Welcome to Women Getting Away! Our heart is to create a weekend where women can momentarily stop the clock, step aside from the craziness of their day-to-day lives, and be refilled.
This year's event again looks a little different but you can mark your calendars for September 17th and 18th, 2021.
Stay tuned for details!
“Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4 (MSG)
Legacy is a thing that is very close to the heart of the Lord. Scripture after scripture emphasizes the importance of teaching and equipping our children and our children’s children, as witnesses of His goodness and faithfulness. The legacy of faith that is embedded in the history of the Smoky Mountain Women’s Retreat is one such example. The threads of time have woven a beautiful history, knitting the hearts of women together for nearly 47 years.
The first Smoky Mountain Women’s Retreat was held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in the spring of 1972. It was born in the hearts, and under the leadership of three ladies with a fervent desire to reach and nurture other women in God’s Word. Vel Martin, an air-traffic controller in Philadelphia, Millie Dienart, with the Billy Graham ministries and outstanding Bible teacher, and Bea Bixler, musician and Christian song writer, were following God’s guidance.
As the result of a Bible study in the Philadelphia home of Vel Martin, led by Millie Dienart, these ladies began to think, “Why can’t we have a Women’s Retreat? But where? What about Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Black Mountain, NC?” God abundantly blessed the plans of these founders because 2018 was the 46th Smoky Mountain Women’s Retreat—still on the campus of Ridgecrest! The format for the Retreat has remained very similar throughout the years, featuring outstanding Christian speakers and amazing Christian musicians each year.
In 1997, Vel Martin, turning 80, felt that she could no longer plan and lead these retreats. However, she left a wonderful staff in place. God was incredibly faithful to lead Phyllis Hall to step forward so we could continue these inspiring retreats, and Peggy Rice came alongside Phyllis to assist. As mentioned before, we have been blessed with a wonderfully talented team, as we moved forward!
In 1998, with a “Lighthouse” theme, SMWR moved ahead under the leadership of Phyllis and Peggy. Billie Cash, speaker, author and soloist (Memphis, TN) spoke for our ‘new beginning’.
After 20 years, Phyllis and Peggy decided that it was time to pass the mantle. Since 2019, a new board, with the help of Janet Ward Black and her team, has continued the Smoky Mountain Women's Retreat / Women Getting Away tradition.
Each and every year has been very blessed by God! Past speakers include a number of notable women of faith, including Jeannette Cliff George (who played the part of Corrie ten Boom in the movie, “The Hiding Place”) and Ruth Bell Graham. We look forward to continuing this great legacy in the future.
It was an honor to be part of something that has been happening every year for so many years. The legacy of faith and wisdom passed down by so many amazing ladies is a true gift. Sometimes the Lord gives us a new song to sing, but His Word remains unchanged, and that was firmly planted in my heart during this retreat. It was an incredible blessing to join hands and hearts with likeminded women!
I was super encouraged by the whole program, especially the testimony that was shared by Janet Ward Black about tithing before having the money to tithe and it encouraged me to want to tithe. I was encouraged how people responded to the program and it really blessed my heart. I enjoyed the whole weekend and was thankful I was able to be there.
My favorite part of the program was after the dinner, we all went to a worship room and there was a lady playing the guitar and people singing. We have a dance ministry and I was able to dance and I just felt free to worship the Lord the way that I choose.
I was very grateful to be able to go to the conference this year. I think the thing I enjoyed the most was the dinner we had that evening. It made me feel so special that I was able to be part of that. They had such beautiful tables set up and a beautiful message and that was the biggest blessing to me.