Indiana—Carol Radigan says she was privileged to teach and encourage single moms during the Single Mom’s Retreat the last week of June 2006. She believes ministry to single moms has definitely been overlooked (or looked away from) and underdeveloped.

Radigan expressed, "The commitment of the sponsoring churches, volunteer planners, and coordinators, under the leadership of Julie Loucks and Indiana Conference youth director Charlie Thompson, is truly “in His steps.”

Timber Ridge Camp offered a peaceful, beautiful, and rustic setting, which made the ladies feel they were really away from home on a respite. The cabins permitted true bonding time with other moms. Nearby Spencer, Ind., offered a good restaurant for an away-from-children meal, and Kwik Kuts hairdressers provided free haircuts for moms who wanted them. These outings helped the ladies feel enfolded in love.

Radigan taught on addictions—what they are and how they develop—and most importantly how each lady can take hold of the truth that she is precious and worthy, set aside the old, cling to the Lord and His truth, and start walking in freedom (see John 8:32).

We also talked about parenting skills and gave out many handouts, booklets, and books on these subjects. Every lady who needed one was provided with a Bible.

Time was allotted for personal ministry with the staff and Radigan. Several ladies took advantage of that time and risked opening up and asking for help—the first step of walking out of fear and into freedom. Many ladies opened up for the first time in their lives and shared, then received much compassion, tenderness, and a lot of hugs. And they began to give a lot of hugs and love to each other. They found acceptance and support from everyone at the camp and among themselves.

This could not have happened without the caring camp staff. Radigan was so impressed with the friendliness and kind, tender, Christ-like attention the young staff provided. They welcomed the moms and their children and led them in planned recreation and craft activities. They laughed and played with the children, got to know them, and gave them a lot of time—which equals love! And the children soaked it up. There was a lot of laughter which was so good for them.

The teen girls gave the moms a candlelight “spa” treatment with a facial, manicure, or pedicure while the guys took care of the little ones. One very shy, scared, teen attendee had a hard time letting his mom out of sight. A counselor tenderly kept drawing him [out] until he participated. The young people were truly a witness of the love of Christ. They made a difference!

Radigan says she was grateful to have participated in and made aware of this single mom's ministry and hopes it will become a witness and model for a whole movement among churches throughout the country and beyond.

This year's retreat will be held June 21–24. The guest speaker will be Cheri Peters, founder of True Step Ministries, Inc. (see www.truestep.org)

Peters' growing-up years were not very pretty. Born to 14- and 16-year-old addicts, Peters was abused and unwanted, and ended up on the streets by age 13. She spent the next ten years on the streets of Los Angeles, raised by addicts. Drugs, alcohol, and abuse were her life.

At 23, Peters was burned out, drug addicted, suicidal, and desperately looking for a way out. She found that way out in an incredible encounter with God, which led to meeting a woman who stepped into her life, introduced her to the Bible, mentored her, and encouraged Peters to fight for her recovery. At that time, Peters was fairly illiterate, strung out on heroin, and without healthy life skills.

Peters has since gotten off drugs, learned to read, received a degree in nursing, authored two books, hosted a world-wide television and radio show, and developed True Step Ministries, Inc., a faith-based organization, to help at-risk folks learn how to “fight for their recovery.”

Carol A. Radigan, a counselor at Christian Teaching & Encouraging Ministry, a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to help individuals clearly identify their problems and put their lives back into harmony with God's order, through a better understanding of Scripture, and Julie Loucks, Indiana Conference Single Mom's Retreat correspondent