Around 100 women (and some brave men!) arrived at Pinecrest for the Spring Ladies’ Retreat from March 27-30, and many left remarking that it was the best yet.

Returning guest Joanne Scopa commented, “This year's women's retreat was one of the best experiences of my life. I so appreciated Joanne and all the leaders' hearts, to be totally hands-off and let the Holy Spirit be in charge of each meeting. There was great freedom to warfare in worship together. There was a wonderful openness, giving freedom for God's voice to come forth in prophecy.”

Joanne Picataggi opened the conference Thursday night by sharing what she felt God was emphasizing as the conference theme: God’s warrior bride. “The bride of Christ is going to be fearless, “she said. “God is in the business right now of healing the wounded warrior bride so that we can be ready with no wounds, no Achilles’ heel, no areas of sin in our life that offend God and leave us open to our enemy. The only wounds that we’re allowed to look upon are Jesus’, because His wounds have made us whole. By His stripes, we are healed.”

Friday morning, Pinecrest teacher Wendy Levey spoke on “The Great Love of the Heavenly Father.” “We need to remember that Jesus Christ was crucified before the foundation of the world,” she said. “This means, before He created, Jesus was crucified. The truth is, you were already in the heart of the Father before you were even born.” Following the message, many of the ladies went forward to receive personal prayer ministry.

At the Friday night meeting, alumnus and former teacher Dan Beaulieu recounted God’s faithfulness to bring life from death, and he exhorted the women to claim Christ’s victory, even in the depths of despair. “The experiences of yesteryear is not the final word, the experiences that have left you devastated is not the final word,” he said. “Because it’s in that place where you think that the grave is final God begins to breathe, and life comes forth. “I believe God wants to raise up a mighty army, but the army may start as dead bones spread all over a dry desert.”

Saturday morning’s meeting, usually set aside for prayer ministry, instead turned into an extended worship time and prayer for some of the nations represented by Pinecrest’s international students.

Joanne spoke Saturday night about Deborah as a prophetic picture of the warrior bride, victorious through the blood of Jesus. “The Son of God became the Son of man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God,” she said. “Jesus fought that day on Calvary, and every foe was vanquished. It’s already done—we’re just mopping it up.” She added, “Your captor is now your captive. That which possessed you, you now possess. That which defeated you, you now defeat. Through Jesus’ blood, we are well able to overcome.”

Pinecrest’s Fall Ladies’ Retreat will be held October 30-November 2, 2008.