Arise Retreats
**Save the date for our next retreat on October 15-17, 2027**
Our 2026 Deeply Rooted Fall Retreat at Christian Renewal Center (near Silver Falls) was truly amazing! It was incredible to see how God answered our prayer and doubled our attendance! Glory to God for His Faithfulness!
Rooted in Colossians 2:6-7, our Deeply Rooted Fall Retreat explores what it means to be a woman whose faith runs deep enough to hold her through any season. Through stories of bold Biblical women, including the woman with the issue of blood, Esther, Deborah, Huldah, and Mary, we'll discover that radical faith is not about feeling fearless. It's about acting on what we know to be true, even when it's hard. You'll leave with roots that go deeper, a faith that moves mountains, and a heart overflowing with thankfulness for the God who holds your story.
Christi Bonertz
Worship Leader
Before you spend a weekend with Christi, there are a few things you should know: she loves Jesus deeply, has a tendency to find meaning in just about everything, and may or may not turn an ordinary conversation into a life lesson. Christi is a wife, neurodivergent mom, devoted friend, teacher, and lifelong ministry girl who has learned that some of the sweetest joys in life are often hidden in the middle of the hard and ordinary places. She has been married to her husband, a military veteran, for 22 years, and together they have moved many, many times—including a season of living in an RV with their two kids while traveling across the country. Their story has included adventure, beautiful memories, uncertainty, loss, and plenty of moments that didn't exactly go according to plan. Through it all, she learned to lean into her favorite Scripture, Philippians 4:8, particularly the reminder to look for “anything worthy of praise” and focus on that. For Christi, finding the good doesn't mean pretending the hard things aren't hard. It means being honest about the mess while still looking for where God is present, faithful, and good—and discovering the hidden joys tucked into an honest life. Christi has served in ministry for much of her life, and when she isn't serving, you'll likely find her with a book, near a fire pit, or surrounded by the people she loves. Ultimately, though, her heart is simple: love people well, serve those around her, and point them toward Jesus.
Darla Butterfield
Retreat Speaker
Darla is the Content Director and a licensed Chaplain for Arise Women's Ministry. She has a degree from Fresno Pacific University in Mathematics and worked as a high school math teacher for several years. She is now using her passion for teaching in ministry as she inspires women to deepen their understanding of the Living God through studying His Word. Darla enjoys writing Bible studies and encouraging other moms. Her Bible studies include James: Faith in Action, Joseph: God’s Faithfulness in the Waiting, Moses: God’s Faithfulness in the Wilderness, and Through Mary's Eyes: Treasuring Jesus at Christmas. She’s also compiled scripture prayers for moms in her book Becoming a Mom of Grace. Darla lives in Salem, Oregon and is a wife and mom to her four children.
Our retreats are an encouraging time away in community with other women, learning more about who God is through His Word. We'll enjoy food, fellowship, Biblical teaching, worship, and time for reflection on our own with the Lord and in small groups. It's a wonderful way to experience the beauty of God's creation and grow in our sisterhood!
