Christian Student Fellowship leads women’s retreat

During the weekend, about 50 women traveled to Craig Family Camp in Greene County, Ind., to talk about emotions and envy at the Christian Student Fellowship’s Women’s Winter Cabin Retreat.    

The retreat was Friday and Saturday and catered to the topics of purifying one’s heart and learning how to handle emotions in a positive way, junior Becca Piquard said.

The retreat emphasized perspective, protecting one’s own heart and escaping the technology that can cause a person to lose sight of what’s important, sophomore Audrey Rozman said.

“As Christians, we don’t have to be envious of other people,” Piquard said. “God will reward each of us in his own way.”

The retreat included talks by the women’s minister from Bloomington’s Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Claudia Mitchell.

Topics ranged from jealousy and how to go about coping.

“She talked about how to create a clean heart and have pure motives,”
Piquard said.     

Small group discussions were after each of the three main sessions, as well as time for the women to be alone.    

As the women gathered in small groups, they talked about personal matters they were dealing with and how they should handle them, Piquard said.    

“They were really a great way to expand on the messages,” Rozman said.

She said she enjoyed the honesty the retreat brought out in everyone.

Although the retreat is meant to help women solve their problems, Piquard said she realizes no relationship will ever be perfect.     

“Everyone is envious of someone in some way,” Piquard said. “There’s always going to be conflicts between people.”     

Women’s Ministry Director Stephanie Michael helped to plan the retreat, which usually takes place every winter.     

“A lot of hurt can come from just misunderstandings and that can kind of snowball,” Michael said.     

There’s an end to everything in the world, but not to God’s love, Michael said.
Piquard became involved with the Fellowship as a freshman and moved into the Fellowship house, which is located on North Jordan Avenue, the same year.

She said she joined the organization because she wanted the close bond with other people that comes with involvement in a Christian organization.    

The Fellowship is currently involved with the Red Light Campaign, which works to raise awareness of sex trafficking.

They are also having a mission trip during spring break and will help organize a Christian rap concert during Little 500, which will be in Dunn Meadow.  

This year is Rozman’s first year living in the house.     

“I think I really wanted a community where I could be myself,” she said. “We don’t want to change our beliefs or values just because we’re on a liberal campus. It’s nice to be able to talk to people who will keep me on the right track.”