Hispanic Women’s Retreat inspires godly love for family and community

By Lindsey Williams
Writing Specialist

August 8 – 9, 157 women and children attended the Hispanic Women’s Retreat, marking the largest gathering this event has ever held. Hosted by the Multicultural Ministries Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB), the retreat was directed by Ruby Benitez, wife of pastor Santiago Damian of Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church), New Albany. After directing the event the last three years, Eva Arana, from Iglesia Hispana de Clinton, worked alongside Benitez these last several months in preparation for the retreat.

At Central Hills Baptist Retreat, the women gathered for worship and scriptural study led by Janet Garcia, wife of Samuel Garcia from the Hispanic groups ministry of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis. Teenagers met under the discipleship of Debora Dahlhauser, who leads alongside her husband, John, in the Hispanic singles ministry at Bellevue. 

Sarah Figueroa, member of Iglesia Hispana de Clinton (the Hispanic Church of Clinton), taught the 6 – 11 year old children, while Brittney Copeland and Wendy Lesley, members of Morrison Heights Church, Clinton, provided childcare service. 

During the session, Garcia led the women in a study of Proverbs 31. “We must understand that Proverbs 31 is not about a real woman,” said Garcia, “but an example of what all women need to be. Don’t be so focused on the work we do or on our body and how we look, rather, focus on who we need to be and can be by the grace of God. The Proverbs 31 woman does good to her husband, she takes care of her children, and she gives to the community. She is not just focused on herself and her life, not even just her family, but the community too.

“In the Hispanic culture, some of the women stay at home with the kids, and the work can be distracting and discouraging. That lifestyle can give a woman anxiety because she doesn’t get to go out much. But at some point, as she continues to do good to others for Him, God is going to make it all worth it, and God is going to be with her along the way, and God is going to give her the strength she needs in this time of life. It will not always be this way; children grow up, and situations change. But God will always be with you.”

After worship, a group of women and Pastor Damian presented a heartfelt play. Each woman carried a small vase to the stage and knelt down in prayer. One by one, the women prayed earnestly, some with sincere tears, as Damian — representing the Lord — took each vase and struck it with a hammer. The broken pieces rang loudly in the bucket below as each woman continued to cry to the Lord. Afterward, however, Damian lifted a completely new vase more beautiful than the one before. 

Garcia shared about the play, “We are broken vases. Along the way in life, we become broken in so many ways: broken from our choices, from bad relationships, from circumstances, or from people who hurt us. God can take these broken vases, but He will break them fully, in order to create something new. 

“The thing is, it is going to hurt. It hurts when God breaks everything that is not in the right place. But He is going to make something new. Jesus suffered, and He had no sin, so who is to say we are not going to suffer in this life? We are broken vases, but He is going to make something new out of nothing. Not out of the old, but something new out of nothing.” 

Looking back on a weekend full of fellowship, Garcia commended, “The women here have a great spirit. Just from watching them talk together at lunch and breakfast, I could see they have a really good and close community. They look out for each other and help each other. I love to see this community seeking to know more about Jesus. Some of them left their baby at home with the husband and many of them left a lot of work to do at home, but they have come all this way to make time to be with the Lord and with each other. So that is something that I appreciate.”

“I am so inspired and encouraged with the Hispanic Women’s leadership in our state,” said Paula Smith, MBCB Director of Multicultural Ministries. “It began several years ago with the Pastors’ wives seeing the need and taking ownership. They continue to lead but also train leadership in their churches. It challenges me and inspires me to watch as they lead other ladies (and their children) to Christ and then disciple them in Kingdom work.”