Indiana—The Lord poured out blessings that stretched across three generations at the Indiana Conference women's ministries retreat at the beautiful Oakwood Inn in Syracuse last fall. Doranita Tyler, a member of the Hammond Church, attended with her mother Daisy Thames, and her daughter Daisy Malcom. Tyler says the entire weekend provided confirmation for each of them of how the Lord is using them in His own special way. Malcom is in her first year at a public high school and said she received confirmation the Lord is using her to be a light in her school. She enjoys ministering to her friends about the love of Jesus, abstinence, and looking at the positive side of life.

Another three generations of ladies who attended the retreat included Angela Benfield from the Columbus Church, her mother Ruth Cherry from the Shelbyville Church, and her daughter, Erika Benfield, a junior at Indiana Academy. Angela says the women's retreat is definitely a family affair for them! One year two of her aunts and another daughter also attended the retreat with her. She says the annual retreat provides an opportunity for them to laugh, cry, pray, and grow closer to one another and to the Lord. "It has made a difference in my life and the life of my family."

Also known as the red hat ladies, three sisters from the Bedford Church also attended. Marcie Ford, Junice Anderson, and Cleata Kirkman say they have always been known as the Page sisters. There is a fourth sister, but she was unable to attend this time. Marcie says, "I was so very moved by the humble, down-to-earth way the speaker, Ginny Allen, touched my heart." Cleata says not only are they sibling sisters, but they are also sisters in Christ with each other and with all the other women at the retreat. "We all share the same Big Daddy in the sky." As they waved good-bye, Junice called out, "I love each and every one of the ladies who come to the women's retreat, and I will miss them until I see them again next year."

This year's Indiana Conference Women's Ministries Fall Retreat will be held Sept. 21–23 at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. Guest speaker will be Carla Baker, women's ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. For registration information, speak with Julie Loucks at the Indiana Conference office at 317-844-6201, or call Shari Blackburn, Indiana Conference women's ministries director, at 260-450-2534.

Judith Yeoman, Indiana Conference correspondent