IDAHO CONFERENCE NEWS
CHURCH
Idaho Women Enjoy COVID-Conscious Retreat
2020 Vision Women’s Retreat attendees met in person, complete with glasses and many masks.
“WE NEED TO DO THIS.” THAT’S WHAT THE IDAHO CONFERENCE WOMEN’S MINISTRIES TEAM DECIDED WHEN PLANNING THE 2020 WOMEN’S RETREAT AT CAMP IDA-HAVEN IN MCCALL.
Cheri Gatton, Idaho Conference women’s ministries leader, was one of the weekend’s speakers.
After six months of semi-quarantine and not-quite-the-same church activities, the conference ladies were restless. But how do you plan in the midst of such tentative circumstances? Thankfully, state and local conference administrations were willing to let the conference planning team try if they limited the numbers to about 75% of the normal crowd and followed masking, distancing and cleaning protocols. Almost every spot was filled a month before the retreat. Attendees came from all over Idaho, as well as from California, Utah, Washington and as far away as North Carolina. Unfortunately, some were not able to attend due to sickness or being exposed to others who had been COVIDpositive. They were missed, and their carefulness was appreciated. Why are retreats imporant? Well, it’s certainly for fellowship and spiritual enrichment for church members. It is also an important opportunity for neighbors to bring friends. One non-Adventist lady 20
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
came with her neighbor to check out what these Adventists believed. She heard how much Jesus loves her, and she asked for Bible studies right after the event. The conference speakers had not talked with each other about their topics. Yet each one built on the others and shared the same message, that God loves each of us and wants to have a relationship with each of us. The Holy Spirit was working.
