This past April 2025 during the " I Am Retreat" I received an overwhelming presence from Our Lord and Savior. I went with an open mind and heart, ready an willing to receive whatever the Lord had in store for me. For the first time in my life I think I allowed myself to completely surrendered to the movement of his spirit and openly welcome him to move within me, and he did. I felt a presence from him that I had never felt before and to be honest I questioned myself as to why I waited so long. I've been saved and in relationship with My Lord since 2008, but I feel like I had one hand on The Lord and one hand on the world. The Lord through this Retreat allowed me to let go of the world and grasp him whole heartedly. It doesn't take a retreat to experience his presence, but through the "I am" retreat I felt secure, safe and with others that had the same desire for his presence. So at any moment, Its just a willingness to completely surrender to him and he will fill you with everything you are missing and more. This feeling once experienced, is one you want to live in forever. If you're seeking him, just say yes Lord, here I am.
My experience was I was hesitant to go in the first place because it was my first time ever doing something like it. I didn’t have a goal in mind really besides getting closer to God. I was trying to be open and receive what I was supposed to but I still felt pretty closed off until Friday evening of the retreat. You could definitely feel the spirit the whole time we were there but I guess I still had my walls up. Friday night worship during being prayed over I experienced something much deeper than what I have with the Lord. I saw the cross and I saw Jesus’s face… my heart was beating so fast when I saw the cross and His face but not anything scary. After I opened my eyes from that experience, it was then that I truly understood what it meant to be His daughter… a daughter of the one and only King. I felt my walls crash down and just open up to Him. It deepened my relationship with Him a lot more than I ever imagined. It truly was the best experience and although I was hesitant at first I’m glad I went. If you truly let your guard down and let go of the worldly things or what others think of you while you worship, you will get everything you asked for in this retreat.
I’m a wife, mama, and passionate follower of Jesus with a heart for seeing women encouraged, equipped, and set free by His truth. My desire is to help others know they are loved, chosen, and called — not by what they’ve done, but by what Christ has done for them. One of my life verses is “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25).Whether it’s serving behind the scenes, praying over hearts, or sharing what God is teaching me, it’s my joy to walk alongside other women as we grow together in faith, grace, and sisterhood.
Hello I'm Monica Lovell The “I am” retreat is so awesome. I have been to every one so far and each time I leave with a deeper more connected relationship with my ABBA. I have had some stuff in my life that only God could help and heal me. I had broken-heartedness and I was crushed in spirit. I have personally experienced great encounters with my Lord Jesus. Seeking Him for truth and deep healing, it is so awesome to have a safe place with sisters in Christ to walk this out with and get a deeper level of understanding as to Who I am and Who's I AM! God has met me there each time and has given me a deeper understanding and revelation as to who He is and how He loves and cares for me. He is so faithful & loving! He truly care for me and loves me uniquely for I am uniquely made by Him. He shows up! So thankful and grateful….
What a blessing!! Our men's retreat was very encouraging, uplifting, and full of good worship. We had the privilege of seeing one of the young men be baptized. This is what it's all about!!!