Fresh Start for Women has had a very busy year! Not only has the organization conducted several workshops; in May Fresh Start for Women conducted its first Mother’s Day Luncheon in honor of the many mothers who have gone through the program since 2004.The last workshop to date was conducted on Saturday July 11, 2009, entitled “Understanding God’s Plan in Your Suffering”. It was presented at the Piccadilly Cafeteria in S Dekalb Mall and was open to the public. As in the first presentation done in November 2008 this workshop used the Book of Job as the backdrop for the discussions beginning with speakers Minister Willie Bell Pettigrew and Ms. Darlene Sheardon discussing” Self- Righteousness - What Did I do Wrong” and “Friend or Foe” respectively.These two discussions were the backdrop for Dr. Pettigrew as she brought it all together with “Your End is better than Your Beginning”.
It was in this session that Dr. Pettigrew made a correlation between life’s experiences and the different phases of pregnancy. Suffice it to say that her lively, heartfelt way of making it plain revealed wonderful truths and at the same time elicited nods of agreement in between bouts of laughter. In the end the workshop achieved its goal of encouraging all through whatever circumstance they may currently be experiencing. As is the tradition of every conference/seminar or workshop Dr. Pettigrew invited the attendees to participate in the Affirmation Circle and share testimony whenever led. Finally, Dr. Pettigrew took the attendees on a journey through the forest with its many surprises, bumps and bruises to the ultimate climax of meeting each other on a spiritual plane.
In August Dr. Pettigrew announced the release of her self-published audio book, “Journey to a Fresh Start – Releasing the Junk…Revealing the Jewels”. This labor of love is not only Dr. Pettigrew’s story of healing from abuse, rape and domestic violence; it is also the triumphant story of the birth of Fresh Start for Women as well as the You are a Precious Jewel program for teen girls.
Finally, Dr. Pettigrew and her staff of volunteers are currently planning the Fresh Start Retreat scheduled for October 23 – 25th at the Villa International Atlanta Hotel. This 3-day event begins with the Fresh Start Spa on Friday evening. On Saturday the women will begin the hard work of examining their lives with the first session being “Renew Thyself” in which forgiveness is the order of the day. This session requires open and honest personal self-evaluation. This is followed by the session “Envisioning You”. In this session participants begin to discover their goals and aspirations. It is also in this session that they will begin to see themselves the way God does. In so doing they will be able to set the stage for moving forward and reaching their highest potential.
Throughout Saturday the women will be given ample opportunity for quiet reflection as well as time to fellowship with each other. The day will climax with dinner and inspirational message delivered by a special guest. Finally on Sunday the women wrap it all together. It is during these final hours that the women can share their experiences from the weekend as well as their very own personally designed roadmap to success. The retreat closes out with the Balloon Release where Let Go and Let God is the goal.
Anyone interested in attending the retreat should contact Dr. Pettigrew at 404.543.1017 or janice@freshstartforwomen.org for more information.
All in all Fresh Start for Women is proud of the accomplishments made for 2009 and look forward to even greater strides in 2010.
