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El Roi Retreat was created to encourage and offer hope to ladies as they navigate their healing journey from past wounds using supportive teaching, small groups, art, exercise, and worship.

Our first retreat was held in 2022.

Our 2025 dates will be Thursday, March 27, to Sunday, March 30.

Registration will open in October.

Venue change! We are excited to announce that El Roi 2025 will be held at Bald Eagle Retreat in Milroy, PA.

2025 Retreat

Thursday, March 27, to Sunday, March 30, 2025

We are honored to have Darla Hackman join us as guest speaker in 2025.

Darla Hackman

Darla grew up in the Midwest and now lives in the Lancaster area. She spent a decade on the mission field and now has been a counselor at Life Counseling Ministries since 2012. She finds fulfillment in journeying with women through the challenges of life and toward more peace and wholeness found in our Heavenly Father. She enjoys cooking, gardening, learning, being in nature, and quality time with family and friends. 

2025 Topics

Knowing the Peace-Giver – Darla Hackman

The difficult experiences in life can make it challenging to feel and know peace within. Peace comes from our relationship with the God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit rather than from our experiences. In this topic, we will explore practical ways to grow our relationship with our Heavenly Peace-Giver and allow more of His peace to reign in our hearts, even when our journey is rocky.

Healthy Sexuality – Bettina Yoder

Sexual abuse, painful experiences, or inadequate theological teaching often distort our capacity to allow Jesus’ gospel to inform our view of sexuality. We will consider how to embrace our sexuality in ways that lead to hope and whole-person integration. 

Understanding Trauma – Gina Garber

Many of us have experienced painful things that deeply impacted the operating system God embedded in us. Through our Great Healer, it is possible to not only survive trauma, but thrive, and fully live into the life God created you for.

Jesus and Women: Lessons about Value – Mary Sadler

During the time that Jesus lived on this earth the value placed on women by the Jewish men was dismal. Jewish Rabbis prayed daily: “Blessed art thou, O God, for not making me a gentile, a slave, or a woman.” But Jesus turned that mindset upside down when He offered, grace, mercy and honor in his interactions with women. This topic will explore key women in the life of Jesus and how he introduced a new view of the value of women.  

2025 Additional Highlights

Worship Time – Lisa Detweiler

Worship unites our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves into a tapestry of expression and connection with the Creator Himself. The worship times at El Roi invite you into singing, Scripture reading, silence, guided meditation, and corporate prayers.

Recreational Art – Diane Horst

At a young age, Diane began discovering the transcendent power of art – the space that does not need words, yet is free to speak. She regards art as a form of therapy and enjoys walking with others through the process.