The registration for the 2024 Women's Retreat has now closed. If you have further questions, email womensretreat@lbchurch.org.
We invite you to join us and experience rest, fellowship, inspiration, and beauty at Maranatha’s 88-acre, lakefront haven.
Take time away from your routine at home and find some space to breathe, meet with God in a serene environment, and build friendships among the women from the Chesterton, LaPorte, Valparaiso campuses and our community.
The Women’s Retreat weekend is a relaxed balance of organized programs, planned elective activities, and a healthy measure of free time so you can fully take advantage of all that’s here for you.
You will be warmly welcomed from the moment you arrive on Friday, April 26. And whether you come with a few friends or venture out on your own, you will be embraced in a fun, caring, and encouraging community of Christians who are glad you’re there.
To love on you.
To give you opportunities to deepen your faith and increase your love for Jesus.
To provide an atmosphere where you are known and included and can grow closer to your sisters in Christ.
We will laugh and sing, and worship our King. Take walks, have talks, be silent or silly. Learn something new about God and about yourself. Have fun (just us girls), however you define it.
After many years of hosting the Liberty Women’s Retreat at the Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center in Middlebury, Indiana, the Women's Leadership Team decided to make a change. The No. 1 reason: The Essenhaus raised its rates, so we believed it was time to look at other options. Maranatha is an ideal alternative that will provide a refreshing new experience for this annual adventure.
Muskegan, Michigan will be a slightly further drive from Northwest Indiana, but this well-appointed, amenity-a-plenty retreat campus will be well worth the extra 45 minutes. (And there’s no need to drive alone: we’ll help connect you with someone to carpool with!)
Maranatha is a familiar place for many at LBC – from teen and seniors retreats to the Joni & Friends ministry where many from our church family serve each summer, Maranatha offers a truly comfortable and breathtaking setting where stress melts and joy takes over.
The Women’s Retreat will offer you an assortment of planned leisure activities as well as a wide variety of fun things to do during your free time.
You’ll be able to choose from a few group electives on Saturday afternoon, or just do your own thing.
Maranatha offers miles of hiking trails, a prayer tower, a gym for volleyball, a modern workout room, cozy spots for board games, pickle ball and tennis … plus half a mile of lakefront to enjoy.
And if you’d rather go have a long hot shower and paint your toes without kids knocking on the door, that’s OK too!
We are putting the “eat” in retreat with abundant, superbly crafted buffets all weekend – all included! You’ll enjoy delicious dinners, breakfasts, and lunch designed by Maranatha’s chef and served in a sunlight-filled dining hall inside the main Lodge. Please just let us know if you have any dietary restrictions and we’ll take care of it.
Your registration fee includes five meals: two dinners, two breakfasts, and one lunch. The presentations, prizes, music, and entertainment are all on us!
Retreat fee is based on your occupancy choice.
When you register, you’ll have the option to purchase a Retreat-themed t-shirt for an additional fee.
If you need financial assistance, please complete a Scholarship Application online.
Got a question that’s not answered here? Feel free to reach out to: womensretreat@lbchurch.org
Kristyn Akert
Kristyn is a wife to Mike, mom to four amazing young adults, and the owner of a 90-lb. Dutch shepherd who thinks he's a lapdog! A former speech professor at Moody Bible Institute, she is now an academic advisor for engineering, chemistry, and physics students at Purdue Northwest University — a big leap from teaching speech, but a wonderful opportunity to serve God by serving college students. In their spare time, she and Mike enjoy biking, camping, and good coffee!
Karna Driscoll
Karna has been married to Micah since 1996. They have five kids (only one still in High School) and various beloved house guests from overseas. If you can't find her, she's probably with the youth group. Those students have captured her heart since she was 16. Her 2024 goal is to be completely fluent in Spanish to tell our growing latin population about Jesus. She serves Liberty Bible Church on the MOSAIC multi-cultural team and the Prayer Team. She enjoys telling Grandpa Bud stories and she makes great fried rice!
Lisa Whitaker
Lisa Whitaker is a servant of the Most High God. Her heart is to teach, speak, and write for Him as He leads and directs. With His guidance, she has authored a book and a couple of other collaborative publications. Lisa has been involved in Women's Ministry for over 30 years and currently serves as Liberty's Director of Ministry to Women. She is wife to one, mother to four, and nana to three (soon to be four) pretty wonderful people. You can follow her at lisacwhitaker.com or on her Facebook ministry page, "Hold Fast Ministries."
Note: All times are Eastern Standard. Subject to minor changes.
3 pm – 5 pm | Check-in Maranatha Lodge
6 pm | Dinner, lower level of Lodge
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Program, Great Lakes Room
7 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast, Dining Room
9 am – 11 am | Morning Program, Great Lakes Room
12 pm – 1 pm | Lunch, Dining Room
1:15 pm – 3:30 pm | Group Activity Electives, Conference Rooms
3 pm – 5:30 pm | Leisure/Free time, entire Maranatha grounds
5:30 pm – 6:45 pm | Dinner, Dining Room
7 pm – 9 pm | Evening Program, Great Lakes Room – (wear your best sailing outfit – prizes to be awarded!)
9 pm – 10:30 pm | Movie & Popcorn, Great Lakes Room
8 am – 9 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 11:30 am | Morning Program, Great Lakes Room
12 pm | Checkout
