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MLC
Ladies
Spring
Retreat
by Mary
Lynn
Crider
The
2005
Spring
MLC
Retreat
was a
wonderful
success.
I
thoroughly
enjoyed
the
meeting
and I
sincerely
believe
that
the
ladies
had
a great
time as
well.
The
event
opened
up on
Friday
morning
with
Sandy
Payton,
Missy
Waldroup,
and Jane
Keel
blessing
our
hearts
with
their
beautiful
voices.
The
ladies
were
invited
to sing
along
with
Sandy as
she
played
the
piano
and led
the
congregation
in
worship
songs.
After I
said my
opening
remarks,
I
introduced
Dorie
Van
Stone
to the
many
ladies
that
were
there. Dorie,
who
wrote
the
books
Dorie:
The Girl
Nobody
Loved
and
No
Place To
Cry,
touched
everyone's
heart
with
her
awesome
life
story.
Perhaps
few
women
have
gone
through
so much
and
endured
so many
years of
mistreatment
as did
Dorie.
However,
I have
never
met
anyone
with a
more
beautiful
testimony
to the
goodness
of God
than
she.
Dorie
did
not look
at
her
life's
experiences
and
be-come
bitter,
but she
looked
at God's
love and
became
blessed.
Following
Dorie,
the trio
lifted
the
hearts
of
everyone
with
their
gospel
singing.
Barbara
Hanberry
spoke
next and
she used
a
question
and
answer
format
to
address
the
topic of
"Why
Bad
Things
Happen
To Good
People".
Barbara,
and her
husband
Jack,
have
endured
so many
difficult
and
trying
circumstances
in their
lives.
Barbara,
not only
knew
deeply
her
subject,
she also
knew
greatly
the Lord
who
enabled
her to
triumph
in the
face of
life's
adversity.
After a
brief
intermission,
the
services
started
with
more
singing
and then
I
introduced
Lisa
Harper
to the
women.
Lisa's
kind
attitude,
gentle
humor,
and
great
communication
skills
combined
to
perpetrate
the
heart
of
everyone
present.
She
spoke on
"A
Girl
Named
Gomer"
from the
book of
Hosea.
As she
told the
story of
Gomer,
she
made
many
applications
to the
lives of
many
people
living
today.
What a
blessing
Lisa was
to the
Retreat.
The
morning
session
was over
to
quickly
and the
ladies
were
off shopping,
eating,
sight
seeing,
and
resting.
Well,
perhaps
a few of
them
rested,
but most
of
them did
loads
of
shopping
and
consuming
loads
of that
great
Smokey
Mountain
fudge.
By the
time the
Friday
night
service
began
they
were
hyped up
from all
the
chocolate
they
enjoyed.
Friday
night is
always a
special
time
for the
Retreat
and this
one
certainly
lived up
to my
expectations.
The
singing
was
just
awesome.
Jane,
Sandy,
and
Missy
have
never
sounded
so
good. I
thank
God
for the
musical
talent
of
these
three
fantastic
Christian
ladies.
Not only
did
their
trio
bless
each
one, but
Jane's
solos
spoke
deeply
to the
heart of
each
lady
that was
present.
What a
wonderful
time
everyone
had just
listening
to the
music
and
enjoyed
the
goodness
and
greatness
of
God. The
speaker
for
Friday
night
was
June
Scobee
Rodgers.
Mrs.
Rodgers
was
formally
married
to Dick
Scobee
who was
the
commander
of the
Challenger
space
shuttle
that blew
up in
1986.
She held
everyone's
attention
as she
recalled
the
tragic
events
of
that
day.
"Spiritual
Courage"
was
the
topic
she
choose
to speak
on
during
the
Friday
night
session.
What an
awesome
blessing
she was
to
everyone.
She
stated
that no
matter
what
comes
ones way
in life,
it can
be met
with
spiritual
courage.
I
awakened
Saturday
morning
with the
realization
that I
only had
few
short
hours to
accomplish
all that
God
wanted
me
to
do
for
the
Spring
Retreat.
I had so
many
things
I wanted
to say
and do,
but the
restraints
of
time
weighed
heavily
upon
my
shoulders.
There
were so
many
people I
needed
to
attend
too
and so
many
details
that
screamed
for my
attention,
that
I
feared
I could
not
possible
get it
all
done.
Just
like the
day
before,
the
session
began
with
the
wonderful
singing
of the
trio. I
then
introduced
Lisa
Harper
once
more to
the
ladies.
Lisa
spoke on
"Grace
Givers"
and once
again
she
moved
the
hearts
of
those
present.
My
Mother
gave a
brief
testimony
as did
Missouri
Sorrough.
Again,
Dorie
captured
the
attention
and the
heart
of each
lady
with the
many
true
stores
of her
life.
She is
such a
joy
and en-
couragement
to be
around.
It was
a great
privilege
to
have
Dorie,
Lisa,
Barbara,
and June
speak to
the
ladies.
The 2005
Spring
MLC
Retreat
ended
all
to
quickly.
As
always,
I
had
far
more
planned
than
I could
accomplish.
However,
I thank
God for
the
many
blessings
He
bestowed,
not only
upon my
heart,
but also
upon
the
ladies
who
attended.
I
sincerely
appreciate
everyone
who came
and
I can
only
wish I
had had
more
time to
spend
with
you.
May God
richly
bless
you
as you
continue
to do
His
will
for your
life.
With
much
love,
Mary
Lynn
Crider
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