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Purpose By Design Retreat July 2026

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  There was a new format this year at Purpose by Design, geared to teenagers to expose them to thinking about the possibilities of their future.  This year, in developing new leaders to pass the torch and bring in a new generation, the retreat format was a one day event at a beautiful local hotel.  The girls were greeted at 8:00 am in the morning and went non-stop until dinner.  They were exposed to entrepreneur presentattions, mentoring, elevator introductions, body language and personal presentation tips. At the end of the day, we took some time to breathe, listen to God and make art. It is always amazing what the girls hear when they slow down, stop talking and start to listen. Our Workshop: You’ve heard a lot of ideas today… What do you want to do with your life…. You’ve met a lot of new people today… Who do you want to be like? Now we are talking about character, not profession or circumstances… but character can help or hinder you from achieving the goals you m...
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Abstract Watercolor landscapes exploring boundaries of life--Vail Church, CO March 2025

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On the spring equinox, 2025, at the Vail Church in Colorado, we used art as a tool to explore the big question of Identity looking at "Who Am I?" and the book by Klyne Snodgrass, "Who God Says You Are."  In it, Snodgrass explores how boundaries shape our identity
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The Maker's Space-Vail Church -January Charcoal Drawing

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  What a wonderful evening spent in God's presence meditating on pushing back the darkness with God's light inside of us.  The lesson itself can be found below as well as all of the pictures of art.  The medium of charcoal absorbed us completely, to chase away outside distractions and focus on God Himself!
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The 14th Purpose By Design Retreat for teenage girls-Art Worship

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 20 girls from Chicago, Fox Valley Christian Center and Decatur traveled to Tennessee for a weekend retreat of empowerment with the theme "I am you and You are Me." The Maker's Space provided a time of art creation and reflection. See their art!
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Another Vail Church Collage night wih families

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Our 4th session at Vail Church was on Your Identity in Christ using affirmations from the Bible.  We had done this one with the Junior High Sunday School Class, and this time invited adults, young adults and families.  All were so amazed at how God spoke to them through color and magazines and creativity of slowing down to listen.  The actual lesson can be found below the art so you can try it yourself!
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Junior High Art Workshop @Vail Church 2/4/24

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  Vail Church's Junior High Sunday School Class, exploring their identity in Christ, was led in an art worship workshop of affirmations and who we are in Christ.  Collage was the medium where the students practiced their listening skills from God, and were led to concentrate on 1 of the many affirmations of who they are if they have decided to follow Jesus.  Many wrote the affirmation that they chose, and all were a beautiful collage of how they saw their affirmation statement.  All of the students were deeply engaged and would have worked longer if they had more than the 45 minutes allotted to the class.  Below is their raw artwork with some of their affirmations:.... Then, Wendy overlayed the students profiles that they had made during the previous week's class.  Not all of the same students were in attendance both weeks, but she worked with what she had.  The beautiful results are below:
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Writing Workshops

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Come carve out some time to write and be inspired! 277 Hawthorn Blvd.  Glen Ellyn, IL Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church  
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