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.