Written by Aja Griffin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday, April 19, the HEAL Ladies Retreat will offer a full day of reflection, encouragement and rest for women on campus. The event, led by senior Allie Grace Matheny, was created to help students connect faith and wellness in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe idea that inspired this retreat came to me one day last year when I was thinking of ways I could best utilize my last year as a HEAL leader,\u201d Matheny said. \u201cHEAL not only helped me in recovery from a past of eating disorders but also gave me resources to extend help to others on campus in similar situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matheny said the retreat is about more than body image. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to give girls a place to come together to experience a day of freedom and hope beyond their physical appearance but rather to remind them that God created them to do good works for the Kingdom and not to simply look good for the world,\u201d Matheny said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that the retreat\u2019s key verse is John 10:10: \u201cThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students attending the retreat can expect a variety of activities throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStudents attending can expect delicious food, snacks and drinks like a coffee bar, protein balls, catered Burrito Day, fruit salad and homemade cookies,\u201d Matheny said. \u201cThey can also expect a worshipful yoga session, Christ-centered fellowship, moments of reflection and journaling, cute merch and student speakers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matheny and freshman Jayden Mendez will be among the student speakers sharing personal messages during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis event was conceived of and entirely led by Allie Grace,\u201d said Kati Kreh, who advises HEAL. \u201cWe wanted a time during the semester for female students to reconnect with the most important parts of life. The theme is Becoming Healthy, Holy, and Happy in Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kreh said the schedule includes yoga, prayer and reflection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are hoping that students will leave feeling rested and refreshed,\u201d she said. \u201cCollege is a time when life feels relentless and it can be hard to make time to honor our bodies. We hope to make space for that at this retreat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mendez said she joined the event to speak on identity in Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery woman deserves to have confidence in her worth as a daughter of Christ,\u201d she said. \u201cIdentity is something many individuals, women especially, struggle with during their formative years. I am honored to speak on how powerful identity can be when it is rooted in Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said attendees can look forward to encouraging testimonies and personal stories from student speakers, along with the food and yoga. \u201cFaith and wellness are inherently connected,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cFaith cannot truly grow when the basic need of wellness is not being met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matheny said her hope is for attendees to leave with a renewed mindset. \u201cI hope they walk away viewing their bodies as beautiful yet insignificant in the grand scheme of the entirety of who God made them to be,\u201d she said. \u201cI hope they also walk away with skills to shut down the lies of the enemy and walk out in freedom to be all they are called to be.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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