What a wonderful and life-changing weekend at Midwest Deaf Women's Retreat!

On a pleasant fall weekend, October 21-23, one hundred and one (101) ladies from 9 different states came to the 22nd Annual Midwest Deaf Women's Retreat at Spencer Lake Christian Center, Waupaca, Wisconsin, to worship God together.

Guest speaker Charmaine Koppinger (CODA), from Minnesota, shared and preached a strong message on the subject of healing based on Isaiah 53:5 and the freedom to worship God in a way we enjoy doing - such as dancing and drawing/painting. She brought her husband, Larry, and her ministry partner, Diane, to minister to us. A few of the wonderful reports: many ladies stepped up to dance and sing as God moved among them; a few were healed of physical pain; some were touched by God with emotional pain/past; and one precious lady accepted Jesus into her heart. Sunday, the last day of the retreat, ended with a powerful example of the Father's love.  An unforgettable weekend!

Founder/Chairperson of Midwest Deaf Women's Retreat (MWDWR), Rev. Cindy Dively of MN, introduced and welcomed 2 new committee members: Stephanie Wilcox of Kansas and Brandee Wineinger of Illinois! The rest of MWDWR committee: Kim Durrah (WI), Diana Kinder (WI), Bridget Timmers (MN), and Stephanie Visscher (IL). Amy Pringle was also introduced as National Deaf Culture Fellowship's North Central Regional Officer under NF Women's Ministry.

SAVE the DATES!  October 19 - 21, 2012. The 2012 guest speaker from the west is Peggy Lee LeFors (Deaf)! See you next year!

We - the Anchor Deaf Women's Ministry (Illinois & Wisconsin), Deaf Women Fellowship of Minnesota, Midwest Deaf Women Retreat, 2 pastors and 1 layleader (19 ladies in all) - attended our 1st Deaf Ladies Leadership Retreat (DLLR) at Maranatha Deaf Church A/G in Wisconsin from August 19 - 20, 2011.  The goal of the retreat was to learn and develop our leadership skills in the ministry.  Elizabeth Beldon (Deaf) was the speaker and she did a fabulous job!

Elizabeth shared with us on the theme of the retreat which was "God's Prescription for a New You" – using Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles."  Elizabeth also taught us in depth of the Beatitudes and what being a leader is truly all about.  The mission of the Deaf Ladies Leadership Retreat is: "Through edifying, encouraging and equipping, our Deaf leaders/ladies will become one in accord." 

The DLLR will be held every 3 years.  Thank you Rev. Cindy Dively for starting a leadership retreat for women.  We look forward to the 2nd retreat in 2014!

More than 45 ladies came together to learn from Anchor guest speaker, Lucy Schmidt (Deaf), on adding faith in worship to our God. Lucy’s messages were encouraging and motivating. The 8th Annual Anchor Deaf Women’s Ministry was held in Normal, Illinois at First Assembly of God Church on Saturday, May 14, 2011.  The Anchor Deaf Women’s Ministry is scheduled every year in the Spring to edify women of Wisconsin and Illinois in the Word of God and have fun together!

The Anchor Committee wants to say THANK YOU to the men who helped set up lunch and served us ladies! Also thanks go to Sandy N. for taking various pictures during the event.  If you would like to order a CD of ADWM photos (about 100 pictures), please call Sandy N. at 309-222-8105 vp.

2nd Annual Liberty Deaf Women Fellowship, March 26, 2011, Saturday at Liberty Deaf Church – A/G from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and again 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. we had “Quiet Influence” based on I Peter 3:4, saying “Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in”.

 We had 24 ladies attending. Cindy Dively, our NF Women’s President from Minnesota was our speaker and she was so anointing. One deaf lady told me that she enjoyed Cindy’s speaking and the fellowship and she wants to come back next year for 3rd annual! What a blessing to see 24 ladies to be blessed by God’s word and His presence. We had 2 young ladies performing a special ASL song. Several ladies come forward for healing prayers. The best part is that we all prayed for each other. God was surely upon them. Praise His name.

 We all went out to Drusilla Seafood for a time of fellowship. We can see Cindy enjoyed our Southern/Cajun food.

 After that we came back for more of Cindy’s preaching…we had outside a little bonfire that we all turned in our personal notes to the fire, believing God hears our inner prayers. We had words of encouragement.

 Hope and pray you all enjoyed seeing the pictures. The pictures were taken by our 2 wonderful photographers: Carla Miller and Helen Woodward.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlanne74/sets/72157626244376319/   taken by Carla Miller
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlanne74/sets/72157626365902079/   taken by Helen Woodward