2025 Shalom Retreat

Women and Girls, the national office of AB Women will be on the West Coast! We are thrilled to announce our Shalom Retreat will be held from Friday October 10 – Sunday October 12, 2025, at the Beth Eden Family Life Center in Oakland, CA. We look forward to a time of restoration through relaxation and fun. Save the date to join us for a wonderful weekend away. More details to follow.

Shalom Retreat
October 10-12, 2025
Beth Eden Baptist Church | Oakland, CA

Theme: Sisters living in God’s perfect peace: Building bridges of love, respect, and understanding while embracing God’s wholeness, harmony, and rest.

Early Registration will be available until July 31st. ($125 women/ $75 AB GIRLS)
General Admission will run from August 1st until September 30th. ($150/ $100 AB GIRLS)
Late Registration will apply from October 1st until the day of the event. ($200/ $100 ABGIRLS)

Reduced ticket price applies for GIRLS (ages 5-17)

Preachers:

Rev. Kathryn (Katie) Choy-Wong

Rev. Kathryn Choy-Wong (Katie) is a consultant, trainer and writer in intercultural ministries. Since 2003, Katie is a co-founder and senior trainer of the former i-Relate Institute, an Intercultural Leadership Institute, which trains pastors, lay leaders and churches in working interculturally. She has been a consultant for American Baptist churches and organizations, as well as United Methodist and local Bay Area churches.

Rev. Lana Rice, M. Div.

A dedicated facilitator and leader, Reverend Rice is a mental health professional who is dedicated to eliminating health disparities and improving the wellness of marginalized communities. A daughter of Allen Temple Baptist Church, Reverend Rice uses her voice to inspire, to encourage, to educate, and to spread compassion and understanding. Rev. Rice earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her Master of Divinity at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA.

You can choose two workshops (detailed description found below):

• ABGIRLS – Praise Dance Workshop
  • Session 1: (ages 5 -12)
  • Session 2:(ages 13-17)
• Creativity for the Soul (Arts & Crafts)
  • Creating a Vision Board
  • Crafting Paper Flowers
  • Creating a Photo Frame
  • Praise Dance Flags
  • Painting and coloring
• Faith, Government and God’s Assignment
• Healing in God’s Presence (Grief Workshop)
• Mindfulness Moments with Miraz (english/español)
• Music Workshop (Choir)
• Women in Ministry
• YAW – Navigating Relationships (Part I & Part II)

If you would like to donate towards a scholarship for this event, you can select “I’d just like to donate” and the funds will go toward a ticket. If you would like to donate a whole ticket, fill in the information for the name with “donate.” Please note: the tip right before payment can be adjusted. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by emailing info@abwomensministries.org or call us at 610-768-2288.

For More Information or to Register For Event: Click Here

To download a registration form, please click here. Once form is filled entirely, email to info@abwomensministries.org  with the subject line “Shalom Retreat” and send check no later than September 29, 2025 to:

American Baptist Women’s Ministries
Re: Shalom Retreat
1075 First Ave Ste. C-210
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Friday October 10, 2025

11:00am Pre-Retreat Excursion (optional)

4:00pm Check in

6:00pm Fall Festival

7:00pm Line Dancing

Saturday October 11, 2025

8:00am Continental Breakfast

9:00am Morning Worship

10:15am Workshop #1

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm – Playdate with Jesus: Joyful Movement and Fellowship

3:15pm Workshop #2

5:00pm Dinner

6:30pm Evening Worship

Sunday October 12, 2025

9:30am Sunday School

11:00am Morning Worship service

Workshops:

AB GIRLS Praise Dance

Join us for our AB GIRLS Liturgical and Praise Dance Workshop, where girls will learn to express their love for God through the beauty of movement and dance. This special workshop is divided into two sessions to meet each age group’s needs:

Session 1: Ages 5-12
In this session, younger girls will be introduced to the basics of liturgical and praise dance, learning simple yet powerful movements to worship music. They will explore how dance can be a prayer and an offering to God, building confidence while having fun in a supportive environment.

Session 2: Ages 13-17
This session will go deeper into choreography, technique, and expression for teen girls, equipping them to minister effectively through dance. They will also discuss the biblical foundation of dance in worship, discovering how their gifts can glorify God and bless His people.

Creativity for the Soul (Arts & Crafts):

Join us for a time of enjoyment creating a vision board or creating a picture frame. Enjoy fun and fellowship  as we come together for fun.

Step into our Arts & Crafts Workshop, where creativity flows freely and your spirit finds rest and joy. This special workshop offers a variety of craft activities, including:

* Creating a Vision Board
* Crafting Paper Flowers
* Creating a Photo Frame
* Praise Dance Flags
* Painting and coloring
* DIY home décor crafts
* Quilt Square Creation

Faith, Government and God’s Assignment

Showing Up for Such a Time as This

*How does your faith show up with how you handle the government?
*Am I showing up as the person God wants me to be?
*Women in the bible who shaped the process, appealing to a king, being a midwife, immediate impacts in your community

“Healing in God’s Presence” – Grief Workshop   
Grief is a journey that each of us will walk at some point in life, whether grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, health, or a season that has passed. This workshop offers a compassionate, sacred space for women and girls to acknowledge their grief, honor their feelings, and begin or continue the healing process surrounded by sisters in Christ.

Through guided reflection, prayer, scripture meditation, and sharing circles (for those who wish to share), participants will explore healthy ways to process grief and invite God’s comforting presence into their sorrow. Together, we will learn how to carry grief with hope, recognizing that mourning is not a sign of weakness but an expression of love and loss.

Key Focus Areas:

• Understanding the stages and expressions of grief
• Biblical foundations for comfort and hope in times of mourning
• Guided journaling and prayer practices for healing
• Gentle group discussion and support

Who Should Attend:
Anyone experiencing grief of any kind, whether fresh or long-held, who seeks spiritual comfort, community support, and tools for ongoing healing in God’s peace.

Mindfulness Moments with Miraz:

Discover simple mindfulness practices you can readily incorporate into your day to foster self-awareness, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and promote healthier habits in your life.

Al descubrir prácticas simples de mindfulness y aplicarlas diariamente ayudará a reducir tu estrés y la ansiedad. Además, te ayudará a mejorar la concentración y promoverá mejores hábitos en tu vida.

Se ofrece en español. En la segunda opcion para talleres, se puede eleigir en español.

Women in Ministry: Deconstructing Power and Isms in the Church and Society

Based upon her recent book of the same title, in this seminar, the presenter offers participants the opportunity to consider current-day methods used by some leaders (both in the Church and
societal structures) to perpetuate oppression, marginalization, and disenfranchisement of women, Black and Brown people, and the poor in America. Participants will be challenged to take a fresh
look at how false piety, modern-day politics, misinterpretations of scripture, and greed, converge to form formidable barriers and glass cliffs for specific groups of people.

During this session,  participants will reflect on the following questions:

• How did we get here?
• In such a short period, how have we allowed our nation to lose so much ground in terms of civil rights?
• Are we willing to name the root causes of our regression?
• What strategies should we learn and use to help turn the tide?

Young Adult Women (YAW) – Navigating Relationships:

Part 1: Friendships
Explore what it means to build and maintain meaningful, supportive, and God-honoring friendships. We will discuss:

* Choosing friends who encourage your walk with God
* Setting healthy boundaries
* Navigating conflict with grace and forgiveness
* Being the kind of friend God calls us to be

Part 2: Romantic Relationships
In this section, we will examine romantic relationships through a faith lens, discussing:

* Understanding God’s design for love and partnership
* Dating with purpose and spiritual discernment
* Recognizing healthy versus unhealthy relationship patterns
* Preparing your heart for the love God desires for you

Offsite Housing at Local Hotels:
Individual conferees from outside the area are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. Click the links below to reserve your room with the group discount. Please note reservations must be made by September 12, 2025.  Here are hotels in the area:

Hyatt House Emeryville / San Francisco Bay Area
5800 Shellmound Street
Emeryville, CA 94608

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/OAKXE/G-ABWM