Allegheny West Conference Hispanic Women Find Healing at Retreat

The Allegheny West Conference (AWC) Multicultural Ministries department, together with local pastors and their wives, recently organized a spiritual retreat for the conference’s Hispanic women. Nearly 100 ladies met for the three-day event at a hotel in Cincinnati to worship, share stories and reignite their passion for Jesus and the mission of the church.

Story by Allegheny West Conference Staff

Early each morning, attendees spent significant time in prayer as they sought to connect with Jesus in a more personal way. They also shed tears, mended hearts and were filled with the Holy Spirit, Who came down and filled the room, says Sergio Romero, Multicultural Ministries leader.

Presenters spoke on sanctity at home, personal finances and how to deal with low-self esteem. For the Sabbath morning divine service, Laura Ottati-Romero, administrative assistant for the Multicultural Ministries department, shared the story of the pearl of great price in Matthew 13. The sermon especially resonated with one attendee, who shared, “Today I have realized that I am important and that I have value before my God, I understand now that I’m a pearl even though my pearl was dirty and dull. Now I will shine for my Jesus.”

Sabbath afternoon attendees got an opportunity to walk along a prayer path with stations that focused on object lessons, which gave the ladies yet another way to draw closer to God. “We could see their faces at the end of the path, faces of happiness, peace and renewed hope,” says Romero.
Event planners made sure that attendees also got opportunities to interact during the weekend. During three small-group sessions, attendees shared personal stories and watched video presentations, one of which was about Tamar (see Gen. 38) that opened up many hidden wounds but allowed for healing. One attendee says, “I thought I was never going to be able to take this heavy load from my heart. I thank God because the whole group was very supportive. I’m free now, and I’ve been able to forgive and forget."

Feature photo: Several pastors’ wives organize a spiritual retreat for the conference’s Hispanic women.