Haitian women from across the state are gearing up for what is expected to be a replenishing time of spiritual renewal at the annual Haitian Women’s Retreat.
Event leaders are expecting more than 700 Haitian women to descend upon Lake Yale Conference Center during the event which is taking place Jan. 19 – 20th.
The two-day conference is very popular, said John Voltaire, Haitian Church catalyst. It’s so popular in fact that a second retreat was scheduled for Feb. 2nd and 3rd and only has a few spaces left.
This year’s theme centers around Galatians 5:16, where the Apostle Paul encourages believers to walk by the Spirit in order to not gratify the desires of the flesh. The keynote speaker will be Jeffery Singletary, Central Florida regional catalyst.
“I will be bringing a message of resilience to encourage the women to take heart in the fact that there is nothing they can’t overcome with God working in them,” he said.
The retreat will feature several breakout sessions in which the women will be encouraged to participate in missions, read the Bible and lead holy lives, said Christine Jean-Baptiste of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Miami, who organizes the event.
“Haitians have grown so much,” she said. “We started with 35 women several years ago and today we have over 500 women attend and have two retreats to accommodate all the women who want to come. They come from everywhere, some from New York and even Nassau [Bahamas].”
“It’s a great time to be inspired by great speakers,” said Cindy Bradley, director of Women’s Missions and Ministry. It’s a time for spiritual renewal and there are many opportunities for ministry training.”
The cost to attend is $85, which covers lodging and meals. Transportation is not included.
To find out more about the Haitian Women’s Retreat and register for the February retreat, email Delicia Garland here or call her at 904-596-3141. To find out how you can be a part of next year’s event, call Cindy Bradley at 904-596-3141 or email her here.
By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Convention, January 18, 2018