From Strangers To Sisters
February 4, 2022 | Seattle, WA
The dream was to create a weekend where women from out of town could come for a retreat surrounding conference weekend. What we hoped and prayed for was that a community of love and friendship would blossom from the experience. And God provided.
Taking It From The Top
In the fall of 2021, I was sitting on the couch after a long day as a stay at home mom of four kids under three. The emotions going through my heart were loneliness and thirst for community – so like any millennial, I pulled out my phone and turned to Instagram. Not the greatest decision, but it was here, in a moment of inner pain, searching for relief through distraction, that God met me with Live Salted’s post asking women to apply for their conference volunteer team. They were specifically looking for Conference Weekender Coordinator.
I didn’t fully understand what the job would entail, but after reading the description, I was struck. After a season of isolation (Covid) where the enemy’s attacks felt heavy and constant, I knew I needed to rebuild community and fight shoulder to shoulder with other sisters on a similar journey towards Jesus.
Would I be the one to help make this weekend a reality?
And then, a whisper said, “this post, this position, is for you.”
The Lead Up
For a number of months, Krista and I worked together thinking through logistics, assembling a Leadership Team, marketing the opportunity, and squeezing all of our big dreams into a conservative budget.
We didn’t know if anyone would even sign up, especially because the event wasn’t cheap, but we were blown away by the number that responded!
We asked the Lord for the weekend to be intentionally cultivated to fit the needs of our attendees as well as the theme of 2022 conferences “Legacy.” We prayed God would lead our discussions and guide us toward long-term life-change in each attendee, and in ourselves.
T-Minus 24 Hours
One day out from weekender attendees arriving in from Ohio, Texas, Canada, California, Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado, the Weekender team met at our Airbnb in Seattle to finalize preparations, and pray over the space. We filled goodie bags with the ladies’ favorites snacks and words of encouragement from their family and friends back home. As a team, we ate dinner and asked the Lord if there was anything He wanted us to know about the weekend. We heard His desire for freedom, breakthrough, new perspective, refreshment, laughter, and true sisterhood. And goodness, did the Lord show up in those ways and so much more!
The Colliding of Souls
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” MATTHEW 18:20
As everyone arrived, we greeted them with massive hugs at the airport and threw their luggage into the cars. Soon enough, everyone had arrived and we were off to Pike Place to explore Seattle. From pictures at the Gum Wall and the Market Sign to Beecher’s mac n’ cheese and Pike Place flower bouquets, we all hung out as if we were old friends hanging out on a Saturday night.
As the rain began to fall, we took our loot back to the Airbnb where our sweet leader Dawnelle had made us all a warm meal. After a day of travel and exploration, the warmth of a homey setting was all we could have wanted. And then after dinner, we spent intentional time getting to know each other. I witnessed women go from sharing silly, random fun facts about themselves to diving deep. We shared the good, bad and ugly of life with one another right off the bat. By the end of night one, we didn’t feel like strangers any more. We were true sisters and friends. We had become family.
The conference day itself flew by in the best way. We got the gals some coffee from Zoka (keeping it LOCAL!), and then drove over to U District to worship and learn alongside 200 other ladies. The day was filled with the sound of voices singing to the heavens, women preaching the word, and 1-1 sets of women praying for an over one another. After lunching together at another local spot, we worshipped as one and then ended the day with an epic dance party! Once back at the Airbnb, we were exhausted but fired up and ended our night with ice cream and more life chats.
Sunday morning, the Weekender crew sat with quiche and coffee in the living room of our Airbnb. We talked about everything and nothing all at once and soaked up our last minutes of the weekend.
Testimonials
“This weekend felt like a touch of heaven. Time seemed to stand still. The intentionality behind every action blew me away. How every single space we entered was drenched in prayer. I can’t get over how ten strangers who met once on Zoom jumped right into this whole experience together and connected in such a rich, beautiful way. Only Jesus can do that!” Weekender Attendee
“Despite our different life seasons and experiences, My favorite memory was how we all just jumped into vulnerability and shared the real things with each other. It’s wildly refreshing when the foundation of a relationship is a shared hunger and desperate need for Jesus. It was an honor to spend the weekend with everyone, there is nothing better than girlfriends and Jesus together!!”
Weekender Attendee
“When people are willing to get real and deep right away, it always surprises me, and ends up being the best part of any event. I was moved by how the Lord provided in such unexpected ways from meeting women from all sorts of walks of life and being able to learn from them, to the personal letters from our loved ones, to games, snacks and of course the conference. It was such a life giving weekend!”
Weekender Attendee
The Power of a “Yes”
“Lord, you are my God: I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”
I truly believe this weekend was planned by God Himself – that He knew the names and desires of His daughters and provided space and community for them when they said, “yes” to Him.
Krista said “yes” to the boldness of thinking crazy new ideas.
Dawnelle, Ellery, and I said “yes” to the insanity of taking on new roles and investing our own time and money to make this event happen.
Each and every one of the gals who attended said “yes” by taking a risk and stepping out in faithfulness to the nudge the Lord put on their hearts to attend.
There is so much power in a “yes,” is there anything the Lord is encouraging you to say “yes” to right now in your life??
I dare you to take it… just wait and see what the Lord has on the other side of it!
Much Love,
Rachael Baer, Legacy Weekender Coordinator
Thank You for Connecting With Us!
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Rachael Baer was the Live Salted Legacy conference Weekender Coordinator. She spends her day to day as a stay at home mom of four kids under four. Born and raised a Seattleite, Rachael currently lives on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family. Her spare time is spent with the company of friends and family – her passion is found in bringing the kingdom earth side through hospitality and devoted relationship. When she finds a moment of silence, she spends her time studying the Word and writing.
