By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Last September I was sitting at my computer, working on the Hollow Bridge College series, when the Lord put a new idea in my head. Earlier that day I had watched an interview with one of the actors from The Chosen. The actor discussed their faith and how it influences their day-to-day life, as well as talking about the upcoming season of the series. I was impressed by the depth of this actor’s relationship with Christ and their obedience to God.

Hours later, I was banging away on my keyboard but I couldn’t stop thinking about that interview. It moved me. I kept thinking, “I want a faith like that. I want to feel settled in my relationship with the Lord. I want to set an example for other women of what a life submitted to Jesus looks like.”

Well, God heard my prayer and answered in an unexpected way. As I sat there writing a romance book, I suddenly thought about writing a virtual women’s retreat instead. Which is something I have never considered before. Or had a desire to ever create. Ever.

But I have a privileged position as an author, particularly one who is constantly in online spaces. I have the opportunity to use my voice to advocate for others. I can use my platform and my skills to provide opportunities for other Christian women as they explore their faith. More than that, God can use me to do something great for Him, starting with developing an online conference accessible to all His daughters.

Culling the Guest List

I love a good women’s conference but let’s be honest, some of them are super expensive! And that’s just the conference fee. Add in hotels, transportation, and meals, and it’s goodbye budget. Then you have to think about taking time off work if the conference falls over a business day (yes, this also applies to conferences that begin on Friday evening and end Sunday afternoon- some women will still have to travel several hours which requires them to at least use PTO to leave work early). Don’t forget that female pastors work on Sundays, so that’s another headache for them. Mothers have to figure out childcare, which is not always provided at conferences. The conference location may be a logistical nightmare for women who live in other cities, states, or countries.

That’s not to say that women’s conferences aren’t worth the sacrifices. They absolutely can be. But can we finally admit that most women’s conferences are for the privileged? Attendees are typically older, retired, married or widowed, and white. How many young single women do you see at women’s conferences? How many working mothers who are barely making ends meet? How many women of color?

Conferences are expensive to host. Even if it’s only one banquet room in a suburban hotel, there’s a rental fee. Marketing isn’t cheap. I get it. There will always be a cost associated with attending conferences and retreats. But when we’re pricing out our sisters, when we’re gatekeeping by scheduling events during the business week, when we’re shrugging our shoulders and telling nursing mothers to figure it out on their own, then we’ve lost the point of Christian sisterhood.

Christian Women are Roses in Bloom

The pandemic changed our relationship with technology. As a society, we realized that virtual meetings allowed people to attend who otherwise would be left out. Now we can hear their ideas and insight, opening ourselves up to different perspectives that otherwise would have been lost and ignored. Many churches began livestreaming their worship services and saw an uptick in church membership, with some new members living hours away from the physical building. We spent a good chunk of the beginning of this decade thinking outside the box to spread the Gospel and meet people where they are at.

Then we resumed in-person meetings. Many businesses required employees to return to the office. While being together in the same physical space is not necessarily a bad thing, it can erect barriers, barriers we were demolishing just a few years ago. Suddenly the walls are back up and many of our sisters are stuck outside in the cold.

That’s why I designed Rose in Bloom: A Virtual Christian Women’s Retreat as a virtual, self-paced course for Christian women of all ages, races, and denominations. Wherever you are on your faith journey, wherever you live in the world, Rose in Bloom is for you. You can complete it on your schedule from the comfort of your own home. There’s no need to worry about childcare, lodging, or transportation. Instead, you can sit back and relax as you enjoy the opening and closing worship services. You can pause the workshop videos as needed, stopping and returning to them when it’s convenient for you.

Opportunities for All Women

Growing in our faith shouldn’t come with an exorbitant price tag. Learning from the women who came before us, discovering how our gifts and talents can serve the Lord as modern Christian women, and acknowledging the roles women play in church life should be available to all women everywhere.

If you have the opportunity to attend an in-person conference or retreat, I highly recommend it. There’s value in being together in the same space. But I understand if it’s not an option for you. Don’t despair, my sister. There are many ways to connect with the sisterhood and with Jesus!