Registration Closed!
We intentionally keep our events small to minister and nurture fellowship with one another. We have 50 women registered, and our registration is now closed. Please leave a comment below if you desire to be placed on a waiting list to attend this retreat if a space opens or if you want to be one our email list to know about our next event.
Come to the Beach March 3-5, 2023
We see you. We know you’re tired. We know you have broken places that need healing. We also know life is demanding, and you just need a break. Sweet sisters, you are chosen and cherished by the Father. He has plans and purposes for you beyond what you can envision. This weekend will be healing, restoring, and empowering. We’re going to take back what the enemy has stolen.
In 2022 we met at the river in historic downtown Wilmington. It was a powerful event, and many were encouraged and experienced breakthroughs. We liked the river; we knew God had led us there, but in 2023 we’re heading back to the beach!
We’re also extending our schedule from Friday to Sunday with three meals on Saturday. Our vision for BFA has always been to create a weekend for women to find rest, renew their faith, and enjoy fellowship with old and new friends. You can’t do that in one day. You need a weekend away.
2023 Finding Purpose!
Finding Purpose! is the theme for 2023. Many of us are seeking and searching for that special purpose God has for us. If that’s you, grab your ticket today. No matter what season you’re in or what seasons you’re between, you have a purpose laced with eternity. Take a step of faith. Give Him the entire weekend and come expecting to meet a new friend, experience powerful worship, find rest and healing, and discover your purpose right here and right now.
New Schedule
Friday Night-
Meet and Greet 7:00-8:00 PM
Saturday (All Meals Provided)
8:30-9:30- Breakfast
9:30- 1st Session
11:00- 2nd Session
12:30- Lunch and Free Time
- Walk on the beach, take a nap, go on a prayer walk, hang with friends!
3:00 PM- 3rd Session
5:30 PM- Dinner
7-9:00 PM- Extended Worship and Prayer
Sunday (Check Out at 11:00 AM)
10:00 AM- 12:00 PM Communion, Worship, and Closing
Do you need a weekend like this? Do you know someone else who does? Grab your tickets now!
Stay at Shell Island Resort
Overnight Stay is optional and separate cost.
The special Shell Island Resort room rate for BFA has closed, but rooms are still available.
One or two night stay is available. Grab your girlfriends for a weekend together to share the cost. The Shell Island suites have two queens, one and a half baths, and a living area with a kitchenette. We love them!
Room Reservations:
Call 910-344-0888. This is a special line for BFA reservations. Leave a message if Meredith does not answer. She is our event coordinator and will return your call to complete your reservation.
Airport Info:
If you are coming in from out of state and will be flying, we have a wonderful little airport in Wilmington. ILM is small but growing with a number of flights arriving and departing daily. It’s about 24 minutes from Wrightsville beach.
T-Shirts for our Saturday Night Dance Party!
Cost: $18
Available on our store. Order here.
Speakers
Andy Lee is the author of A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called, The Book of Ruth Bible Study: A 31-Day Journey to Hope and Promise, and Radiant Influence: How an Ordinary Girl Changed the World. Her greatest passion is to help women unlock the life-changing power in the Bible for themselves. That’s what changed her life, her marriage, and her parenting, and gives her renewed purpose and strength everyday. You can do life with her on Instagram @wordsbyandylee and her YouTube channel.
Venus Schrader spent years in pursuit of emotional healing from traumatic events of her childhood. On the brink of throwing in the towel on life and God, she received the revelation that she was Daddy’s Girl. This opened the door to a process of healing that has forever changed her life. She has lead women’s bible study, taught Sunday school, and she has also ministered to homeless and runaway teens and single moms. Venus enjoys spending time with her family and friends and writing children’s books. She is the mother of four adult children: a handsome son and three beautiful daughters. She also has four precious grandchildren. Venus lives in Wilmington, NC, with her husband Randy and daughter Kiyanna.
Debbie Hufham is the visionary of Kalos women’s ministries. She has a desire to show women they can trust God. A message about obedience is not something most people run to hear, but her motto is: “faith is the key; obedience opens the door.” Debbie invites you through the door where you can find peace, hope and trust in Jesus. Her intentional speech and hilarious stories are loved by those who hear her messages.
Kalos Ministries
Our BFA team partners with KALOS ministries to encourage women’s ministries all over the country. If you have a women’s ministry that could use some refreshing and encouragement, or if you need help launching a new ministry to women in your church, we’d love to help!
We offer resources, mentoring, and the BFA retreats in one day or weekend formats based on your needs and budgets.
KALOS is still in the launching stages, but we’d love to hear from you if you’re interested. Email Debbie at: dkhufham@gmail.com for more info.
We Hope You Can Come!
Bring your small group, leadership team, or entire women’s ministry! We can’t wait to meet you. :)
. . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. . . Isaiah 61:3
Testimonies of attendees…
Attending Beauty for Ashes Retreats is like coming home to family. So much warmth and loving thought and prayer put into each event. Love the freedom of the spirit! Blessed to have been both attendee and speaker.
– Susan Ely, Raleigh, NC
Last year was my 1st year and I’m excited for my 2nd year. I met lots of amazing women. – Kelly Lynn Michael, Wilmington, NC
This was my first retreat ever and was an amazing experience! I was so filled by all the testimonies & met so many wonderful Christian women, many of whom have become special friends! I was totally blessed by this retreat.
-Diane Holland, Wilmington, NC
Such a time of refreshing as I met so many women who have so many different walks of life and how God brought them through. Also the breakouts helped so much as I always struggled with opening up and sharing my story. Looking forward to 2020.
-Sara Echel, Wilmington, NC
I loved it and will be there next time and bringing a friend! – Francine Tadeo, Wilmington, NC
My mom Anne Scott and I attended for the first time and I’m hoping to bring my daughters and daughter in laws with me this coming year. -Ellen Hart, Wilmington, NC
Don’t Miss What God Has For You! Register Today!
Please sign me up for notification on your next retreat. Looks like a wonderful time! Thank you.
Will do!
Hello,
Please sign me up to receive emails and updates on the next retreat. Thank you.
Will do!
I’d love to be added as well. Thank you so much.
Will do, Kerry!
Hello. I recently came across this tonight and realized I am too late for this years retreat. However, I would love to receive more information regarding next years. And, if for any reason a lady minute spot opens up for this year, please let me know.
Hi Isabel! I will definitely put you on the list for next year. And I think we do have a spot that’s opened. I will be emailing you. :)
Do you have availability for a one day pass just for Saturday? I would love to attend as I live in the area.
Hi Ramona! I sent you an email. :)
I just came across your site and wealth of resources for women wanting a closer relationship with God and fellowship with sister believers. I noted I am too late for the 2023 Beauty for Ashes Retreat, but I would love to receive information in time to participate in the 2024 retreat. That way I could plan and include other women from my church and community.. I live in Easley, SC
Hi Vickie! So glad you found me! I will definitely add you to our email list for the retreat. We also would love to bring a BFA retreat to your neck of the woods. Thanks so much for reaching out.
Can you please let me know,if the Retreat Registration is still available for March 3-5,2023 Thank you ❣️ 😁
Hi Anna! I sent you an email, but I’m not sure if you got it. We have 4 more open spots! We’d love to have you join us.
I wish I could come but I already have a trip planned a week later!! I hope I can come next year!!
Rebecca, it’s always the first weekend in March, so keep that in mind! We also would love to bring a Beauty for Ashes retreat to your area. :)
I’m coming to this retreat, I fill like it’s the answer to my prayers, I want to reconnect and receive what my father has in store for me. I also just moved here to NC with my husband and baby boy and would like to get to know other women of Faith.
Alina! We’re so excited you’re coming! We will be praying for you!
I would love to attend and see how I can move on as a woman after my previous divorce that has left abig wound on my heart but I stay in Uganda Africa I don’t know how I can connect to attend this because it means boarding aplane of which I don’t know how I can do it
I stumbled across this by accident! Then again maybe it wasn’t an accident!
Making plans to attend the March 2020 conference! I’m checking with a few more Sisters-N-Christ!
Hi Jodi! I love when God does that! So glad you found us and can’t wait to meet you! Yes, bring some sisters with you! It’s going to be an anointed weekend. :)
Hi Andy,
I am attending your retreat this weekend at Shell Island Wrightsville beach.
I am disabled and use a wheelchair. I am so nervous to attend due to my fear of not fitting in. I have to have an assistant to ambulate as I am unable to move my wheelchair on my own. Which make me feel vulnerable and completely depend on others.
Sometimes my chair scares people away from interacting or including me. I wish I could just go and not have to think about the legistic of attending a public event.
I want so badly to just go and enjoy being with other stong women , make friends, praise God and find my way back to that person who had confidence, empowerment and be a whole person again.
My loving husband signed me up for this retreat out of love and the hope that I will come home, hopeful, stronger, less anxious, and with tools to be brave again .
Any suggestions or advice on how to stay present and not let my anxiety get the best of me during the retreat.
I am so excited to see what the weekend will bring. I am unable to stay overnight and my husband, my best friend will stay on the hotel property, a phone call away if I need anything .
Thank you for your love and dedication to offering events that are God centered. Empower and help women heal and creat lasting friendships.
Best to you, Janice Thomaier
See you this weekend!
Hi Janice! We are thrilled that you are coming to the retreat! Though I don’t know all the women coming, I know some of them and have no doubt that you will find them loving, inclusive, and helpful. I will try to orchestrate who you sit by. Do you need one of our team to be your helper during the event? You will be in our prayers for peace and joy, and the strength you need to be brave. Please don’t be afraid. We are all just simple, ordinary women who love Jesus. See you soon! – Andy
Hi Andy, I am attending your retreat this weekend at Shell Island Wrightsville beach.
I am disabled and use a wheelchair. I am so nervous to attend due to my fear of not fitting in. I have to have an assistant to ambulate as I am unable to move my wheelchair on my own. Which make me feel vulnerable and completely depend on others.
Sometimes my chair scares people away from interacting or including me. I wish I could just go and not have to think about the legistic of attending a public event.
I want so badly to just go and enjoy being with other stong women , make friends, praise God and find my way back to that person who had confidence, empowerment and be a whole person again.
My loving husband signed me up for this retreat out of love and the hope that I will come home, hopeful, stronger, less anxious, and with tools to be brave again .
Any suggestions or advice on how to stay present and not let my anxiety get the best of me during the retreat.
I am so excited to see what the weekend will bring. I am unable to stay overnight and my husband, my best friend will stay on the hotel property, a phone call away if I need anything .
Thank you for your love and dedication to offering events that are God centered. Empower and help women heal and creat lasting friendships.
Best to you, Janice Thomaier
See you this weekend!
Any any spaces left for this?
Hi Kim! Yes! We’d love to have you join us this year!
Andy is there still room for the Match retreat?
Sonia Armstrong
sonia.a.armstrong7@gmail.com
562-310-3115
Andy, what is the deadline for registering for the retreat? I am trying to get some of my friends at my church to come!
Hi Christine! The deadline in Feb 22. Hope you can come!
Very interested! Who are your keynote speakers for this retreat??
Hi Kimberly! I sent you an email with the bios of the keynote speakers. :) Hope you can come!!