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MARBLE FALLS—Forty-nine church planters’ wives gathered for a time of retreat and training Oct. 31-Nov. 1—marking the first such event as part of Send Network SBTC’s growing Español initiative.
The theme of the event was “Foundations for the Planter’s Wife.” Speakers were Carolina Santander from Georgia, Carla Cox from Arizona, and Marjarie Hernández from New York.
The wives enjoyed a time of teaching, fellowship, fun, and refreshment. Sessions included “Heights and Valleys”—where women were given space to share how they turned to the Lord in low and high moments in their lives—as well as “Knowing God” and “My Identity in the Gospel.”
“Situations in life will challenge our faith, and how well we know God will determine how we respond,” Hernández said. “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. To truly love God, we must truly know Him.”
Attendees also learned about “Understanding My Husband” and “Your Unique Imprint in Ministry,” where they were able to dig deeper into their unique roles as a planter’s wife and the ministries to which God has called them.
“It is important to try to understand our husbands … our words of affirmation or criticism and disapproval affect [them] deeply,” Santander said. “It is wise to control our tongues and use our words to encourage and not to destroy.”
The women were challenged to love, care for, and support their husbands. They were also encouraged to embrace their identities in Christ and to exercise their role as a planter’s wife with wisdom. The closing was a beautiful time of committing to pray for one another.
“We all need to recharge, but I didn’t realize I needed it so much and it was my time,” said Mariu Covalt, a planter’s wife who attended the retreat. “The grace and love of God was palpable. I laughed, I cried, I worshipped—all in two truly wonderful days. I am recharged, I am full, I have new strength to continue and even to begin again.”
A group of pastors’ wives and SBTC en Español staff helped coordinate and conduct the event, including Carla Arriola, Karina Velázquez, Zoila López, Wendy Contreras, Alicia Violante, Juani Shelton, and Aurora Cruz.
“I felt very loved by God, my sisters, and each one of the leaders of the activity,” said Leidy Fernandez, another planter wife who attended the retreat. “It was a blessing to meet such precious people and to make friendships that will last forever, women who love Christ deeply and who also have much in common with me. We learned useful things, confirmed important things, and were encouraged to invest ourselves in God’s work.”
