Janet Lee Royal
Luann Budd
God has worked powerfully in my life through NEWIM in two specific areas: friendship and spiritual growth.
A couple years ago, I was deeply struggling with some profound hurt and overwhelming rejection within my church family. One of my friends saw my struggle and decided I needed a women’s retreat—time away. Neither of us knew what that looked like. But my friend was serious, so she went on a mission to find a place of renewal and restoration for me. Karen prayed then jumped into a Google search. Up popped NEWIM.
On NEWIM’s website, Karen was drawn by amazing testimonies and the available retreats. She reached out to Luann Budd to find out more about NEWIM and what next steps would be. Within a couple of weeks, my friend had reserved spots for both of us at the Three Rivers Springs, booked flights to Fresno, rented a car, and told me to start packing.
My experience at this silent retreat was life changing. Along with my personal items, I had packed a huge burden. As a pastor’s wife, I had a target on my back by a group of women and a couple of our elders. The pain was more than I could bear, and emotionally, I was falling apart. As I experienced the love of the NEWIM women, shared God’s word with them, created friendships and mentorships, had powerful alone time with God, I began to feel my cup start to refill.
As I have continued my relationship with NEWIM through retreats, many Zoom fellowships, the NEWIM-Fuller cohort, corporate prayer, and friendships. My cup is now overflowing. It is so necessary for pastors’ wives and those in church leadership to create and maintain solid friendships outside the walls of the church. NEWIM was just what I needed.
The ministry of NEWIM has impacted me, restored me, and given me the spiritual tools and resilience I need to keep on doing what God has called me to do. I can serve with joy while feeling God’s pleasure. I am thankful for NEWIM’s four decades of serving women in ministry and prayer for 40 more years. Thank you, NEWIM ladies, for being God with skin on!
The love and care of God that saw my need and helped me find the women and ministries of Newim continues to astound and amaze me.