Ignite Women's Retreat testimonies

Precious StoneWater Women:

You’ve seen the flyers, you’ve watched the promotional videos, you’ve heard your friends talking about it…but you’re still wondering, “What is Ignite?”  or “Why should I go?”  For these three StoneWater women, Ignite was a life changing experience. 

*Disclaimer:  Each story is rather long, but the Ministry in Action team feels every detail of the work of God in each story is worth sharing fully!

Rachel’s story

Spring 2009:  Rachel found herself in the midst of an abusive relationship.  The young single mother who had known the Lord since her childhood was being called “worthless” and “waste of skin” by her boyfriend.  Rachel had been attending StoneWater for a few months, but she had yet to become involved enough to know many people. 
When it came time to register for Ignite 2009, Rachel remained hesitant, but she overcame the fear and the lies of enemy and registered with her best friend who had been by her side on Sundays at StoneWater.  Arriving at the retreat, Rachel remembers feeling absolutely mentally, physically, and spiritually broken.  The weekend of worship and fellowship with other women from the church who welcomed her with open arms and sympathetic hearts,  healed Rachel’s brokenness and finally made her see herself the way God intended:  a woman of worth- His child.  Reflecting on her experience that weekend, Rachel encourages other women to attend so they can “know that they are not alone….Ignite is perfect to help them see their worth through God's eyes and know there are women they can talk to, and women who will be by their side; they aren't alone.”

Spring 2010:  Rachel had no doubts about registering for Ignite again.  In the year that followed her last Ignite experience, God continued to work miracles in Rachel’s life.  Rescuing her from the abuser and leading her in a relationship with a man of God, her Savior gave her hope for a future as a woman of worth.  This Ignite weekend would be much different from the year before.  Still a woman who needed Christ, as we all desperately do, Rachel arrived at the retreat expectant of God’s continued grace and mercy and healing.  This year, Rachel invited a friend to Ignite- her boyfriend’s mother.  Ignite 2010’s speaker, Robyn Henck, focused on God’s plan for women.  The speaker’s testimony was about not physically being able to have her own children, but that God’s plan was for her to adopt and have a family for her own- changing the lives of six of God’s children from other countries.  This testimony hit home for Rachel.  In her early twenties after battling eight years with endometriosis, Rachel had a hysterectomy.  The harsh, physical reality that she would never bear another child, especially now that she had a man in her life who would make an amazing husband and father, made her feel inadequate and even cheated.  Hearing the speaker’s testimony, Rachel again knew God was writing on her heart to seek comfort in Him and accept His plan for her life.  At the conclusion of the weekend, Rachel’s boyfriend’s mother looked at her and lovingly told her she loved her for who she was- able to have children or not.  One week after Ignite, as Rachel prepared for her last ovary removal surgery, her godly boyfriend, Jacob, proposed.  Jacob, who had been a friend of Rachel’s for many years before their dating relationship, spoke blessing over her during her hysterectomy, “God is going to use this,” encouraging her to not let a barren womb bring guilt, shame, or sadness into her life.  Neither of them realized at the time that these words were exchanged between future man and wife.

Spring 2011:  Rachel, a happy and blessed newlywed, is not only going to attend Ignite but is also serving on the Ignite 2011 planning team.  She shares her testimony about how God used Ignite to draw her closer to him, heal her brokenness, lead her to the man He created to be her husband, and provide her a life of restoration in His love. 

Jennifer’s Story

This California girl and woman who described herself as “anti-church and anti-religion for 20 years” experienced God in a way she never thought possible at Ignite 2010.

Coming from a broken childhood home and having to raise her triplet siblings for five years, Jennifer entered severe depression.  After meeting the man of her dreams and having two beautiful daughters together, Jennifer sought peace in her own view of God, seeking her “inner-child” and finding her spirituality in her own way.  Jennifer and her family moved from California to Texas seeking a better life for their children.  Her family was thrown curve ball when she was laid off and forced to stay home.  The self-proclaimed career woman now found herself staying home with two kids- something this woman never planned for herself.  In the Wal-Mart parking lot, she met someone who invited her to the Pecan Playgroup, started by one of the StoneWater’s pastor’s wives.  Jennifer remembers this moment as being the first seed planted in her new relationship with God.  Through this ministry for moms, she even met her best friend.

In the spring of 2010, Jennifer was thrown another curve ball.  Her husband told her he was not happy in their marriage.  Blindsided, Jennifer confided in her new girlfriends and they encouraged her to join their Journey Group.  Once she started going, she never wanted to stop.  Her new friends were open to her “different” beliefs about God and remained nonjudgmental, making her feel welcome to their group.  Jennifer recounts what happened in her group, “Soon, they all reveled in God’s work as I came to know the same Jesus they all knew.”  It was those women who asked her to attend Ignite.  Jennifer knew she had to go.

She had mixed feelings about Ignite as soon as she arrived.  She suffered from an instant headache and actually felt the urge to run away.  Feeling called to stick it out, she listened to the inspiring speakers.   Most of all, she remembers being mesmerized by worship leader Ashley’s voice.  “I couldn’t get enough of her!” Jennifer recalls.  A few hours into the night, her headache didn’t go away, but she knew she liked what she referred to as the Jesus-thing.  “I mean, my soul started to like it,” Jennifer admits.  Jennifer came back to Ignite the next day, even though her headache begged her not to, and she found herself joining in the worship.  “I felt so rejuvenated and loved and ecstatic for this journey I was partaking.”  Realizing she was finally open to hear the message God had brought her there to hear, she resolved to be a member of StoneWater.

The timing of Ignite 2010 was perfect because the day after the retreat, Jennifer received a phone call with news of yet another curve ball in her life- her mother was dying from a kidney disease.  Her new found church was the first place she went to seek counseling, and she immediately saw the bigger picture:  Moving to Texas, losing her job, joining the playgroup, attending the journey group, going to Ignite, and now joining the church- all of these pieces worked together making a bigger puzzle.  She immediately realized all of it was leading her to know God in a whole new way.  He was showing her His Glory and Love through the difficult obstacles in her life.  “StoneWater surrounded her and supported her financially, spiritually, and physically in every way I could ever imagine,” she shares.   “And in it all, each and every person told me it was not them, it was God.”  Before she knew it, Jennifer dived into the church with “both feet and utter faith” and God showed her even more His Glory.

The trials didn’t automatically go away.  Even with her close relationship and reliance on Christ, Jennifer, as we all do, suffered and needed Christ.  By Christmas, her family hit an all time low and was living on $35 a week.  Her friends overwhelming supported her and donated to her family’s well being in the name of Jesus.

Jennifer’s message to the women of StoneWater:

“Thank you to Ignite for being that powerful experience that allowed God to talk to me and show me His way.  And thank you to my wonderful and beautiful girlfriends who have all reflected God’s love in their giving and sharing.  I am honored to come to Ignite as a woman and be able to share God’s love with my sisters!”

Beth’s Story

Intimidated.  Anxious.  Awkward.  Uncomfortable.  These words describe Beth’s feelings when she was first encouraged to register for Ignite last year.  As the wife of one of the most outgoing men in StoneWater Church, Beth felt even more insecure with her own struggle of feeling outcast and alone in a new town away from her family.  Her loving husband supported and urged her to attend Ignite, but in the back of her mind, Beth hesitated, knowing the feelings of loneliness would keep her from fitting in at the women’s retreat.  She finally gave in even though it was going to be the first time away from her youngest baby. 

As if she wasn’t already anxious enough, walking into the retreat late Friday night didn’t make her feel any better.  She remembers what it felt like to have every pair of eyes on her as she walked into the doors fashionably late.  To her rescue, her own personal angels at the retreat, quickly and kindly offered her a place to sit next to them.  “I realized at that moment, that God really wanted me to be there. My spirit needed to be refreshed and renewed,” Beth confides. 

When she finally opened her heart and gave her insecurity to Jesus to allow Him to take away her anxiety, she ended up having a weekend full of fun, laughter, and spiritual renewal.  And the ladies who invited her to sit with them?  Well, a beautiful friendship blossomed after she even stayed the night in their hotel room.  “Can you believe I partied with Edgers?!” Beth laughs. 

Being at the women’s retreat changed her life because it stood as a reminder of how much God loves her.   In Beth’s words, “For anyone who feels scared, anxious, lonely, worried, or feels like they might not fit in, just try it.”  She urges you to come to Ignite.  “You never know what God has planned for you...you might be meet some of the greatest friends in the world!”

Want to see more pictures of last year's women's retreat?  Click here to get an even clearer picture of what God does at Ignite!

Click here for more information about Ignite 2011.  We hope to see you there!

If you have your own Ignite testimony, please post a comment below!  We'd love to hear it.