For Ancient Path President/Founder Patt Wadenpfuhl, speaking at the winter women’s retreat in Crosslake Minnesota is almost like going home – and for good reason. This year marks her fourth invitation from retreat organizers at The Log Church in Crosslake.
It all started when a woman named Sue Berglund heard Patt speaking some years back on a Focus on the Family broadcast about the adoption of her daughter, Hana. As Sue tells it, she had to pull her car off the road and order the teaching CDs for her fellow retreat team members. After hearing Patt for themselves, the leaders invited her to speak, beginning a long and mutually rewarding relationship between Patt and the wonderful folks of Crosslake, Minnesota and the surrounding areas.
This year, Patt spoke out of her painful life experiences of the past 18 months, entitling her series Nature Lessons. At the first session, Patt spoke on The Nature of the Wilderness Journey – sharing her personal spiritual desert experiences over the past months and highlighting the concept of spiritual wilderness in scripture. Over the next three sessions, Patt spoke on the lessons learned in our wilderness wanderings such as:
The Nature of our True Identity
The Nature of our True Place
The Nature of our True Purpose
Patt’s husband Ken traveled with her (along with their daughter, Hana ) and together they opened each session with worship, creating the proper atmosphere focused on the greatness, love and faithfulness of God. The sessions themselves were interactive body ministry. Local women spoke of the work of God in their lives to set them free from fear, bitterness and unforgiveness – and liberated many there through their powerful testimonies. A local worship leader spontaneously performed a song written the night before the retreat as a cry from her heart. The song was about journeying through the wilderness – though noone knew what Patt would be speaking on. After each session, women ministered to each other in tears as they opened their hearts and their personal wilderness stories to each other. As the Holy Spirit touched them, many found the hope, healing and freedom they so deeply longed for.
Here are a few remarks written in a community retreat journal:
“This has been an unbelievable weekend and I have so touched by the speaking and the testimonies. My husband passed way this year but the Lord has been my companion and the loneliness has lessened. The support of the women has been absolutely beautiful. Thank you!”
“It has been an unbelievable weekend! I have learned so much…”
“This has been an absolutely blessed weekend for me. I came up from the Twin Cities to be with my daughter-in-law, two daughters and a grand-daughter…thank you for sharing yourself!”
“…a colorful oasis in the desert.”
“I was so happy to be here this weekend. I couldn’t afford to come and MOPS sponsored me. I knew then this was a divine appointment. I knew it was time for me to let go of my anger and forgive. The first night I asked for prayer – you all prayed for me and I said some day I would like to minister to women with the same ‘scars’ as me. The next morning God gave me Isaiah 42;6-7, speaking of opening the eyes of the blind and setting captives free. When you spoke that day, you pointed right at me and said:’The blind will see, the captives will be freed!’ Then that night when we had our prayer time after the session, I…was prompted to write and ask ( my husband) to forgive me for my bitterness. I am stepping out of the ropes you saw around me…”
You know God has been present when the people step forward to publicly confess sins and ask for prayer. This is how the last session ended – several hours later than expected. Women stood to confess hidden sins, asking God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those they had wronged – and walking into the Spirit’s freedom. To see vulnerable, wounded souls surrounded by loving arms and understanding hearts is a beautiful thing – and it was a beautiful end to a powerful weekend.
Many thanks to the incredible leaders in Crosslake, Minnesota. You are people of prayer, who hear God, love Him and love His children. You are making a huge difference in the lives of those you serve. Well done, good and faithful servants!
If you are interested in have Patt Wadenpfuhl speak at your event, contact us at info@ancientpath.com. Patt does not charge a speaker’s fee, but only asks for travel expenses and an unspecified love offering to the work of Ancient Path.