For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. . .For the body does not consist of one member but of many…
1 Corinthians 12:12, 14
So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. . .
Titus 2:10
The ladies of IDC had the privilege to gather together downtown in the city of Raleigh the weekend of September 20th – 21st. We focused on the two primary things IDC has to offer: gospel and community. The weekend sought to flesh out IDC’s mission of Know-Grow-Go, with a concentration in the book of Titus. Friday evening we heard from Anna Creswell, Missie Branch, Isabelle Kretz, Lauren Bishop, and Magan Hicks during a panel discussion. These five ladies, currently in various stages of life with radically different stories, demonstrated that while we live as a diverse body in Christ with many members, it is the same gospel that unites us as one. They shared specifically how Titus 2 intersects with their current life stage and how they are learning to know, understand, and apply these Scriptures to their daily lives. Their transparency about their walks with the Lord, their struggles and joys, was an incredible testimony to Christ’s redeeming work.
Saturday morning brought us a treasure in the gift of biblical teaching and sound doctrine from the lovely Jenni Price. Jenni exhorted, encouraged, and equipped us as women to be better disciples of Jesus through loving Him and inviting others along with us as disciple-makers. She explained the importance of seeking gospel intentionality in our daily conversations and interactions as we pursue a culture and community of discipleship among women at IDC.
Following Jenni, a panel discussion on Titus 2 discipleship gave some real-life examples and resources to equip our women to grow. The ladies who shared were Shauna Sigmon, Jillian Abraham, Hannah Bolton, and Kim Humphrey. Each demonstrated that discipleship takes form in a variety of ways yet is something worthy of pursuit that Christ has called us to as His disciples
Saturday afternoon allowed us the unique opportunity to pray over the city of Raleigh as we overlooked it from the top floor of our hotel. Many IDC ladies set up prayer stations that walked through the Imago Dei PEACE Plan, as well as national and international missions. The PEACE Plan includes: Plant Churches, Evangelize the World, Aid the Poor and the Sick, Care for the Orphan and the Oppressed, and Equip Leaders. These prayer stations highlighted ways growth groups and covenant members can pray for and serve others, both locally and internationally. As Titus exhorts, we desire to grow as women “so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. . . the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:10-11, 13-14
The beauty of the weekend is that it was designed to be nourishing for the Body of Christ at IDC and yet was completely provided for by the Body. Countless women at IDC invested time and effort to prepare and carry out every aspect of this retreat. This is the Body of Christ at work fulfilling His purposes by each member sharing their talents, gifts, and abilities and bearing the load of the work. Thank you to each and every one of you!
“Walking away from the first IDC ladies’ retreat I felt encouraged, excited, exhausted physically but rested mentally, and anticipating the development of the new relationships that were created. I was most encouraged by the openness and vulnerable nature of the weekend. . .Discipleship is not a suggestion made by the Lord, we are called to it. Praise God, that through obedience to him, he pushes us to share in authentic community with other believers. ‘Sin is stupid, God is real, and heaven is our home.’ (Jenni). . .My faith in Christ and my hope in what is eternal is affirmed and spurred on in that truth. . .I felt that God answered our prayers for vulnerability, honest sharing, spurring one another on in truth, and recognizing discipleship as a command to us as women.”
“The overall topic is a desire of my heart. I loved the layout of knowing, growing, going to help me remember the take-away and application.”
“I enjoyed getting to hear about how discipleship affected and is affecting other women.”
“The honesty! Everyone was so open and transparent.”
“Hearing life struggles/stories from real women, discussing with small groups, worship and teaching from sisters of IDC.”
“The close location yet sense of being away and getting to know new ladies during our table and meal times together.”
