Where's Rachel -- BlogTalk Radio Interview, 7/7/09

Click here for the BlogTalkRadio.com interview of Rachel by Christian Work At Home Moms founder Jill Hart. Thanks, Jill!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cwahm/2009/07/07/The-CWAHM-Network

Where's Rachel? -- www.blogtalkradio.com/cwahm

On Tuesday, July 7, Rachel will be on blogtalkradio.com doing an interview with Jill Hart of RadiantLit.com and CWAHM.com. Log on around 10:30 to hear the full interview.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cwahm

Relighting the Torch through Spiritual R&R -- Webinar

Here's the link to our first ever Judson Press-sponsored webinar on retreat planner with Rachel Gilmore...

www.judsonpress.com/webinars/Relighting_the_Torch_through_Spiritual_R_R.wmv
(about an hour long)

Questions? Email Rachel, rachel@writerrae.com.

Judson Press May 2009 Author Update

From Marketing Director Kim Shimer...

Judson Press Holds First Webinar!
We've done it! On April 30, Judson Press hosted its first webinar with Rachel Gilmore, author of The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats. Despite some technical difficulties in the beginning, I would say the presentation was a resounding success. We had more than 130 people register, and almost half of those actually attended (a good showing). From the time the invitations went out till the day of the webinar, I believe we sold between 20-25 copies of the book. Not too shabby!

Top 10 Judson Press Best Sellers (highlighted titles are 2009 releases.)
1. The Star Book for Ministers
2. The Work of the Deacon and Deaconness
3. Mothering Heights: A Novel Approach for Christian Mothers
4. The Work of the Church Trustee
5. Intentional Walk: More Devotions for Baseball Fans
6. From Jay-Z to Jesus: Reaching & Teaching Young Adults
7. Work of the Usher
8. Raising Boys to Be Like Jesus
9. Crazy Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives
10. The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats

Good News -- Church Libraries Review

An excerpt from the review for The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats:

"Gilmore's thoroughness will allay the concerns of those who've never planned an off-site, large-group event. A priority resource for church leadership, but it's also good for a library. "
—Church Libraries, Spring 2009

The Complete Leader's Guide Made Literary World!

This just in...The webinar invite for my retreat planning training session was listed under the Events section on Jim Agnew's Literary World web site this morning. Thank you, Jim. Thank you, God! Check it out!!

Retreat Planning Webinar--April 30

Great news for all you retreat planners! I'll be hosting a FREE retreat planning webinar on Thursday, April 30, from 2-3 p.m. EST. There is no cost to register, and I'm giving away a chance to have me plan and speak at your retreat! Click here for more info or to register.

Good News: Southtown Star Article from 3.22.09

FRANKFORT AUTHOR PENS RETREAT GUIDE
By Rena Fulka
The SouthtownStar

Retreats offer much more than devotional time in a quiet and peaceful setting.
"They're little escapes from the real world to get back on track with God," Frankfort author Rachel Gilmore said.

"Retreats provide opportunities for transformation. Sometimes they're little transformations, sometimes they're huge. And they come with a new understanding of who God is to you, and how to use your gifts to serve God and make the world a better place."
Gilmore planned religious and secular retreats for 20 years before channeling her advice to help others do the same.

In her new book, "The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats," she walks readers through the planning process from start to finish and offers sample retreats on topics for men, women, youth, families and older adults.

"Some themes tie into books, movies and other pieces of culture that serve as discussion points for applying biblical truths," she said.

The book also features reproducible handouts and helpful tips from experts in the field. The state-by-state listing of camp and conference centers includes Camp Manitoqua and Retreat Center in Frankfort, where Gilmore has led local outings. Released in December, the book sold 2,000 copies in two weeks, placing Gilmore among the top 20 Judson authors of 2008.

The honor has its perks.
"Before my first book was out, I had a contract for a second book," Gilmore said.
Scheduled for release later this year, "To All Generations" will present intergenerational church programming featuring events geared for entire congregations.

Gilmore and her husband, Dave, grew up attending First Presbyterian Church of Homewood.
"Retreats were a huge part of my faith formation in high school," the mother of three said.
So stepping in to plan and lead the congregation's spiritual excursions was a natural fit. She also served the church as director of Christian education.

A writer for as long as she can remember, Gilmore pursued English degrees at Illinois Wesleyan University and University of Illinois at Chicago.

She established WriterRae Communications, her own public relations company, and tackled curriculum, devotional, newsletter, magazine and grant writing. She also freelanced for The Star.
At New Life Church in New Lenox, Gilmore started the Write4Him writing ministry and works with the food pantry and student ministries programs. She also leads a small group and sings on the praise team.

Facilitating retreats is among her favorite spiritual activities.
"A retreat is a small group get-away to recharge your spiritual batteries and discuss faith-related issues," Gilmore said.

"For me, friendships got deepened on those experiences, especially my friendship with God."

Rena Fulka can be reached at rfulka@southtownstar.com or (708) 802-8829.

find out more...

"The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats" by Frankfort author Rachel Gilmore isavailable for $17 atwww.completeretreatguide.com with payment through PayPal.
The book also can be purchased at local Family Christian Stores and online at Judson Press and Amazon.com.

For a limited time, Gilmore is offering one hour of free consulting with a book purchase to Southland small group ministry leaders and retreat planning teams.

She also offers webinars, retreat leadership services and speaking engagements. For more information, call (815) 685-3305 or visit www.writerrae.com.

New Friends -- Emmaus Retreat Center

Today I got an email from Joseph Johnson, a pastor and co-owner of the Emmaus Retreat Center. The Center has been his dream and vision for the past twenty years. Like most of us working for God, he did not travel a straight path to get where he is. I think he'd agree with the words from Proverbs which preface my book... man makes the plans but God directs the steps.

Take a moment to check out the Emmaus Retreat Center web site. Located in central Mississippi north of Jackson and Vicksburg, the Center can accommodate individuals for personal retreats or groups up to 40. The photos of their wooded grounds and charming cottages and program space look so inviting...I wish it were closer so I could visit!

But even more than the photos and the descriptions, I'd encourage you to read Joseph's blog. There are only a handful of entries, but they describe how this vision came into being...how this fellow pilgrim with a heart that wants to serve God in faithful obedience is hoping to watch God at work in others at Emmaus the way God has been at work in him.

I pray that the Lord would bless and keep Joseph and the Emmaus team, that the Lord would be gracious to them and make his face to shine upon them, that the Lord would turn his face to them and give them his peace as they walk this road in his name. Amen. Let it be.

Transformations and Vacations

As I've been thinking about the nature and purpose of conferences and retreats, I've decided that they remind me of how our family vacations. My husband loves big, long camping trips packed with mountains to climb, lakes to canoe, fish to catch, boats to sail, history and geology to explore and new campgrounds to visit. My dream is really to park the camper on the shore of a lake and just sit and enjoy the view for a while. Not that we couldn't take a few hikes here and there, canoe around said lake or learn about a few dead guys and old rocks now and then, but sometimes I need a vacation that truly lets me get some rest and reconnect myself...to my brain, to my family, to my friends, to God.

Take, for instance, our little jaunt two summers ago to Glacier Park, Montana, a 3 week cross country trip where each day was jam-packed with things to do and places to go (lots of mountains, lakes, fish, boats, dead guys and old rocks!). It was an incredible time, no doubt about it! Yet last summer, we went down to the Smoky Mountains and spent three days by the side of a cool, inviting stream that danced over ancient boulders and pebbles. I could have stayed all summer, sitting in my camp chair, reading my books, listening to the creek and my kids playing in it. And when I commented how much I had enjoyed this vacation, my husband said, "It was good, but I would have liked to have done a little more, as long as we were there, you know?"

I do know, and I do understand and admire his quest for adventure and knowledge... and most of the time I'm game to follow his lead. But, boy, sometimes I just need to...well...retreat...to get some quality R&R and renew and refresh my body, mind and soul...without the accompanying busyness that rules my daily life.

So in my head there is a big difference between a conference and a retreat. Seems to me that a conference is more educational in nature while a retreat is more relational. Now, that's not to say that you can't have some great networking and friendship building experiences at a conference or that you can't "learn" anything while on retreat. I think you can and you do. But overall, a conference feels more formal and practical while a retreat is really a break from the constant busyness of the world to give time for God to transform your heart, soul and mind.

I was reminded again this week how much I do enjoy the conference experience, how exciting it can be to get your brain learning new things and be in the company of other individuals that share your passion for the conference content. Yet I love retreats, too. So, just like in other areas of your life, I think it's all about balance...finding it and keeping it...and getting it to all work together for the greater good.

"There is a season for everything and a time for every purpose under Heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Sojourners Reviews TCLGTCR

The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats received a nod in the March 2009 Sojourners! Yay God!

Love the One You're With Retreat Highlights

This verse from I Corinthians was in my inbox today when I got home from retreat:

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (I Corinthians 13:7, NLT)

This is exactly what we wanted to communicate to the women this weekend at the Love the One You're With retreat; I think we were successful...

Friday night...in the Psalms study room, women were awed and amazed that Christine's typed copy of a Psalm asked them to insert their own name everywhere it said me, my or I. In that moment the Word became a very personal message of hope and love to those women. Praise God! In the Confession/Assurance of Pardon room, tears rolled down cheeks as women came face to face with the brokenness each and every one of us live with because of sin and wept as they wrote those sins down, burned them in the fire and received the assurance of pardon that God forgives and his love is from everlasting to everlasting. In the Prayer Labyrinth room, women negotiated the labyrinth path, stopping at stations to reflect and pray, at first tentatively, then with a true pilgrim's heart. This station took much longer than anticipated because the women fully engaged in the moment, kneeling in prayer over the pool of water into which their burden stone had been released, heads bent over journals in which they poured out their hearts. "Do not be conformed to this world but transform your mind so that you can discern what is God's will, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2) Amen!

Saturday morning...Christine removed fear and anxiety from our relationships with God by talking about the Favor Line and how God erased that with His love, His Son. God does not require that we measure up to a certain unattainable standard. He does hope and pray that we will be faithful, that we will seek Him out, that we will live reconciled to Him, but He does not remove His love when we falter and stumble, a message many needed to hear. Saturday morning also brough dyads and a time to get to know one other woman better on a deeper level. New friendships were formed amidst tears and laughter.

Saturday afternoon...Rachel helped ladies figure out where they were on the Jesus Relationship Continuum (and we tied it into Fireproof!). They heard about how crazy faith and crazy love are what are required to live a life worthy of the one to which God has called us. Inspired by the Shamgar Principle (are you curious? Judges 3;31), they brainstormed ways to deepen their love for Jesus during Lent so that on Easter morning they can wake up and say with unconditional passion, "I love you, Lord, and you alone!" Perspectives were forever changed as we went around a prayer circle naming one person and what s/he had done to show us love...then going around a second time replacing the person's name with the Name above all names, Jesus. Barely enough kleenex to go around...

There's so much more to share about crazy faith and crazy love, but that's a story for another day...

God Definitely Has a Sense of Humor

And hopefully I'll be laughing all the way to the bank (at some point, assuming there still are banks)!

The unbelievable saga of my retreat planning book continues... When I started my research last spring, I began calling camp and conference centers around the US to get my data for the "get yourself started" listing of facilities nationwide. I had the hardest time reaching a live person, and often when I did, the person was rather suspicious, like I was trying to sell ad space, not simply obtain basic info about their camp. After working my way through the first 5 states on my list and getting a dismal response rate, I opted to just utilize two online camp/conference databases and only deal with facilities that had detailed web sites. That worked, and my book continued unhindered.

However, after the book came out in December, I asked my Judson Press marketing director if she thought we should send a mailer to all the camp/conference centers in the book to let them know the book was available. I hesitated because I didn't want these places to feel like I was running some kind of bait and switch scam and now I expected them to buy because they'd been included. Oddly enough, though, camps began contacting Judson and asking if they could buy the book in bulk and give it away to all of the groups who use their facilities. That request got the marketing director thinking about a different way to promote the book as both a tool and a blessing for user groups. So, a direct mail piece was done and sent to all the Christian Camp and Conference Association members letting them know about the book and offering a discount for buying in bulk. That's resulted in a small but steady stream of orders every day from the camps, which hopefully will turn into bulk orders down the line. Who knew?

Like I said, I hope I'm ultimately laughing all the way to the bank and that the book continues to be both a blessing and a tool for all who read it! You gotta love God's sense of humor!

Retreat Planning Webinars

Newsflash! Rachel will soon be hosting webinars to make your retreat planning process even easier! Training is being done later this month with the goal of hosting the first webinar in April. During the session, Rachel will walk you through the retreat planning overview and answer all your questions, so you can get your retreat in the works!

Stay tuned for more details/dates.

Where's Rachel? -- March 4, 2009

Rachel will be presenting two sessions at the Christian Camp and Conference Association's Carolinas/Virginias Supersectional Conference on Tuesday, March 3, at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. You can also meet her at the vendor expo on Monday night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Conference Session Descriptions:

Retreat Planning Is a 2-Way Street
Based on interviews with camp directors and years of church retreat planning experience, Rachel will help your staff identify their expectations for retreat planners, develop strategies for effectively communicating them and hear from “the other side of the fence” as to retreat planners’ expectations of you and your facility.

Love the One You’re With (women’s seminar)
Ever think to yourself, “This marriage thing is way harder than I thought it would be.”? You’re not alone! Speaker Rachel Gilmore has known her husband since they were 5 years old and in the same Sunday School class, but even she thinks that way at times! In a girls-only session seasoned with humor and grace, Rachel will help participants remember why and how God’s plan calls us to “Love the One You’re With” in spite of the little things that sometimes make us want wash those men right out of our hair!


Rachel Gilmore bio
Rachel Gilmore, M.Ed., is the author of the The Complete Leader’s Guide to Christian Retreats (Judson Press 2008). A second book with Judson called To All Generations is due out at the end of 2009. For a while Rachel felt like God had her in training to become a jack of all trades, master of none. But it turns out that God’s master plan included all of those diverse experiences to prepare her for this present moment of writing and speaking for Him, full time. Yay, God! For more on Rachel visit http://www.writerrae.com/.

Good News -- RAC Nancy Ferguson Review

From the Religiously Affiliated Camps Winter 2008 newsletter...

"This new resource can be a helpful addition to the libraries of camp leaders. Many congregations who come to your site for retreats need assistance in developing both plans and programs for their retreats. By making this book available or suggesting it to them, you can enrich their total retreat experience. You may want to consider listing this resource on your Web site as a way of assisting congregations in their planning process." —Nancy Ferguson, RAC Newsletter (Religiously Affiliated Camps), Winter 2008 issue

*Note: Nancy is also the co-author of a competing 2006 title, The Retreat Leader's Manual. Many thanks to her for her graciousness in reviewing The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats.

Where's Rachel? -- July 2009

July 27-28, 2009
Rachel will be speaking on retreat planning at the National Women's Conference, Lake Williamson Conference Center, Carlinville, IL.

Where's Rachel? -- March 27-28, 2009

March 27-28
Rachel will be speaking on retreat planning, with a special focus on intergenerational retreats, at the Greater Chicagoland Sunday School Convention in Arlington Heights, IL. She will also lead a 2-part workshop on the benefits of intergenerational programming. See session write ups below.

Living His-Story, Part One: Whose Story Is It?
Using Deuteronomy 6:5-9 as a foundation, participants will explore the 3 key benefits of intergenerational programming: remembering God’s story, sharing God’s story and continuing God’s story…together!

Living His-Story, Part Two: Rated G, for All Generations
From family fellowship nights that follow the workshop rotation model to whole-church-family retreats, participants will experience examples of successful intergenerational activities, along with brainstorming their own.

Relighting the Torch through Spiritual R&R
Learn how to plan and facilitate retreats for various ministry groups (women, men, youth, etc.) that will relight the torch of God’s truth and provide spiritual R&R.

Where's Rachel? -- February 2009

Join Rachel and co-leader Christine Bierma at the "Love the One You're With" women's retreat February 13-14 at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, IL. Remember what it's like to walk hand in hand with the Savior. Renew and refresh your relationship with Him as you prepare your heart for Easter. Registration information is at www.writerrae.com/feb_retreat.html.

Good News -- Jan. 7, 2009

What a most excellent day! The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats made the #20 spot on the Judson Press Top 20 list for 2008...and it only released mid-December! Yay, God!

To buy your copy, visit Judson Press at www.judsonpress.com.