Deborah Mosley

Who would have thought I would find a wonderful network of women who love the Lord, called -- Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry.  Their description perfectly aligned with what I was seeking.  Since I am in ministry and needed a place for renewal, everything NEWIM represented caught my interest.

I enjoy book club discussions, so when I saw that Alice Fryling's "Aging Faithfully" would be discussed, I signed up immediately. Through that group, I connected with Ruth Cramer and Jill Austin on Zoom, which blossomed into meaningful friendships. We still keep in touch regularly today.  The following year, I co-led a discussion on the same book with Jill Austin.

I also remember searching for a women’s retreat. God answered my prayer when I discovered that, in addition to all the activities NEWIM offered, they held retreats for women and pastors' wives. I attended the Santa Cruz pastors’ wives retreat in 2024.

Scripture states in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This verse was demonstrated through the lives of Darlene Derby and Regenia Duff.  Why I mention John 13:35 is because while traveling to the Retreat, from New York, the unthinkable happened!  Just as I was about to get off my flight in Utah to catch a connecting flight to Santa Cruz, I couldn’t move out of my seat because of the pain I had in my back. 

The pain was excruciating.  The fear I felt being in a place where I knew no one was scary.   But God provided an airline stewardess who was the kindest and sweetest person as she called for a wheelchair and assisted me into it. 

When my flight landed in Santa Cruz, I knew Darlene was not expecting someone who could hardly walk and was in so much pain and in a wheelchair!  However, when I was rolled out to the curb in a wheelchair, and she greeted me, I could feel the love and compassion flow from her.  All she cared for was to make me comfortable.  Even as I write this, I tear up.  When we went to a hotel to stay overnight, she made sure that the bed was ok, asked if I wanted to eat, and what my likes and dislikes were.  She admonished me not to pick up anything!  I could not believe it.  She made sure that I had everything to make me comfortable.

When we arrived at the Villa Maria Del Mar, I felt the tiredness slowly dissipating from me.  The water, the air, and the time to dwell entirely on the Lord through devotionals, worship, and small groups literally revived me. I was thrilled to meet Luann and a few others I had only known through Zoom. I left The Springs feeling refreshed, revived, and revitalized. 

To Luann and team, congratulations on your 40th year of strengthening women who love and serve women.  What beautiful legacy!   Thank you for all you do!