reNEW
spiritual retreat for writers and speakers
About the Retreat
For our April 2023 retreat, reNEW teamed up with Camp-of-the-Woods. Held at Camp-of-the-Woods in Speculator, NY we brought an amazing weekend of refreshment and renewal for our attendees. reNEW is open to all beginning and seasoned writers and speakers who desire to communicate the good news of Jesus through their written or spoken words. At reNEW, …
Read More
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of co-director, Lucinda Secrest McDowell. On behalf of the reNEW community we convey our deep and heartfelt sympathies to husband, Mike, their children and grandchildren.
Lucinda’s love, encouragement, and unique ability to see the strengths and talent in each writer and speaker she met has enabled all of us at reNEW to flourish in our calling to communicate the good news of Jesus through our writing and speaking.
As we take time to mourn our loss, we will also take the opportunity at reNEW 2023 to honor Lucinda and celebrate her remarkable and generous contribution in creating and building the reNEW community.
Rachel Britton is a British-born writer, blogger, and speaker. Rachel holds a Masters in Religion, cum laude, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is co-director of reNEW ~ spiritual retreat for writers & speakers and operates
reNEW as well as her writing and speaking ministry through her non-profit organization, Rachel Britton Ministries. She served as Executive Content and Strategy Director for RADIANT.NYC, an online magazine and community for young women in New York City. Represented by Books & Such Literary Agency, she is the creator and writer of an Amazon Alexa skill app: “Alexa, say a prayer,” which receives approximately 1,000 requests per day. A member of Redbud Writers Guild, Rachel writes regularly for BibleStudyTools.com and she is a contributing author to So God Made a Dog: 90 Devotions for Dog People, Whispers of Grace, and editor of The Courage to Write. Rachel has lived in the United States for 25 years. Her career began in newspaper and magazine publishing in London. She worked for BBC Worldwide before moving to the USA. Rachel is married with three young adult children and lives in New York City and Colorado where she enjoys escaping to the
mountains to write, hike and ski. She blogs on prayer regularly at her online home, rachelbritton.com
Rachel Britton is a British-born writer, blogger, and speaker. Rachel holds a Masters in Religion, cum laude, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is co-director of reNEW ~ spiritual retreat for writers & speakers and operates
reNEW as well as her writing and speaking ministry through her non-profit organization, Rachel Britton Ministries. She served as Executive Content and Strategy Director for RADIANT.NYC, an online magazine and community for young women in New York City. Represented by Books & Such Literary Agency, she is the creator and writer of an Amazon Alexa skill app: “Alexa, say a prayer,” which receives approximately 1,000 requests per day. A member of Redbud Writers Guild, Rachel writes regularly for BibleStudyTools.com and she is a contributing author to So God Made a Dog: 90 Devotions for Dog People, Whispers of Grace, and editor of The Courage to Write. Rachel has lived in the United States for 25 years. Her career began in newspaper and magazine publishing in London. She worked for BBC Worldwide before moving to the USA. Rachel is married with three young adult children and lives in New York City and Colorado where she enjoys escaping to the
mountains to write, hike and ski. She blogs on prayer regularly at her online home, rachelbritton.com
The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc., a ministry devoted to developing leadership in church and parachurch ministry settings with a strong emphasis on spiritual formation. Dr. Macchia, director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, also teaches at
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry department as
mentor in the “Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders” cohort. Steve is an
ordained minister, conference speaker, ministry leader, retreat facilitator, ministry mentor/coach, and spiritual director. He received both his MDiv and DMin from Gordon-Conwell, where he also received a distinguished alumni award in 2000. He previously served on the pastoral staff at Grace Chapel (Lexington, MA) and as President of Vision New England. Steve is the author of 16 books, including the Baker Bestseller Becoming A Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life, and most recently The Discerning Life, and Contributing Editor of Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul. He and
his wife Ruth have two grown children and three grandchildren and live in eastern Massachusetts.
The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc., a ministry devoted to developing leadership in church and parachurch ministry settings with a strong emphasis on spiritual formation. Dr. Macchia, director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, also teaches at
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry department as
mentor in the “Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders” cohort. Steve is an
ordained minister, conference speaker, ministry leader, retreat facilitator, ministry mentor/coach, and spiritual director. He received both his MDiv and DMin from Gordon-Conwell, where he also received a distinguished alumni award in 2000. He previously served on the pastoral staff at Grace Chapel (Lexington, MA) and as President of Vision New England. Steve is the author of 16 books, including the Baker Bestseller Becoming A Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life, and most recently The Discerning Life, and Contributing Editor of Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul. He and
his wife Ruth have two grown children and three grandchildren and live in eastern Massachusetts.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D., is an award-winning author, speaker, and host of I Choose My Best Life podcast. She spent over 20 years in clinical practice as an internal medicine physician before transitioning into a career that allows her to indulge in her love for books and sharing God’s word. She is the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves and Come Empty: Pour Out Life’s Hurt’s and Recieve God’s Healing Love (winner 2016 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year and 2016 Illumination Award Gold medalist). Her bestselling release Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity has been featured in numerous media outlets including Daystar, CNN, K-Love, Psychology Today, and TED.com.
Over 250,000 people have discovered their personal rest deficits using her free
assessment at RestQuiz.com Dr. Saundra secured over 100 media interviews as her
own publicist in 2018-2019 and was the 2019 gold winner for the Christian Author Network (CAN) Crown Award in Outstanding Broadcast Media. She has
spoken at numerous conferences helping authors and speakers learn how to expand their platform, secure more media bookings, and position their work in the market for maximum exposure. Learn more about Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith at IChooseMyBestLife.com
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D., is an award-winning author, speaker, and host of I Choose My Best Life podcast. She spent over 20 years in clinical practice as an internal medicine physician before transitioning into a career that allows her to indulge in her love for books and sharing God’s word. She is the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves and Come Empty: Pour Out Life’s Hurt’s and Recieve God’s Healing Love (winner 2016 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year and 2016 Illumination Award Gold medalist). Her bestselling release Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity has been featured in numerous media outlets including Daystar, CNN, K-Love, Psychology Today, and TED.com.
Over 250,000 people have discovered their personal rest deficits using her free
assessment at RestQuiz.com Dr. Saundra secured over 100 media interviews as her
own publicist in 2018-2019 and was the 2019 gold winner for the Christian Author Network (CAN) Crown Award in Outstanding Broadcast Media. She has
spoken at numerous conferences helping authors and speakers learn how to expand their platform, secure more media bookings, and position their work in the market for maximum exposure. Learn more about Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith at IChooseMyBestLife.com
Melanie Chitwood is a writing coach and editor working with Christian nonfiction authors who is passionate about encouraging and helping writers in their craft. She’s the author of two books, What a Husband Needs from His Wife and What a Wife Needs from Her Husband. She has also produced several writing resources, including How to Write a Devotion,
and How to Use Scripture in Your Writing. As a former Proverbs 31 Ministries writer, she wrote hundreds of devotions for their
Encouragement for Today online devotions. She now blogs for P31’s COMPEL Writer’s Membership Site. Melanie offers biweekly writing tips and also blogs about biblical self-care at MelanieSChitwood.com. She lives outside Charlotte, NC, where she enjoys hikes with her two labs, is a game fanatic, and has two grown sons and one daughter-in-law.
Melanie Chitwood is a writing coach and editor working with Christian nonfiction authors who is passionate about encouraging and helping writers in their craft. She’s the author of two books, What a Husband Needs from His Wife and What a Wife Needs from Her Husband. She has also produced several writing resources, including How to Write a Devotion,
and How to Use Scripture in Your Writing. As a former Proverbs 31 Ministries writer, she wrote hundreds of devotions for their
Encouragement for Today online devotions. She now blogs for P31’s COMPEL Writer’s Membership Site. Melanie offers biweekly writing tips and also blogs about biblical self-care at MelanieSChitwood.com. She lives outside Charlotte, NC, where she enjoys hikes with her two labs, is a game fanatic, and has two grown sons and one daughter-in-law.
Maggie Wallem Rowe, M.A.B.S., is a national speaker, dramatist, and author from western North Carolina. Married for over 45 years to her pastor-husband Mike, mother of three, and grandmother to six,
Maggie's work includes decades in public relations, adult education, and ministry to women. She has served as an adjunct communications professor at Daniel Webster University (NH) and Wheaton College (IL). As a dramatist she performs
original historical reenactments of the lives of great women of the Christian faith including Mary of Nazareth, Sarah Pierpont Edwards, and Amy Carmichael. A contributing author to over ten books, Maggie’s first solo book This Life We Share, was a finalist for the 2021 ECPA Christian Book Award in the New Author category. Maggie was also a TEDx presenter in 2021. Her second book, Life is Sweet, Y’all, released from Tyndale House Publishers in 2022. Maggie is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences. She blogs weekly at “View from the Ridge” maggierowe.com.
Maggie Wallem Rowe, M.A.B.S., is a national speaker, dramatist, and author from western North Carolina. Married for over 45 years to her pastor-husband Mike, mother of three, and grandmother to six,
Maggie's work includes decades in public relations, adult education, and ministry to women. She has served as an adjunct communications professor at Daniel Webster University (NH) and Wheaton College (IL). As a dramatist she performs
original historical reenactments of the lives of great women of the Christian faith including Mary of Nazareth, Sarah Pierpont Edwards, and Amy Carmichael. A contributing author to over ten books, Maggie’s first solo book This Life We Share, was a finalist for the 2021 ECPA Christian Book Award in the New Author category. Maggie was also a TEDx presenter in 2021. Her second book, Life is Sweet, Y’all, released from Tyndale House Publishers in 2022. Maggie is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences. She blogs weekly at “View from the Ridge” maggierowe.com.
Tessa is an award-winning author of historical and biblical fiction. Her novel Land of Silence was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016 and was nominated for the 2016 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious 2014 Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Her book Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Book Award in the fiction category. In 2011, after publishing her first novel, Pearl in the Sand, Tessa was named New Author of the Year in the Family Fiction-sponsored Reader’s Choice Awards.
Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she was co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School for one year. She worked in women and prayer ministries for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer. Tessa speaks regularly at women’s events, and has keynoted at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference. Tessa is a devoted wife and mediocre tomato grower. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate.
Connect with Tessa Afshar on her Website: TessaAfshar.com
Tessa is an award-winning author of historical and biblical fiction. Her novel Land of Silence was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016 and was nominated for the 2016 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious 2014 Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Her book Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Book Award in the fiction category. In 2011, after publishing her first novel, Pearl in the Sand, Tessa was named New Author of the Year in the Family Fiction-sponsored Reader’s Choice Awards.
Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she was co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School for one year. She worked in women and prayer ministries for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer. Tessa speaks regularly at women’s events, and has keynoted at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference. Tessa is a devoted wife and mediocre tomato grower. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate.
Connect with Tessa Afshar on her Website: TessaAfshar.com
Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli...sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I'd Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn't until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since. Heidi writes women's fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write both split time stories and contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical
secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her husband. Her latest dual timeline novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life. Heidi makes her home in
Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Wyatt, her standard poodle. Look for Hope Beyond the Waves soon, and connect with Heidi online at her website at heidichiavaroli.com
Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli...sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I'd Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn't until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since. Heidi writes women's fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write both split time stories and contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical
secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her husband. Her latest dual timeline novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life. Heidi makes her home in
Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Wyatt, her standard poodle. Look for Hope Beyond the Waves soon, and connect with Heidi online at her website at heidichiavaroli.com
Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a blogger, speaker, and disturber of hobbits, who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. She’s authored four award-winning books including The Art of Hard Conversations, co-authored a fifth - Colorful Connections:12 Questions
about Race that Open Healthy Conversations, and contributed to nine others (and counting). Book six is on the way! She is a coach with Take Heart! Coaching and a ghostwriter (shh!). Lori writes for Crosswalk.com and is a popular speaker with engagements around the country. In 2015, Lori’s blog was named one of the Top 100 Christian Blogs with one post viewed over 2 million times, and several others viral on Facebook. Lori writes and teaches on perseverance in faith, our lasting impact on others, and all manner of hard things but she’s known for her humorous delivery, her storytelling, and her engaging delivery of biblical
truth. Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her
Bible in life’s trenches. Life-long Rhode Islander. Wife. Mother of adults. Grandmother. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. She
speaks her mind at loriroeleveld.com
Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her Bible in life’s trenches. Blogger. Wife. Mother of adults. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. Connect with Lori Roeleveld on her Website: LoriRoeleveld.com
Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a blogger, speaker, and disturber of hobbits, who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. She’s authored four award-winning books including The Art of Hard Conversations, co-authored a fifth - Colorful Connections:12 Questions
about Race that Open Healthy Conversations, and contributed to nine others (and counting). Book six is on the way! She is a coach with Take Heart! Coaching and a ghostwriter (shh!). Lori writes for Crosswalk.com and is a popular speaker with engagements around the country. In 2015, Lori’s blog was named one of the Top 100 Christian Blogs with one post viewed over 2 million times, and several others viral on Facebook. Lori writes and teaches on perseverance in faith, our lasting impact on others, and all manner of hard things but she’s known for her humorous delivery, her storytelling, and her engaging delivery of biblical
truth. Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her
Bible in life’s trenches. Life-long Rhode Islander. Wife. Mother of adults. Grandmother. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. She
speaks her mind at loriroeleveld.com
Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her Bible in life’s trenches. Blogger. Wife. Mother of adults. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. Connect with Lori Roeleveld on her Website: LoriRoeleveld.com
Vicki Heath is the National Director of the faith-based wellness ministry, First Place for Health. Vicki is a reluctant author of Don't Quit Get Fit and First Place 4 Health, Wellness Journey of a Lifetime and nationally known speaker. She holds certifications with American Council on Exercise and Body & Soul Fitness. She dances, jumps and limps her way as she leads exercise and wellness classes in her community of Edisto Island, SC. She strives to bring others into the Kingdom through her Life Coaching and her example of a radical but humble devoted follower of Christ. Vicki and her pastor husband, Rob, have four grown children and ten grandchildren.
Vicki Heath is the National Director of the faith-based wellness ministry, First Place for Health. Vicki is a reluctant author of Don't Quit Get Fit and First Place 4 Health, Wellness Journey of a Lifetime and nationally known speaker. She holds certifications with American Council on Exercise and Body & Soul Fitness. She dances, jumps and limps her way as she leads exercise and wellness classes in her community of Edisto Island, SC. She strives to bring others into the Kingdom through her Life Coaching and her example of a radical but humble devoted follower of Christ. Vicki and her pastor husband, Rob, have four grown children and ten grandchildren.
Mary Ward is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is also an ACE Faculty member leading various Continuing Education classes for fitness professionals. Mary is the Marketing Director and Northern Virginia Area Director for Body & Soul Fitness®, and has been a Body & Soul instructor since 1987, teaching FIT360,
Power Strength, Cardio/Strength, Gold and Dance Blast classes. She is also certified through Refit®. When not teaching fitness classes, Mary is the CEO of Integrity Enterprise Solutions (IES), a GIS and Business Management company. She is also honored to sit on the Board of Directors for First Place for Health. Mary is author and contributor for My Place for Fitness. Mary's philosophy is "Don't think about why you can't, think about how you can.”
Mary Ward is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is also an ACE Faculty member leading various Continuing Education classes for fitness professionals. Mary is the Marketing Director and Northern Virginia Area Director for Body & Soul Fitness®, and has been a Body & Soul instructor since 1987, teaching FIT360,
Power Strength, Cardio/Strength, Gold and Dance Blast classes. She is also certified through Refit®. When not teaching fitness classes, Mary is the CEO of Integrity Enterprise Solutions (IES), a GIS and Business Management company. She is also honored to sit on the Board of Directors for First Place for Health. Mary is author and contributor for My Place for Fitness. Mary's philosophy is "Don't think about why you can't, think about how you can.”