Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center- 100 Women

The One Hundred Women Plea of 2010:

She came once again, carrying her inner burden - ready, yet frightened, to disclose in a place where she felt freer to be herself, where she felt no judgment. Watching and waiting for her opportunity, finally she was asked if she wanted some one-on-one time away from the others? Thankfully, willingly, she said yes. Working hard to hold back the unwanted sobs that trembled on the edge of her heart, the words spewed forth as she shared the shame and pain of the past many years of her life. The depth of her liberation was unexpected for she’d never told anyone before. The relief was evident on her face, in her body language and in the words she began to use: hope, freedom, taking back my life.

Several years earlier, a young woman came, hearing another women’s story that started her healing journey away from the pain and shame of childhood molestation and towards this same hope and freedom. I know. She wrote me just a few days ago and told me so.

Not all women come to Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center with the intense and complex issues. Some come to feed their souls; some come “just” to get away. Most find other women here, many they never met before, who are dealing with similar life issues:family concerns, questions of faith, children, jobs, and the busyness of life. They find companions along the way as they share their lives. They exchange email addresses and phone numbers so they can stay in touch after their time here. Incredible levels of networking happen. There is a web of women extending beyond the few acres of land called Tallgrass where they know they are connected, where they can share, feel supported, and grow strong together.

One woman, a gracious and kind supporter of Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center, is experiencing some important life changes. As she grows and changes in her inner life, she recognizes her need to meet hurting people face-to-face and to offer them what she can, both spiritually and financially. It’s exciting to watch this woman move into a new era of her life. In the midst of refocusing the priorities in her life, she told me - with great difficulty - that it was necessary to discontinue her generous financial support of Tallgrass, in order to have funds available for her ministry in the world.

I am excited for this woman’s new level of investment in life and her recognition of what God is directly calling her to do. Her life changes are influencing the ministry at Tallgrass - that’s how interwoven Tallgrass is in the lives of women in that web I mentioned earlier. One woman’s life changes and this ministry is offered another opportunity to invite women to support Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center!

You are invited to think and pray about being a part of the One Hundred Women Program through Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center. The One Hundred Women Program is an invitation to become a consistent, ongoing supporter of Tallgrass. With one hundred women donating $10 a month (that’s equal to $120 a year), the Center will find itself on solid financial footing once again, so we can continue to offer space for grace to women desiring 1) healing in their lives, 2) supportive connections with other women, and 3) a closer relationship with the Divine.

Donations of any size are greatly appreciated at any time, of course.

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The One Hundred Women Program began in 2004 as a way for women to support this ministry, this "space for grace" provided for women by women on a woman-owned ranch in Kansas. The idea behind this program is the belief that God does provide for all our needs IF those who need have the courage to ask for what they need and IF those who have will respond to needs as they hear about them. When a need is identified at Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center, a request goes out to several hundred women. These women have shown an interest in this ministry over the five years of its existence by their presence at a retreat, by their previous contributions, or by their prayerful support of Tallgrass. They are invited to pray about their involvement in the particular need presented to them to discern if they are one of the One Hundred Women called to provide a 100th portion of the funding for this need. Here are three examples of the success of this fundraising program:

In 2004

A request went out from Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center seeking One Hundred Women to donate $5 each in order to raise the $500 application fee required by the IRS for the Center to apply for 501(c)3 status (non-profit). Five hundred dollars was raised in 2 weeks and the Center's application was approved!

In 2005

A request went out from Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center seeking One Hundred Women to donate $10/month for 12 months in order to raise $12,000 to support the Center's general budget for one year. $9,034 was raised that year. It was enough! The ministry is viable and still growing! There are several women who continue to send their monthly donations, bringing the Center ever closer to becoming 100% self-sufficient. Funds are continually being received for the general budget as a part of the One Hundred Women giving.

In 2006

A request went out from Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center seeking One Hundred Women to donate $14 each in order to raise $1400 for the Director, Rev. Billie Blair, to attend the International United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation in Chicago in August. Fifteen hundred women from around the country and beyond were registered to attend this 5-day event. Billie was to facilitate a Spiritual Formation Workshop on three of the mornings. Her sessions were titled "Soul Tending through Prayer." This was a wonderful opportunity for Billie to inform more women about this special "space for grace" called Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center.

There was serious financial concern about Billie's attending this event. With a deep breath and a leap of faith, she made the commitment to attend the Consultation and lead the Spiritual Formation Group as a representative of Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center, believing there were One Hundred Women who believed in this ministry with her and who wanted to help make this trip possible.

In less than three weeks, over $2500 was received from women around the country (KS, CA, NM, AR, WI, IL, OK, CO)! Because of the overwhelming response, a scholarship fund was created to help more women experience the peace of the prairie at Tallgrass and a "new" engine was put in the 1992 Ford Ranger pickup truck that was also donated for the use of the center.

Will you respond to the next One Hundred Women request? Maybe you are called to support this ministry on a regular basis, giving $10, $15 or more a month? Please pray about your involvement with the on going ministry of Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center.

Photo by Marshall Hutchinson