Growing Deep to Reach Wide: Grounded in Truth, Reaching our Worlds.   This is the theme we chose for this year’s weekend getaway, and when we are choosing our theme, we are very intentional about it. I am not looking for a well-turned phrase or a catchy title. I’m looking for words that will convey our focus for the weekend.

 

I first heard this phrase in a church in Nairobi, Kenya, this past summer—a church that really tries to fulfill this promise of growing deep to reach wide. They seek to help their congregation grow deeper and deeper in their knowledge of God and His Word so that it will result in reaching out to their world and their country with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Too often our ministries—including my own—are addressing personal issues, what we call “felt needs.” We try to touch the sensitive chords of our listeners or congregations to attract their attention. Certainly we need to be concerned about those issues, but if we’re not careful, that can easily lead us to being self-focused—as though our issues and situations are always number one.

 

I’ve learned in my own life and in dealing with people through this ministry and my position at my church, that healing and joy are side benefits that come when we are focused on others. Lately this passage from Isaiah 58 has become much more meaningful to me:

 

 

Isaiah is telling the people of God that their light will break forth and their healing will quickly appear as a result of reaching wide to help others. It’s what I call one of God’s upside-down principles, as so often God’s way seems contrary to our human reasoning. We think: First, I have to focus on my problems and get my issues resolved so that I can reach out to help others. But God says that if we will be concerned with helping those in need, then we will find satisfaction and contentment and healing.

 

I love the images of this passage: “he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land.” Isaiah is explaining that regardless of the circumstances, you will find your needs met, your body strengthened, your energy renewed as you spend yourself in behalf of others. Right in the midst of that desert where it seems that others should be helping you, we are challenged to satisfy the needs of others and trust God to meet our needs.

 

This will be a major focus for our weekend getaway this year, and one of our speakers will help us to understand needs of women here in our own country and in faraway places. Becky McDonald is founder and president of Women at Risk, an amazing organization that has undertaken gigantic projects to help women caught in sex trafficking, sexual slavery, persecution, and discrimination—here and abroad.

 

It’s easy to live in our very protected cocoons and not even be aware of what’s happening to women on our doorsteps and in foreign lands. We can no longer choose to be ignorant, and I believe Christian women should be on the forefront of fighting for our sisters caught in these horrific, oppressive situations. Becky is on the front line of this battle, and you really need to hear her story and learn from her how we can become involved in reaching wide to these women. She will be conducting a workshop and speaking at our general session on Saturday evening.

 

Every year human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world and here in the United States.  Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. And if you think it’s only in third-world countries, think again. My church in Chicago is situated in a very nice part of the city, surrounded by nice high-rises and affluent people. A short few blocks from our church, you’ll find prostitutes—most of whom are there through coercion, not of their own free will—on the street corners.

 

So, at this weekend getaway you will be able to learn more about how we can be involved in caring for, praying for and reaching out wide to women who are oppressed. It takes us out of our comfort zones, it changes our perspective of the world, but it takes us to the kind of people that Jesus cares about—those who are suffering and oppressed through no fault of their own. You can learn more about Becky McDonald and Women at Risk by going to her website: warinternational.org.

 

Now, just in case you think this whole weekend will be heavy, let me assure you that it will be a very well-balanced program, with lots of joyful times, plenty of laughter, good food in a nice hotel, and amazing fellowship with a very diverse group of women. In fact, I would venture to say that the demographics of the women who come to our retreats are perhaps the most diverse you’ll find. And that, of course, enriches our time together immensely!

 

Damaris Carbaugh will be with us again. She’s like part of The Christian Working Woman family, and her music always stirs us and inspires us. But this year I’ve asked her to also conduct one of our workshops. She is equally equipped for sharing by word as she is by song, so if you know Damaris, you can well imagine that her workshop will be lively and motivating, as well as fun.

 

A few years ago we began what has become a tradition for our weekend time together. On Saturday evening we feature a gospel choir, made up of anyone who wants to be a part of it. Donna and Charles Butler hold a rehearsal on Saturday afternoon, and somehow by Saturday evening they present a choir of women who sound like they’ve been singing together for years! And it is such a delight. So, if you’ve always wanted to sing in a gospel choir, here’s your opportunity!

 

Our featured speaker is Carolyn McCulley. I became acquainted with Carolyn a few years ago when I read one of her books and led a group discussion with it at my church. Carolyn is a successful single woman who lives in the DC area, and came to saving faith in Christ in her late twenties. In the short time since then the Lord has done an amazing turnaround in her life, and she is a strong voice for Christian women today. She has written Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred, and Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World. Her message will challenge us to think outside our boxes and be more intentional about being the women God has designed us to be. You can learn more about her at facebook.com/carolynmcculley.

 

How do you register for our 24^th annual Weekend Getaway? It’s easy. Go online to christianworkingwoman.org, click on the events page and it takes you to the information page that links up with the brochure and the easy registration page. Now, if registering online is not your cup of tea, no problem. Call us at 800-292-1218 and we can put a brochure in the mail to you, register you over the phone, answer your questions—whatever!

 

I understand that times are tough for many people right now and we are all more careful about how we spend our discretionary money. That’s why we have not raised our prices for registration this year, if you register by the early bird deadline, which is February 14—Valentine’s Day.

 

I truly believe that this weekend is an investment in your spiritual life, more than anything else. It is money truly spent so that you can grow deeper in your walk with God, be encouraged and strengthened through fellowship with many other women, and therefore, it’s a very wise use of your money. I’m praying that God will provide the means for you to attend and that money won’t keep you from coming.

 

We offer many options, so it’s flexible to meet your schedule. All those details are on our website at christianworkingwoman.org, or we’ll put a brochure in the mail to you right away when you call us at 800-292-1218.