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)