May 26-28, Russell, Manitoba-A group of 44 women gathered for the annual Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference Women’s Ministries yearly retreat in a charming town just an hour from Yorktown, Saskatchewan, towards the Manitoba border. The management and staff warmly welcomed them at the Russell Inn Hotel, who provided excellent service throughout their stay. The retreat began with the ladies setting up the meeting room, filling folders, decorating bags, and attending to other details. The guest speaker, Paulie Rogers, arrived later in the day and began assembling her dollhouses and beautiful backdrops for her presentations.
On Friday evening, the attendees enjoyed a lovely supper together and gathered for the first presentation, “Meet Me on the Front Porch” by Paulie. She shared her journey of starting the ministry and how God had led her through remodelling and renovating her home one room at a time.
The following day, Paulie continued with her presentations, including “His Life-Giving Knock,” “Baked to Perfection,” “Dressed in His Glory,” and “Resting in Jesus.” Each talk had unique props that kept everyone engaged, such as mixing a cake and potting plants that the ladies could take home.
Paulie’s messages were centred around the idea that God takes us one room at a time, remoulding and transforming us into new creatures as we give our lives to Him.
The Sabbath was filled with great meals, music, and fellowship, as the ladies enjoyed the rest of the presentations. On Sunday morning, they had one last session, brunch, and a surprise quartet performance by the husbands of four of the attendees who drove them to the retreat. Before parting ways, the ladies could purchase keepsakes and take pictures together. They ended the retreat by forming a circle and singing “Side by Side We Stand.”
Overall, it was a beautiful weekend of making memories that will remain forever in the attendees’ hearts. The retreat was successful, thanks to the incredible team and the extraordinary people who helped make it a memorable experience.
Fran Gorbenko, Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference Women’s Ministries Director
