Anchored and Unshaken: Finding Stability in Christ 2026 Women’s Camping Retreat – A Journey of Faith, Fellowship, Renewal, and Purpose

Theme: Finding Stability in Unstable Times

Introduction

The 2026 Women’s Camping Retreat was centered on a timely and deeply relevant theme: “Finding Stability in Unstable Times.” In a world marked by uncertainty, rapid change, emotional pressures, family responsibilities, workplace demands, and spiritual challenges, the retreat created a sacred space for women to pause, reflect, reconnect, and find strength in God.

When we fail to find stability amid unstable circumstances, the effects can reach every area of our lives: our mental and emotional well-being, productivity, relationships, marriages, parenting, careers, communities, and, most importantly, our love and passion for Christ.

There are circumstances no one can face for us. There are battles we must learn to navigate, burdens we must carry, and decisions we must make. The retreat therefore provided an opportunity for women to step away from the demands of everyday life, examine their hearts, renew their faith, and receive fresh strength for the journey ahead.

“When everything around us is shifting, our stability is not found in the absence of storms, but in being firmly anchored in Christ.”

A Sacred Time to Pause, Reflect, and Rebuild

The three-day retreat began with a reflection on why we were there. After setting up tents, registering, and settling into cabins and tents, the women were welcomed by beautiful weather and a serene natural environment. The peaceful surroundings encouraged fellowship, personal reflection, meaningful conversations, and an honest examination of life’s circumstances.

Many women carry challenges quietly. They wake each day and keep moving because they cannot afford to stop. They carry responsibilities as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, professionals, caregivers, leaders, and members of their communities. Behind many smiles are stories of perseverance, unanswered prayers, difficult decisions, disappointments, and battles that few people see.

The retreat reminded us that pausing is not weakness. Sometimes, we need to step away from the noise so that we can hear God more clearly.

We came to refuel, refocus, rebuild, and renew.

Day One: Preparing Our Hearts for Transformation

Folu – “Why Are We Here? Preparing Our Hearts for Transformation”

Folu opened the retreat with a thought-provoking exhortation, inviting participants to look beyond the weekend’s activities and examine the purpose of their presence.

The question, “Why are we here?”, became an invitation to approach the retreat with open hearts and a willingness to be transformed. The emphasis was not simply on having a good time, but on allowing God to speak, heal, redirect, strengthen, and transform us.

“We did not come merely to escape our circumstances; we came away from the noise so that God could transform us from within.”

Day Two: Anchored in Christ

The second day began with worship and breakfast, followed by introductions and personal testimonies. Several women shared unique experiences of God’s touch upon their lives, creating an atmosphere of openness, faith, and fellowship.

Margaret – “Jesus Christ: The Anchor of Our Souls”

Margaret led an interactive session focused on salvation, identity, hope, purpose, and confidence in Christ during uncertain times.

Participants reflected on important questions:

• Who is Jesus to me?
• What do salvation and new life in Christ truly mean?
• Am I living from a genuine relationship with God or merely following religious practices?
• Am I allowing Christ to shape my identity, decisions, and purpose?

The session emphasized the distinction between religious practice and a personal relationship with God. Religious traditions can become routines if they are not accompanied by genuine surrender and transformation.

A strong foundation in truth enables a great structure to stand firm. In the same way, our lives must be built upon Christ rather than merely upon religious activity.

Participants were encouraged to sincerely confess their sins, repent, turn away from them, receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and allow His Word to guide their daily lives.

The session culminated in a personal invitation for every woman to examine her relationship with God, renew her commitment to Christ, surrender her will to Him, and become a vessel fit for God’s purpose.

“When Christ becomes the anchor of our souls, uncertainty may shake us, but it does not have the power to move us.”

Laura – “The Courageous Woman: Strengthened by God to Fight, Win, and Fulfill Her Purpose”

Laura shared a deeply moving, experiential testimony about walking with God through seasons of profound family and ministry challenges.

Her testimony revealed that even devoted Christian families can experience painful, prolonged seasons of struggle. She shared how she and her husband continued to hold firmly to God despite painful circumstances involving their children. There were seasons when prayers appeared unanswered, and hope seemed delayed.

Yet they continued to hold on to God.

Eventually, God intervened remarkably, demonstrating that a delayed answer is not necessarily a denied answer. What appeared hopeless was not beyond God’s reach.

Laura’s testimony became a powerful reminder that mothers, wives, and women of faith may sometimes have to fight spiritual battles on their knees while continuing to trust God for their families.

Her message challenged women not to abandon their faith because of prolonged difficulties. God can restore what appears lost, redeem what appears broken, and breathe life into situations that seem beyond recovery.

“A courageous woman is not one who never cries or struggles; she keeps her hands on the plow because she knows that God is still writing her story.”

The first day ended with a beautiful campfire gathering, as we sat around the fire, singing, sharing, and enjoying the warmth of fellowship.

Adeola – “Anchored in Peace: Medical Insights and Practical Strategies for Managing Stress and Building Resilience”

Dr. Adeola Oyewole, a medical doctor and author of Anchor in Peace, brought together medical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual perspectives on stress and resilience.

She explained the nature and effects of stress and explored how prolonged stress can affect the body, mind, emotions, relationships, and spiritual life. Participants were equipped with practical strategies for managing stress and developing resilience in everyday life.

A central message was that the world may not become more stable simply because we desire stability. Human life has experienced brokenness and instability since the Fall. However, God has provided believers with the resources necessary to navigate an unstable world with grace.

Dr. Oyewole emphasized that God’s power flows from a place of peace, and that true peace begins with peace with God through salvation. Women were encouraged to acknowledge their need for God, allow the Holy Spirit to convict and transform them, and cultivate an ongoing conversation with God through prayer.

She also cautioned against relying solely on personal effort, which can gradually lead to self-righteousness and exhaustion. Instead, we are called to grow in grace, walk in the light, persevere through challenges, and partner with the Holy Spirit.

The session also highlighted the importance of caring for ourselves physically and emotionally. Participants were encouraged to:

• Eat well and exercise regularly.
• Establish healthy boundaries.
• Be mindful of what we consume mentally and spiritually.
• Understand the source of problems rather than merely reacting to their symptoms.
• Deal honestly with disappointment.
• Remain consistent rather than pursuing intensity without endurance.
• Refuse to allow problems to destroy our identity.
• Know God and remain rooted in Him.
• Use our gifts and step courageously into our God-given purpose.

One particularly powerful reminder was that storms reveal foundations. Difficult seasons can expose what we have built our lives upon.

“Peace is not the absence of a storm; it is the settled assurance that God is with us, and resilience is learning to stand on that assurance.”

Pastor Lisa Heape – “Breaking Chains, Building Destiny”

Following the sessions that established and strengthened our relationship with God, the retreat moved into a powerful time of prayer and deliverance.

Pastor Lisa Heape, drawing from her published work Deliverance Essentials: Walking in Authority, led the session titled “Breaking Chains, Building Destiny.”

Using passages including Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 97:3, and Isaiah 61, she illustrated how chains can become heavy burdens that weigh people down and hinder them from fulfilling their God-given destiny.

The women were reminded that Christ came to set captives free and that there is power in the name of Jesus. Some chains may be inherited, some may result from choices, while others may develop through circumstances, wounds, deception, or spiritual bondage.

However, freedom begins when we allow Christ to enter those places and surrender our attempts at self-management to Him.

The message emphasized that deliverance and transformation must work together. A transformed life must accompany freedom; otherwise, old patterns can attempt to regain control.

Women were encouraged to surrender their pain, anxiety, disappointments, and struggles to God and allow Him to receive the glory in every area of their lives.

“Christ does not merely break the chains that bind us; He sets us free so that we can walk boldly into the destiny He created us to fulfill.”

Fellowship, Nature, and Recreation

The retreat was not only about teaching and spiritual reflection. It also provided opportunities for relaxation, recreation, laughter, friendship, and connection.

One of the highlights was our time on the lake as participants cruised together to Churchill Island. The experience included hiking, berry picking, swimming, sightseeing, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.

The natural environment became a reminder that God can speak through both His Word and His creation. The laughter, conversations, shared meals, outdoor activities, and moments of rest strengthened the bonds of sisterhood.

These moments reminded us that fellowship is also part of spiritual well-being.

The day ended with Movie Night: The Pilgrim’s Progress.

The final day included a reflection on the movie The Pilgrim’s Progress, which powerfully illustrated the Christian journey.

The key themes included:

• The Burden of Sin – Christ offers forgiveness and freedom.
• The Narrow Way – Salvation is found through Christ.
• Trials Refine Faith – Difficulties can strengthen our faith.
• Spiritual Warfare – Believers must remain spiritually alert and equipped.
• Christian Fellowship – We are stronger when we walk together.
• God’s Promises – God’s Word provides hope and direction.
• Perseverance – We must continue even when the journey becomes difficult.
• Eternal Hope – Our present struggles are not the end of the story.

The film reinforced a central truth of the retreat: the Christian journey is not promised to be easy, but we are promised that God will never abandon us.

“The road may be narrow and the journey difficult, but those who keep their eyes on Christ will never walk without hope.”

Women’s Health: Cancer and Menopause

The retreat also addressed important women’s health concerns. Dr. Adeola Oyewole and Dr. Atoke delivered medical presentations on cancer and menopause, providing participants with practical information and an opportunity to ask questions.

The sessions generated significant interest and brought to light several concerns, misconceptions, and questions surrounding women’s health. The presenters responded thoughtfully and effectively, creating an atmosphere where participants could learn, ask questions, and become more informed about their health.

Because of limited time, it was agreed that these important subjects would be revisited in a future session. The planned follow-up will also include discussions on women’s entrepreneurship, business development, and becoming successful entrepreneurs while balancing the many responsibilities of womanhood.

Living What We Have Learned

The retreat concluded with a call to move beyond inspiration into application.

The lessons received must become a way of life. The prayers offered must translate into renewed commitment. The encouragement received must become courage for the days ahead.

Participants were challenged to:

• Stay anchored in Christ.
• Build resilience for life’s challenges.
• Pursue God’s purpose with confidence.
• Protect their peace and emotional well-being.
• Cultivate healthy relationships and boundaries.
• Care intentionally for their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
• Use their gifts for God’s glory and the benefit of others.
• Walk forward with courage, even when the future is uncertain.
• Remain connected to godly community and fellowship.
• Trust God through seasons they cannot yet understand.

The retreat ended with a Prayer of Blessing and Commissioning, sending every participant back into her family, workplace, church, and community with renewed strength and purpose.

Conclusion

The 2026 Women’s Camping Retreat was more than a weekend away. It was a divine pause, an opportunity to step away from life’s demands, look inward, look upward, and return strengthened for the journey.

We were reminded that instability around us does not have to produce instability within us. We may not be able to control every circumstance, but we can choose where we build our foundation.

We can choose Christ.

We can choose faith over fear, peace over anxiety, purpose over distraction, perseverance over surrender, and hope over despair.

As women, we carry many responsibilities, but we do not have to carry them alone. God provides His grace, His Word, His Spirit, and His people to help us navigate life’s storms.

The storm may continue, but we can remain anchored.
The battle may be real, but we can remain courageous.
The road may be difficult, but we can keep walking.
And the future may be uncertain, but our God remains faithful.

“When the world around us is unstable, may our lives become testimonies of what happens when a woman is rooted in Christ, strengthened by grace, anchored in peace, and courageous enough to walk in her God-given purpose.”

Finding Stability in Unstable Times:

Anchored in Christ. Strengthened by Grace. Walking in Purpose.