2024 Retreat Information


April 5-7, 2024 at Camp Maranatha in Idyllwild, California

Registration Opens February 11, 2024! Click Here to register

Our speaker will be Caroline Newheiser and she will be speaking about When Words Matter Most: Speaking the Truth with Grace to Those You Love.

Caroline is a Biblical Counselor certified with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and has a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling (MACC) from Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). She has been a pastor’s wife for over 30 years and is currently the assistant coordinator of women’s counseling at RTS.  

When a friend or family member is struggling spiritually, do you ever feel uncertain about what to say and how to say it? You may sense your loved one needs to hear biblical encouragement or advice, but you may also feel inadequate for the task. Not knowing how to respond, you might simply commiserate or say nothing at all. Many Christian women find themselves in similar situations, but God calls all of us to something more!

Caroline Newheiser, one of the authors of When Words Matter Most (Crossway), will encourage and equip us to speak truth with grace to those they love. Through carefully selected Scripture passages and real-life examples, Caroline will provide biblical motivation and instruction for what to say—and how to say it—to those who are worried, weary, wayward, or weeping. We will learn how to speak truth in love within their spheres of influence and strengthen the body of Christ as a whole.

The topics covered will include

  • Understanding God’s Call to speak truth in love
  • Discerning and responding to common spiritual needs of others
  • Embracing Scripture’s key attributes and its power to transform lives
  • Speaking with grace as an overflow of the grace we’ve received in Christ.
  • Overcoming common fears to speak truth in love by finding our confidence in God alone.

ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION

Full weekend includes lodging for two nights in private rooms that sleep 4-5 women and meals through Sunday lunch (dinner not included Friday evening). Restrooms located inside the room. Please be sure to pack bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, etc.).

COST

Full Weekend–$185 with early registration by March 15th or $205 after March 15th ($95 non-refundable deposit due with registration. Balance may be paid at the retreat.)

Saturday only–$95, must be registered by Friday, March 29th. Lunch and Dinner are included. Full payment of $95 due with registration (non-refundable).

nursing infants

$0, must be registered by Friday, March 29th with the mother. This is specifically for young, nursing infants and only with the “Saturday only” option. There are no overnight accommodations and no childcare will be offered during the day.

Registration will be closed after Friday, March 29th

partial Scholarships

Once again this year we are offering 4 scholarships for first-time full weekend attendees.
These will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Please indicate your request for a scholarship when you register and pay your deposit. If your request is accepted, the scholarship will cover your remaining balance. If you need financial assistance we strongly encourage you to contact your church diaconal board.

Camp Check-in

Please check the directions carefully or you can look it up at campmaranatharetreat.com. Camp check-in is from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in the Main Meeting Room. The first meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. Friday night dinner is not included with camp, but there are several local restaurants you may enjoy in Idyllwild.

what to bring

Casual warm clothes – expect variable weather conditions, bedding (sleeping bag or sheets & blankets, and pillow), towel, toiletries, Bible, flashlight and a coffee mug. Feel free to bring some munchies for the snack table.


RETREAT ACTIVITIES

talent/ skit night

Talent/Skit Night is on Saturday evening. Start planning a skit, special music, reading, etc. now! The more acts we have, the more fun for all. As you plan, please consider, “whatever, you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3:17

CRAFT

For $10 or less we will have a craft for you to make and take home along with the knowledge needed to replicate your efforts on your own. Details to be announced at the retreat.

BOOKstore!

We are so excited to be able to bring the bookstore back to the retreat! The team from www.biblicalcounselingbooks.com has graciously agreed to open a bookstore for the day on Friday evening and Saturday! Cash, credit cards and square app payments accepted. The bookstore will be stocked with books relating to the theme of the retreat as well as other Christian living titles.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

On Sunday Morning, Pastor Dave Crum will bring us the message in our morning worship service!

This year our offering will go to Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship, an organization that seeks to strengthen churches in one-another care. They offer training to individuals and churches through their Care & Discipleship program, as well as offering counseling resources, events and free resources that are available to anyone interested in learning how to better help others. Caroline’s husband, Jim, is the director of IBCD. 25% of the offering will also go to our speaker.

If you are looking for a printable brochure, it is available for download below:

2024 Women’s retreat brochure

For further information or questions, please call Autumn Di Peppino at (714) 318-9691 or Tammy Schroeder at (760) 845-0952 – Please do not call the camp.