A Place for Women to BE ~ An article from ChristianWeek - September 2009

A month ago – or slightly more ~ the ChristianWeek newspaper came out in Winnipeg, and within its newsprinted pages was an article that was written by Angeline Schellenberg, after an interview with me over a big cup of coffee.  I thought I could lift it off the internet, but couldn’t ~ so I have finally typed it out, to share with you.

Health and Heart ~ A place for women to be

By Angeline Schellenberg

ChristianWeek Columnist

This article was in the September 09 issue of ChristianWeek.  A huge thanks to Angeline for her story!  To God Be the Glory!

“In 2000 Joy Klassen prayed, “Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes and accept Thy will for my life.”  In return, God gave her the dream of opening a women’s retreat centre.

“God showed me very early in my ministry that there are a lot of women who don’t realize how valued they are to Him,” says Klassen.  She emerged from a deep depression in the 1990’s with “a thirsty heart.”  Inspired by the story of the Samaritan woman’s search for living water, she named the centre Women Refreshed at the Well.

In December 2001, Klassen left her childcare career of 25 years to move toward her dream.  Instead, God led her to a seven-year pastoral ministry at McIvor Mennonite Brethren Church (ending this September).

But as she waited, God confirmed the vision.  A woman at McIvor who knew nothing of Klassen’s vision for a retreat centre shared this recurring dream:  “You went to the well.  You then proceeded to seek out a woman who needed a drink and you went to her with your dipper.  I wondered why you didn’t use a bucket.  It came to me that you were meeting people’s needs individually, and that what one person may require form the well is very different than what the next person would need…Does that mean anything to you?”

Klassen’s vision grew through the devastating loss of her grandson Jay at birth one year ago.  A sermon she preached about her loss opened many women to sharing their experiences.  “I had never thought I would ever walk such a dark valley of grief,” says Klassen.  “God is saying, I’m going to use that brokenness.”

Plans for the center expanded to include a chapel where women who have experienced loss will receive prayer and comfort.

After Jay’s passing, Klassen sensed God saying, “Get the ball rolling.”  He prompted her to talk to Jerald Peters, an architect from her church.  Providentially, one of Peter’s university assignments had been designing a spiritual retreat center.  On a paper placemat, he began drawing her dream ~ for free.

In March Klassen and her husband Alvin made an offer on almost 19 acres of land, east of Henderson Highway, 13 kilometers north of Winnipeg.  The Klassens bid well below the listed price.  At first the real estate agent didn’t like the offer, but when they heart what the land would be used for, the owners accepted the offer.

“It is a very exciting time for us.  Having ‘perked’ on the back burner for seven years, it seems that God is definitely bringing it to boil!” says Klassen.

Plans for the 3,700 square foot home and retreat center include five guestrooms, a library, an exercise room, a creative room and space for a counselor and a massage therapist.  The living area will have plenty of room to “sit in your pajamas and read,” says Klassen, and the grounds will feature prayer paths and gardens.  The Klassen’s plan to build a barn with a large loft meeting room this fall, with the house scheduled for completion fall 2010.

Some people critique retreats as “running from reality,” but, says Klassen, “maybe this mom with three kids just needs five hours of sleep” or to process a decision.  “So often we get caught up in the whirlpool and we forget what it means to be still.”  Women Refreshed at the Well will be “place women can come and just be ~ not only believers, but any woman looking for renewal,” says Klassen.  “We hope to help women feel how beautiful they are in the eyes of God.”

Anyone interested in seeing the property, praying, and enjoying smores around a campfire is invited to a free “come and go” event Sept 13, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

...her name on His lips...

Today I went to my daughter’s blog (www.tolovelikethat.blogspot.com) and found a poem.  As I read the poem – I kept thinking “God, this is me!  This is me!”   I realize that my daughter Ashley likely wrote this to express her heart at this time, but as I wrote a comment on her blog – I realize that she expressed the hearts of many women (and likely many men).  So – I am sharing it with you here.  

the air is still
her steps are labored
but she moves ahead

the ground is gray
crunching under her feet
the fog is thick

moving forward
reaching out
longing for a drink

walking for days
weeks
months

moving ahead
stumbling
stopping
moving back
not moving
moving again

forward.

eyes closed
coolness beneath her fingertips
stability
a friend
a glass
filled to overflowing

a drink
of love, sweeter than honey
a friend
her name on His lips
love, sweeter than honey

a drink
of peace, like rain on dry land
a friend
her name on His lips
peace, like rain on dry land

a drink
of hope, like a breath of fresh air
a friend
her name on His lips
hope, like a breath of fresh air

a friend, her friend
meeting her
loving her
refreshing her

at the well

Dreaming ~ Designing ~ Drawing ~ Drinking Coffee

We have had the joy of dreaming~and drinking coffee at Mountain Bean with Jerald.  It has become our place of looking over plans, talking about details, and dreaming.  Jerald ~ continues to be a gift from God to us and ultimately to the ministry.  We met a week and a half ago to go over some more details such as room size, master suite should include what?, putting in a lift for wheelchair access, windows in the basement, moving the shop forward about 15 -20 feet and on and on.  In fact our coffee cups were long emptied before our discussion wrapped up.  This is a very exciting time for all of us.  The thing that Alvin and I are so thankful for is that it is obvious that Jerald and us are on the “same page” when it comes to dreaming about what the retreat house will look like. 

This past week receipts have gone out and I have also heard that our friend Wayne is willing to do our bookkeeping stuff.  That is such a great thing!  And when I went to the mailbox yesterday ~ there was another donation!  This is a very exciting time. 

Now, we need to sell our home in Anola, so that we can have the money that it will take to build our home/retreat house.  So ~ for our praying partners out there, here are some requests for prayer:

• pray for Jerald as he works on the plans, and Lordwilling are able to meet this week.
• pray that we can sell out home in Anola.  It will begin to be shown on October 1st and we are praying that it will sell quick.  I believe that God has already prepared the ones who will buy it.

These are very exciting times!  To God be the glory – Great things He has done and is doing and is going to do!

the road is put in

the barn/shop is photoshopped in - to scale

Long and overdue - A huge THANK-YOU!

Today is Monday, September 21st ~ and this post is long overdue.  The COME and GO ~ WALK and PRAY has happened.  It was overwhelming ~ and I give God the glory for the whole event.  The other day a good friend said that she could really feel the presence of God at the land.  I totally agree.  God was fully there!

It was an amazing day.  We didn’t totally think ahead, and didn’t leave enough time to fully prepare before the first cars began to arrive.  Honestly, I don’t know what we would have done without family and good friends who came alongside ~ helping to bake (my daughter had her own little bake-off!!) and to set up, to prepare coffee and to help talk with people.  You know who you are ~ thank you so much!

Like I said, it had barely turned 3 pm and the cars began to arrive and people began to walk and pray.  The land was “SOAKED IN PRAYER” during the full 2 hours of the event.  I saw people walking around the perimeter of the land ~ not as far back as we go ~ but certainly a ways back.  We had some hand-outs to give those who wanted to know what to pray for.  Others just prayed as God gave them the thoughts.

We had a campfire ~ stuff for smores ~ and lots of goodies, including a fair amount of chocolate.  WOMEN AND CHOCOLATE = a must!!

We thank God for each one of you ~ some of you are old friends, some of you were totally brand new on that day!  We thank God for each and every one of you.  We are thankful for the prayers offered on our behalf and on behalf of the ministry.   It was our desire to soak the land in prayer before we began to dig… thank you for coming!! Thank you for praying!!  Thank you for your support.

In the morning, there was a “thank-you” event at McIvor Ave. M.B. Church, as I have recently concluded my formal pastoral ministry at McIvor.  The thank-you was overwhelming.  As part of the thank-you, people were given the opportunity to give a financial “love-gift” to the ministry.  With the party over – I walked into the church service blessed with about $500 in my purse. When I came out of the service, a couple gave me another cheque – and additional $200 more toward the ministry.

The COME and GO ~ WALK and PRAY was not a “fund-raiser”.  However during the course of the afternoon, an older couple gave Alvin a “bulging” brown envelope which he immediately hid in his truck.  As we were pulling away, Alvin told me to look under something ~ there was the envelope.  I found it, and opened it up, only to find a couple hundred dollar bills and a fistful of 20′s.  Within that envelope, I counted $1000.  I wept.

You see ~ the $1700 that came in as love gifts ~ are affirmations that we are in the will of God ~ and that following Him is what He wants.  We realize we are up to our eyeballs following Him ~ and if He didn’t make it so blatantly clear ~ there would be time when we may wonder “really God?”

So, this thank-you is long and overdue.  A huge thank you to say THANKS for coming and blessing us with your presence and with your prayers.  A huge thank you to those who could not come, but said you would pray.  A huge thank you to those who helped make the event happen.  A huge thank you to God, through whom all of the glory and praise goes!!  He is fully in control  We just continue to be the conduits through which He works.

Thank you for your prayers.

If you want to continue to pray, here are the things on our prayer list.  Thanking you in advance for “standing in the gap” on our behalf. Please:

• pray for Jerald Peters as he works on the design of the barn/shop and the house (combined personal and retreat)
• pray for Lorie Mayer as she works on the logo for the ministry
• pray for safety for each one involved in the physical build of the barn/shop and house
• pray for the ministry’s current baord members, as well as those who will join the board in the future
• pray for additional board members
• pray for the women who will come here for rest, refrehsment and renewal.  We are excited about each one that will come and be our guests.  Pray that epople will experience God in this place.
• pray for us as we figure out the financial aspects.  The land, barn and home will be funded and owned by us personally.  We will be working with an accountant to figure out how to carry out the ministry and the financial obligations.
• pray for a strong prayer team to surround us.  If you would like to be part of it, please let us know atwomenrefreshed@gmail.com
• pray for the financial support of the ministry.  We are a recognized non-profit organiation, and we are able to issue tax receipts.  The money that is raised with help furnish the retreat portion of the house.
• pray for our neighbors.  As we come into the neighborhood, please pray that we would be a shining light and that we would also get to know our neighbors in a positive light.  We don’t want them to be afraid or skeptical of what we are going to be doing.  Perhaps this will be a place of rest for them too.

Thank you for your prayers!!  Please feel free to email at womenrefreshed@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Sept 13 ~ Hope To See You THERE!!

Alvin and I (Joy) would love to see you this Sunday, at our new land, and the future home of Women Refreshed at the Well ministry.

We are having a “come and go” event – so that you can come, walk and pray at the site…
WHEN: this Sunday ~ Sept 13
TIME: 3 – 5 pm Come for five minutes or two hours or anything in between ~ you choose!!
WHERE: we are the lot immediately NORTH of Corpus Christi Catholic Church – 5819 Henderson Hwy.

Directions: from Henderson and the North Perimeter – drive NORTH for 13.3 kms. We are the lot next to (north of) the church on the EAST side of Henderson.

WHY COME? We would like to bless and pray over the land prior to the beginning of our build ~ we want to include the Lord in all parts from the beginning to the end of the build and into the ministry!

So, we invite you to come. Wear good shoes if you want to walk. Bring a lawn chair ~ as we will have a fire going ~ and some refreshments.

This is GOD’s Vision ~ and we are just the vessels He is going to use ~ and I have a feeling He is going to use many more of you too.

So please come ~ if you need any more info ~ call me at home 866-3638 or that day on my cell 223-5467.

Hope to see you then!! Remember bring your LAWNCHAIR!!
See you Sunday!

Thank you Lord! One step closer!

Well as promised, I am writing to update you on how the council meeting went at our Rural Municipal office!!  We thank God for answered prayers!  We thank you for standing in the gap on our behalf – and on behalf of Women Refreshed at the Well ministry.  I would be lying if I said I was not nervous.  You sit there and they have your future in your hands – with a yes or a no vote!!  But then again, they didn’t stand a chance with God on our side, and this is HIS Vision – his ministry.

So, we were there, and asked to answer a few questions.  We left at about 7:30 – relieved that it was over and very thankful that we found favor in the eyes of council!

Lord, we thank you!  We thank you for going before us – for helping us to find favor.  This is your plan Lord – and we are only your conduits.  Thank you for everything you have done and are going to do! We love you and praise your name!!
Great are you Lord!

Please pray that we will find favor in their eyes tonight!

I am sitting here at home, with a couple verses running through my mind and over my heart.  BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.  BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING BUT IN ALL THINGS WITH PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD.

Sorry, I may have quoted that a little off, not sure ~ but the reality is I know why God laid those on my heart just minutes ago.  You see ~ tonight is the night that we hear whether or not the Rural Municipality that we are moving into (Lord Willing) will grant our requests or not.

We had to take our information to them ~ the plans, the site plan, letters and reasons why we want to do what we are asking them to grant!  And  almost $500 per request.  ($1000 total)

We had to do that three weeks prior to their council meeting, which is tonight at 7.

We had to do this, as the plans that Jerald and we have been pouring over, are plans to first of all build a “barn” and then next summer to build the “house”.
And, the thing is ~ the barn is bigger and higher than they allow.  And the house, in order to do the ministry, we need to apply for the bed and breakfast permits.  And, under that ~ they allow 2 bedrooms for use as B&B.  We are planning for 5.  (Jerald had wondered why I picked 5 vs 6 for instance ~ and all I can say is that 5 is the number that God gave to me for the max number of women at any one time for retreat)

So ~ tonight we find out if we are permitted to do both requests.  Once granted – we can begin to build.  Flip side ~ if not granted, we lose the money that accompanied the request, and there is no appeal.  SO…. “Joy, be anxious for nothing…”

This is HIS Vision ~ and we are just the vessel God is using to do it.  We are trusting Him to move their hands on this one and we have been asking our friends to pray!

So, please pray that we will find favor with the council tonight!  I will let you know later!

Be anxious for nothing!  Lord God ~ ruler over all things ~ you are the one who laid this Vision on my heart, and have entrusted it to us to bring to fruition.  Lord, I am anxious,  perhaps I am “council shy” in some ways, but I ask for peace as we go tonight and sit in on the meeting.  I also ask Lord, that you would help us to find favor in their eyes.  Lord, this is your Vision ~ I have absolutely no doubt of that ~ so I know that you are in control.  Not me.  Lord ~ we give you all the honor and the glory!  Amen.