Speaker:  Joanna Weaver, Author of Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World

We invite you to join us this Fall for our annual Women’s Retreat at Ponderosa Lodge: “A Heart Like Him”…Finding intimacy with God in the busyness of life.

The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you desire intimacy with Jesus…but the daily demands of a busy world persist. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him…yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy.

With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story and its creative, practical strategies, Joanna Weaver will inspire us to draw closer to our Lord, deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy.

Joanna Weaver is a pastor’s wife and mother of three kids—22, 19 and 5! Joanna loves speaking to women and speaks at conferences and retreats around the country. Mount Hermon is especially dear to Joanna, for it was at the annual Writer’s Conference where her writing career really began. She is the author of the best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life and Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out, Joanna has also written other award-winning books and articles. She and her husband, John, have been in full-time ministry for over 26 years.

I am very excited to introduce our worship team to you this year!  “No Man’s Band” is a unique all female group of musicians dedicated to the calling of Worship and Authenticity. Not only does each band member have a passion for music and worship, but also a desire to share their stories. It is the power of God that has touched each band member—changing them, healing them, carrying them and calling them. The “No Man’s Band” has performed at Women’s Retreats, National and Regional Women’s Conferences, Ladies’ Night Out, Worship Services, and community events. They recently produced a CD titled “FREE,” with eleven praise and worship favorites.

In addition to the main sessions, we will offer the following seminars:

Lifestyle Mentoring
Chris Croll, small business owner and aerobics instructor

The Hidden Treasures of Trials
Coraly Hanson, Bible Study Fellowship teacher

Chain Reaction Evangelism
Dawn Lindholm, pursuing doctoral studies at Gordon Conwell

Parenting for Today and for Future Generations
Terry Beck, long-time foster mom and speaker

Housing at Ponderosa Lodge is in cabins, which sleep eight in bunk beds. There are two complete bathrooms in each cabin.

Ponderosa Lodge offers two heated pools, sand volleyball, tennis, mountain biking, guided hikes and our challenge course and climbing tower. We also offer ocean kayaking. Crafts and massage are optional at additional cost.

Christine Ingebretson, Women’s Ministries Coordinator, hosts the retreat.