25 May 2025| Maribor, Slovenia [Anja Patricija Cikač]
From 23 to 25 May, over 50 women from across Slovenia met in Crikvenica, Croatia, for a women’s retreat focused on spiritual renewal, healing, and connection. Under the theme Heal Me, Oh Jesus, the event combined worship, reflection, creative workshops, and fellowship by the sea.
The retreat, organised by the Slovenian Conference, featured Karen Holford, Director of Family Ministries for the Trans-European Division, as the main speaker. Through her presentations and workshops, Holford encouraged participants to embrace God’s love, recognise His healing presence, and rediscover the power of wonder, mercy, and joy. “Women often forget, in the hustle and bustle of life, that they are beloved children of God,” Holford reminded attendees.
The programme opened on Friday evening with a devotional focused on the beauty of God’s creation. Participants were invited to reflect on the role of wonder in reducing anxiety and finding spiritual healing. Each woman selected a flower as a symbol of divine joy and was encouraged to lay her burdens at the feet of Jesus.
Saturday offered a full day of worship and reflection. Attendees began the morning with group prayer, seaside walks, and open conversations in the early light. Many gathered in the prayer room to intercede for themselves and loved ones, while others spent quiet time on the beach just steps away from the hotel. A creative activity invited each woman to decorate a heart-shaped token to share with others—a reminder that they are deeply loved by God.
In her Sabbath (Saturday) message, Holford centred on the biblical story of the woman caught in adultery. Drawing on themes of forgiveness and mercy, she reminded listeners that God welcomes everyone, regardless of their brokenness, and offers healing and restoration. The message concluded with a symbolic act of Kintsugi—women were given broken heart cut-outs to mend with gold tape, representing how God restores brokenness with beauty and grace.
An afternoon tea party featured two interactive workshops. Patricija Virtič led a session on caring for the voice and singing songs of praise, while Holford guided participants in developing emotional resilience through spiritual practices. Each attendee received a small bag of symbolic items—a reminder to live with gratitude, kindness, and joy.
The day closed with a sunset gathering on the beach, where women shared personal testimonies of how God’s grace had carried them through difficult times. Prayers for peace and healing marked the end of the Sabbath.
Sunday morning concluded the retreat with a final devotional based on the story of the woman who bled for twelve years. Holford shared a personal story from her childhood—a heart-shaped button sewn into her school uniform by her mother as a hidden reminder of love. Participants received similar buttons and fabric bookmarks, symbols of God’s love to carry home.
For many, the weekend was not only a spiritual highlight but also a time of renewing friendships, forming new bonds, and finding strength for the challenges ahead.
[Photos: courtesy of Anja Patricija Cikač]
