The Fellowship Leaders and National Team gathered on the weekend of 11th to 13th November at the Replenish Healing and Retreat Centre in Rangiora, Christchurch.
A time to let go of all that has been and to share and be empowered to continue the journey which we have been called to.
The weekend provided for us a chance to solidify the new vision that the Lord is calling for the women of Dove, with each leader to impart the new vision to their teams and then their fellowships.
We explored the importance of dreaming big with God, through considering our personal dreams and Gods dreams for us and Dove. Collectively we received, to be set free, new generation of women, deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and the gifts, to praise, worship, healing, to be open and flexible, share our faith stories, to be nurturing and encouraging, to mentor, to embrace new technology, to bloom where we are planted, to be an outreach to and with other groups.
“May we never lose sight of this vision as we work diligently towards it and remember God can do immeasurably more than we can ever envision.”
“What a fulfilling weekend! God’s peace and love filled the place. My heart was full of joy at the knowledge of the new vision for Dove. I had already been doing that over the last few months. God is making all things new, the old has passed away. New hopes and dreams for God’s women will unfold in a new season of birthing. God’s younger women will rise up, leading the new blood-line of his women through this land, bringing healing and restoration. Praise God.” ~ Maureen
“This year was my third retreat as President of North Shore Dove and I truly felt it was a time of relaxing and refreshing with beautiful songs, prayers, discussions amidst serene surroundings at Replenish Respite and Healing Country House in Rangiora. The meals were amazingly prepared by the management team. It was good to meet and know face to face all the ladies that I have seen on Zoom meetings this year. Thank you to the National team for organizing this long awaited retreat.” ~ Sylvia
“The leader’s retreat weekend was a little gem for November. We were drawn away out of our busy lives into an experience of prayer, peacefulness and companionship with the National Team and other leaders of fellowships. We were blessed with our hosts who couldn’t do enough for us, they provided fabulous food, friendly banter and shared their tranquil surroundings and big friendly cats with us.
It was wonderful to have the opportunity to know each other better, to brainstorm and pray, and in gratefulness acknowledge what the Lord has done in Dove and continues to do in Dove. This weekend opened my eyes to creativity. Our Lord is creative, many ways of growing us all, new ways, new things, more than we can imagine. In obedience I wish to respond to this and bring this back to our Hamilton team so that we can action together the Lord’s call, to grow and inspire through his grace and his plans more generations of women.
I am reminded “Arise, shine forth, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). So I encourage all you women out there moving into 2023, come, be bold and see what the Lord has planned for 2023 each month for you.
We finished our retreat with Mass and I was truly astonished at the smiles, the conversations and those welcoming us in that little parish community. I felt blessed, inspired and replenished to return home and share what is ahead for our team and ultimately you, at our monthly meetings.” ~ Megan
