MAC Region Ladies Retreat—Feb. 19-23

Singing, praising, sharing, learning, laughing, shopping, eating out—the MAC (Middle America, Caribbean and Canada) Ladies Retreat was all this and more. I really had no expectations for these three days in Mexico City. My only goal was to not forget anything and still pack a light suitcase. Approximately 120 IMB missionary women and a team from an Arkansas church convened in a large hotel in the heart of Mexico City for a time of spiritual refreshing and fellowship. Being a rather new in this missionary role, I am curious to know the stories of the other missionary women. How did God direct them to the mission field? What was the nature of their “calling?” Every person has a story. Listening and hearing another person story opens the heart to love them.

One story completely mesmerized me. Gloria Sloan was sitting next to me at lunch. Someone asked her what work she and her husband were doing in Mexico. She replied that she was a widow and that her husband had died on the field. The other woman continued to probe until Gloria had told her story.
In June of 1999, the Sloan family had been missionaries about six months. The family and five summer missionaries were on the beach in southern Mexico celebrating the birthday of their younger daughter. Eleven year old Carla was holding the hand of one of the young summer missionaries when an undertow pulled them out to sea. Gary Sloan and two others went into the water to rescue them. They were able bring Carla’s body back to the shore, but were not able to revive her. Noticing that others were still struggling in the water, Gary went back into the water to attempt a rescue. He and two summer missionaries drowned in the rescue attempt. Even as the bodies of her husband and daughter were lying on the beach and the crowds began to gather, Gloria began to witness, “If this were you, where would you be? Let me tell you where my husband is now.” She told them about the glories of heaven and why she had such assurance. Gloria said that as she held her dead daughter in her arms, she felt the power of God come over her and comfort her. After a time of healing, Gloria and the rest of the family returned to Mexico where Gloria is still serving as a church planter. Gloria is also an amazing singer. The picture above is of Gloria singing for the ladies at the retreat.
Our speaker, Connie Cavanaugh, kept us laughing until our sides ached. The laughter kept us attentive to hear the serious and relevant message. Connie had a secret which she successfully kept hidden for a number of years. She was spiritually dry, in a spiritual wilderness. Often people who dry up spiritually just leave the church. They change friends. They drop out of religious life. None of these was an option for Connie because she is the wife of a prominent minister. Instead, she spent years faking her spirituality. She had the vocabulary down. She grew up in a religious home and she knew how to put on a spiritual face. Her book, From Faking it to Finding Grace, relates her journey out of the spiritual wilderness and back into God’s Grace. Her three messages revealed the God who never stops seeking us, who pursues us and loves us back into fellowship. Like a desert that springs into bloom when the rain comes, we have renewed spiritual vitality when God pours out His grace on us. What is essential in the process is being transparent and truthful about our spiritual struggle. We cannot lead others on the journey if we are faking who we are and where we are in the journey. Just before Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him, he says to him, “I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me." (Luke 22:32) As we return to Him, we are to help our brothers and sisters become stronger. The writer of Hebrews tells us to encourage one another and to spur one another on to love and good deeds (10:14-15). We can’t truly be effective in helping and encouraging if we are phony. I highly recommend Connie’s book for anyone who has had times of doubt and spiritual dryness or for anyone needing assurance of God’s amazing love.
The Retreat accomplished its purpose. The participants were spiritually refreshed, encouraged, and spurred on the good works. Thank you International Mission Board for sponsoring this event.