What We Learned

by Debbie Splaingard

In the spring of 2005, twenty-five women from the graduate and professional schools of The Ohio State University gathered for a retreat focused on the topic: “Fear Factor: Hope for the Fearful Heart.” Debbie Splaingard, volunteer campus staff with InterVarsity's Graduate & Faculty Ministries (GFM), reflects on what they learned through this experience.

In the summer of 2004, an optometry student, a dental student, and a GFM campus volunteer at The Ohio State University, meeting in a weekly Bible study, began praying together about creating a retreat for women in graduate and professional schools on our campus. Nine months later, we experienced the answer to our prayers as twenty-five women, from seven different graduate and professional programs, gathered for a two-day retreat entitled “Fear Factor: Hope for the Fearful Heart.”

From the beginning, we viewed the retreat as a “pilot project,” an opportunity to determine whether women in this busy stage of life would make the time to attend a retreat and if they would find it useful and encouraging to meet one another. The feedback we received from the evaluation forms we distributed indicated that the answer to both questions was a resounding “Yes!” Here are some other things we learned.

Less is more.

We kept things simple. We elected to “advertise” this retreat solely by word of mouth. Women sent “E-vites” to their friends. This enabled us to get a good idea of expected attendance and to compile an email list of women to contact for future events. We planned simple food – pizza and snack food for Friday evening, and waffles, juice, and coffee for Saturday morning. There was no charge, since it was in a local home (seven minutes from campus) and volunteers brought (and cooked) the food. And we scheduled the retreat to go from just 7 pm on Friday until noon on Saturday – leaving plenty of weekend for study and other activities.

We had just two goals. Content and connection were the focus of prayer and planning among the committee of ten women God raised up to organize the retreat. We wanted women to encounter Jesus and to be encouraged to view their fears in light of his love and care. And we wanted women to connect with other women who are walking a similar path through graduate school.

Women love to connect.

Given an opportunity to meet women from different programs for what was billed as a “light-hearted and encouraging look at a serious topic,” Christian graduate women here responded eagerly – and they invited their seeking friends.

We created opportunities for small group discussion after two of the three thirty-minute messages given during the retreat. This had the dual benefit of giving women experience (and training) as small-group leaders and enabled even the quiet members of the group to join in conversation focused on the topic. One role of discussion-group leaders was to pray for and “shepherd” the women in their group – so that no one was left out of conversation and activities during the retreat. People said they felt welcome.

While some women went home for the night and returned in the morning, nearly half elected to spend the night sleeping (a little) in sleeping bags on the floor. Laughter over late night games gave way to quieter conversations about things closer to fearful hearts.

Silence is golden.

Feedback indicated that for many, one of the treasured parts of the retreat was the hour designated for “Quiet Time” after breakfast on Saturday morning.

We’ve only just begun.

At least three Bible studies geared for seekers were begun as a direct result of this retreat. A group of veterinary students decided to become equipped to lead evangelistic Bible studies so they’ll be ready to follow up with women after next year’s retreat. Attendees unanimously agreed that they would like to be involved in another retreat of this kind. In addition, a monthly breakfast gathering of women on our retreat mailing list now takes place, as a continuation of the relationships begun at the retreat.

Thinking of hosting a grad women's retreat on your campus?

Debbie Splaingard, the GFM campus volunteer who worked on this retreat, is willing to offer her counsel. Contact her by email with your questions.