Happy I Love to Write Day Pioneers with Pens!

. . . And what better way to celebrate than by recalling the ministry of our two-day Christian writers retreat and workshops at Pioneers with Pens 2023 on the lovely grounds of Restoration Family Farm in the heart of Southern New Jersey! SLIDE SHOW HERE!
​                        by Kathryn Ross, Retreat Director

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A total of 22 creative women who love to write gathered together on a stunning Autumn weekend for two days of retreat and recommitment to the pioneer writing assignment they had received from the Lord.

October 27 and 28, 2023, dawned with clear blue skies and sunshine igniting the brilliant golds and oranges and reds that exploded across the wooded landscapes at Restoration Family Farm in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Summer temperatures took us by surprise requiring last minute wardrobe plans of cozy sweaters be traded for tank tops and t-shirts. 

The Good News Christian Writers Mentoring Team--Stacy Lee Flury, Christine Strittmatter, Linda Slomin, and Trish Weldon--gathered early Friday morning for prayer prior to welcoming our eager budding authors. Pastor Rob, our facility host, drew us into the presence of the Lord with a tender time of worship and almost immediately we felt the bonding one to another in the Spirit. Expectation filled our hearts and soon we were well into the Schedule of the Day. 

Four instructive teaching sessions at the top of each morning and afternoon were followed by five break out group sessions featuring small group study in writing craft excellence, devotional writing, children's writing, vision board creation, manuscript critiques and plein air painting with our special guest mentor, award winning local artist Dawn Kohansky.

Our Pioneers with Pens enjoyed plenty of free time to visit in the group sessions or enjoy the amenities of the farm including animals, corn-hole toss, ax throwing, quiet time spots, and more between the main instructional teachings.

Meals were simple and attendees worked as teams to serve one another at lunches and dinner. Firepit fellowship after dinner at dusk perfectly capped the first day with everyone eager to return in the morning.

By Saturday morning, I woke hearing the words of the Lord in my spirit, "The hub for Christian Writers and Speakers in South Jersey has been birthed!"

GLORY TO GOD!!

That had been my prayer for Pageant Wagon Publishing for years. I am overwhelmed at the goodness of God to give us such an incredible weekend to launch our network fellowship of writers and authors--Pioneers with Pens taking territory for the Kingdom of God as we tell His Story through our stories.

By Saturday morning, I woke hearing the words of the Lord in my spirit, "The hub for Christian Writers and Speakers in South Jersey has been birthed!"

We knew we could not wait a whole year before gathering again. To that end, we will be meeting at the farm in 6 months for an Accountabili-TEA to celebrate our forward advancements in our individual writing assignments. Plus--we may have quarterly Zoom meetings in between!

Be sure to check out the Pioneers with Pens Retreats tab to see a slide show retrospective of our two days together with tons of photos. Some amazing writers and speakers have fully stepped into their calling and it will be amazing to join with them--like the pioneer wagon trains traveling together--and boldly take territories on the printed page and eventually in a reader's heart for the Kingdom of God.

Watch for new blog posts here on the Good News Writers Blog from some of our Pioneers on varied topics as we blaze new trails with our pens and laptops in 2024!