The North New South Wales (NNSW) Women’s Ministries’ RESET retreat raised more than $A30,000 to support Asian Aid’s NightCare for Little Ones initiative, which provides night care for children living in Cambodia’s red-light districts.
Held from October 24 to 26 at Yarra Holiday Park in Stuarts Point (NSW), the retreat brought together around 140 women for worship, workshops and fellowship under the theme “Chosen.”
Funds were raised through offerings, a dessert café and an art auction featuring works donated by women artists. With $A9000 already collected at the women’s fundraising dinner during Big Camp in April, the goal was to reach $A20,000 at the retreat. An anonymous donor pledged to match the amount dollar-for-dollar if the goal was met, resulting in a total of $A40,000 for the project.
“I’m actually overwhelmed that there’s such generosity,” said NNSW Women’s Ministries director Beryl Landers. “This is a miracle. And it’s evidence that if we just put our foot in the water, God will open the floodgates and He will bless our efforts.”
Fundraising has been a key component of the Women’s Ministries programs in NNSW this year, with the team choosing to support the NightCare initiative throughout 2025. Mrs Landers said the focus reflects a desire to serve beyond the event setting. “When we see that children are suffering, women are trapped, trafficked and abused, we can’t sit and just enjoy all these lovely gatherings. Our gathering must bless others. And that’s one of the pillars and one of the mottos of our ministry,” she said.
The retreat also provided opportunities for women to connect, make new friends and grow spiritually. Guest speaker Yvonne Hypolite presented messages centred on the theme “Chosen,” while Mrs Landers illustrated her Friday evening presentation, “The wardrobe of the chosen,” with women walking a short runway wearing sashes labelled with Christian virtues such as humility, kindness and compassion.
A range of afternoon workshops encouraged practical engagement, including sessions on how to give Bible study, manual crafts, health principles and a reflective nature walk. With an intergenerational approach, the retreat also offered sessions for young women aged 13 to 25. A 24-hour prayer tent offered private support for those seeking prayer.
Mrs Landers said there is a need for dedicated spaces where women can pause from everyday responsibilities and focus on spiritual renewal. “It’s really important for women to have a space to just come away from serving and their regular life of responsibility, to be in a place where they can be challenged, be nurtured, reconnect and reset their spiritual experience,” she said.
Participant Catalina Arevalo, from Murwillumbah church, said the retreat offered a supportive environment for women to connect and reflect on their faith. “As a mum who’s always busy, this reminded me I’m not alone,” she said. “It reaffirmed that God has chosen me for a purpose and that He equips and strengthens me for it.”
The final gathering for the year, the RESET Day Conference, will take place at Avondale University on November 22. The fundraising efforts will continue at the conference, “we’re gonna challenge girls down south to equal or better the donations that were given here. So, if we can raise $A10,000 there, then we would have raised a total of $A50,000,” Mrs Landers said. Achieving the new goal will enable Adventist women in North New South Wales to fully fund a NightCare centre in Cambodia.
