Retreats at Camp Friedenswald are all about reconnecting – with yourself, friends new and old, nature, and with God – by disconnecting from the demands of day-to-day life.
Women's Retreat 2024
September 20–22
Theme: "Celebrating Sisterhood" Presenter: Cyneatha Millsaps
Join us for spirit-filled worship, relaxation among friends, trails to wander, and water to rest by. This annual retreat, planned by women from across Central District Conference of MC USA, seeks to provide a place of connection and gathering for women. It is open to ALL women, not only those affiliated with Central District Conference.
Cyneatha Millsaps will be the speaker for the weekend and comes with an impressive range of experience throughout her career. Cyneatha is Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement at Goshen College. She leads the new Center in engaging local community partners. The Center provides service-learning avenues for GC students/staff to connect with the local community, while also helping the community to connect to college services and resources. Cyneatha is also the Executive Director of Mennonite Women USA. She provides leadership for women’s groups and individuals domestically and internationally. In her role she oversees the education, resources and spiritual direction of the organization. She has also served with Mennonite Central Committee as a program director for the Great Lakes in which she was responsible for programming in areas such as restorative justice, mass incarceration, youth/young adults service and various social justice initiatives. Cyneatha’s most challenging and rewarding role is pastor. She has been leading congregations and communities for over 17 years and believes it is the greatest call of her life. Additionally, she has spent several years working directly with victims of domestic violence and has trained specifically in the area of dating and family violence. She assists multicultural churches in the Mennonite community providing education and information about the blessings and challenges of worshipping in diverse communities of faith. Cyneatha has served as a columnist for “The Mennonite” a Menno Media publication and currently provides a monthly blog for Mennonite Women USA. She is very active in her local community and is the founder of BAPS (Black American Princesses) a mentoring program for young African American females between the ages of 8-17; a program of Club C.O.E, Inc. She is also a board member for the Tolson Center for Community Excellence in Elkhart, IN and is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Cyneatha is a community activist and advocate on the needs of women and children in the areas of violence, education, and spiritual development. Cyneatha is married to her loving husband of thirty-one years, Steven. Together they have seven children and 22 grandchildren.
We are committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to participate in a Camp Friedenswald program can do so, regardless of financial ability. We offer scholarships to anyone who has the need for it. If you feel you would benefit from this opportunity, please indicate your need on the appropriate form when you register online. If you have further questions, please call 269-476-9744 or email program@friedenswald.org.
Restoration Retreat 2024
November 1–3
Presenter: Sarah Augustine
Connect with the land and life through a weekend retreat centered on restoring healthy relationships with all of creation. Take time to slow down, walk the paths, paddle the water, and simply be in community with all that is around you.
Sarah Augustine will be speaking throughout the weekend on the theme of climate, creation care, and decolonization. She is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, a national coalition with global reach. From 2007-2022 she directed a Dispute Resolution Center in Central Washington. She has served on the faculty at Heritage University, Central Washington University and Yakima Valley College, and has served as Adjunct faculty at Goshen College. Read more about Sarah.
If you see the need for restoration in our world and desire connection with others interested in the same, please consider participating in this weekend retreat. You will leave feeling more connected, inspired, and empowered to work for positive change in your community and the world beyond. This retreat is open to all ages. Interested individuals, families, youth groups, green teams, repair network teams, and small groups are all welcome.
See the DRAFT schedule for the weekend. Print a Restoration Retreat flyer.
We are committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to participate in a Camp Friedenswald program can do so, regardless of financial ability. We offer scholarships to anyone who has the need for it. If you feel you would benefit from this opportunity, please indicate your need on the appropriate form when you register online. If you have further questions, please call 269-476-9744 or email program@friedenswald.org.