyday humdrum of life,” she said. “It gives me an opportunity to forget about that for awhile.”

In the busyness of her day as she takes care of her household, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time or the space to just do something that revitalizes the spirit. The retreat provides opportunities for participants to focus on self-care. It is a way for CAP staff to provide a respite for women who are so used to taking care of everyone else.

Christy sat at her table quietly stitching the word “Faith” on her small piece of canvas. A memento that she can take home as a reminder of what it has taken for her to overcome life’s circumstances.

“I have heard many women say this is their only opportunity to have time to themselves and not have to cook, clean, or babysit,” said Robyn Renner, who started the first women’s retreat in 2004. “It is an opportunity where they can be pampered instead of pampering others. Throughout the years, women who have attended the retreat have made a special bond with the other women from different counties, and they keep in contact throughout the year. It is oftentimes like a family reunion as they look forward to the next year’s retreat.”

Camp AJ is the perfect spot for a retreat. It sits on nearly a hundred acres, including a five-acre lake nestled into a holler with two mountains rising on either side. The women can enjoy fishing, sitting by the campfire, canoing, walking the trails, or just relaxing surrounded by the beautiful vistas provided by the Appalachian Mountains they call home. It is a great place to just be still.

The first retreat was attended by a small group, but each year the event has grown and organizers usually anticipate 40 to 50 women to attend from McCreary, Rockcastle, Owsley, Jackson, and Clay Counties. It is always scheduled in May.

“I heard about it from a friend,” Christy explained, “and I’ve told several friends since then. I tell them what a blessing it is and how much fun it is. I really enjoy seeing the friends I’ve met before, and meeting new friends each year. It is something I look forward to from one year to the next.”

“These women are like family,” Renner added. “We have been through some difficult times, with many women dealing with the death of a loved one, dealing with drugs in their family, dealing with so much pain. This is a time they can come and take care of themselves and get revived.”

Renner and Christy agreed that the music is something that also connects the women who attend whether as part of the formal programming or impromptu singing on their own time. “These ladies love to sing and they sing for hours in the evening. I just sit back and listen. I love watching them bond together.”

“The singing is really uplifting, and we sing a lot of old ones like ‘I’ll Fly Away’,” Christy explained. “I enjoyed my first women’s retreat so much that I’ve come back for nine more years. The different crafts, the different speakers – we’ve heard these stories of the Bible all of our lives, but sometimes you can incorporate it with what’s going on in your life and the people around you. It just gives you a drink. When you leave, you’re rejuvenated.”

This year the retreat focused on CAP’s core values of faith, service, and compassion. CAP employee Tina Bryson spoke about being a woman of faith. She took the stories of women in the Bible and related their experiences to her own faith story. Women of faith trust God and follow Him even when it doesn’t make sense. Bryson has lived those lessons in her own life and encouraged the women to endure through trials and tribulations because living a life of faith can bring great blessings.

Vickie Gaffney, CAP Family Advocacy coordinator for Mt. Vernon fondly remembers her first retreat. “I got to sit down and talk with one of the ladies about her life, as she and I had gone through some of the same things,” she recalled. “Sadly, she passed away this last year, so I was blessed to have gotten to know her. It is amazing how people come in and out of your life. God is sure in control.”

Both Renner and Gaffney understand how special it is that the retreat is celebrating its 15th year. Renner explained, “I am so glad we have continued to have the retreat because it is special. I love the bond they have among each other, as well as the relationships built between CAP and these ladies.”

There is no better advertisement than Christy. She summed up her experience by simply saying, “There are a lot of happy times here. A lot of relaxation. Renewing your spirit. It’s just awesome, and we always look forward to it. The day we leave we think, well has a year passed yet? Are we back here yet? Once you come, you know you’re hooked! You just have to be here to get a view of the whole thing. I plan on coming back as often as I can, as often as my health will let me. I’ve been through a lot these past few years, but I don’t want to stop. What the Lord wants us to do is keep going and keep telling people about Him, and there is no better place to do that than here.”

CAP employee Rebecca Napier assists a participant in making a beaded cross constructed out of nails. Each activity is designed to provide hands-on experiences for attendees.

Everyone is given gift bags when they arrive. This year, young women from Distinguished Young Women of Kentucky assembled the gift bags and included journals and handwritten notes of encouragement. self-care. It is a way for CAP staff to provide a respite for women who are so used to taking care of everyone else.

Participants look forward to the makeover portion of the retreat every year which includes fancy hats. Gloria’s beauty shines against the natural backdrop of trees at Camp AJ.