retreat theme…
Legacy
“The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge!” – Ruth 2:12
Retreat Host and Main Speaker
Brittany Schlichter
Author, Speaker, NBB Finalist
Brittany Schlichter is an author, Bible teacher, and motivational speaker whose passion is to help women of all ages grow in God’s Word. As a teenager, Brittany was a national qualifier in the National Bible Bee for six years and won second place twice, an experience that helped her learn how to study Scripture and led her to memorize twenty-six books of the Bible. Today, Brittany has a ministry for encouraging others in Bible memory/study and enjoys reciting Scripture for conferences and other events: www.letthewordbeheard.com. She has had the opportunity to be interviewed by or recite Scripture for organizations such as Revive Our Hearts, FamilyLife Today, Institute for Creation Research, and Bright Lights. Brittany’s desire is to encourage other women to study the Word of God and to know it deeply, so that it can transform every aspect of their lives! When she is not working or pursuing certification as an ACBC biblical counselor, Brittany loves to sing, travel, and enjoy the great outdoors with her family in Deep East Texas.
Past Guest Speakers
Tammy McMahan
Director of The Ruth Project
Ruth Adams
Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Linda Hovey
Pastor’s Wife for 48 Years
Gwen Woodard
Pastor’s Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Tammy McMahan has been a passionate and joyful disciple of Jesus since childhood, with a deep love for the Lord and all people that has infused her life and ministry. Wife to her college best friend Mark, and mom to five grown children, Tammy has poured her hunger and delight for God’s Word into teaching and writing Bible studies for women, children, and families for more than two decades. Beginning in 2010, the uniquely age-graded inductive Sword Study series that she wrote impacted families across the nation and led to a new mission for Tammy’s whole family. In applying the Sword Study lessons on Ruth, Mark and Tammy realized that the Lord desired them to share the same abundant love and care that they had received through salvation and adoption as God’s children with modern-day “orphans and widows” (James 1:27). As a result, their 20th through 22nd foster children are currently thriving in their home outside of Chicago. The experience of fostering sibling groups inspired the creation of The Ruth Project to support other families in fostering multiple siblings in obedience to God’s Word and alliance with His heart for “the least of these” (Matt.25:34-46).
Past Guest Speakers
Tammy McMahan
Director of The Ruth Project
Ruth Adams
Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Linda Hovey
Pastor’s Wife for 48 Years
Gwen Woodard
Pastor’s Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Ruth Adams was raised in a pastor’s home serving in ministry alongside her parents where she learned that it is a joy and a privilege to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. She is now a wife and homeschooling mother to her own seven children. When Ruth is not training her children she can be found encouraging other ladies to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Ruth has authored several books and is the host of The Legacy Homeschool Reflections Podcast. She is passionate about the topics of living out the gospel and embracing family discipleship. Ruth desires to see women of all ages get into the Word in order to experience transformation through the renewing of their hearts and minds.
Past Guest Speakers
Tammy McMahan
Director of The Ruth Project
Ruth Adams
Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Linda Hovey
Pastor’s Wife for 48 Years
Gwen Woodard
Pastor’s Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Blessed with Christian parents who loved the Lord, Linda was introduced to God’s love from her earliest recollections. At eight years of age, she responded to Christ’s loving invitation to make Him her Lord and Savior. Fifty-two years ago, she and Rod were married and have been blessed with three children with their loving spouses and fifteen precious grandchildren. The Lord called Rod and Linda to their first church forty-eight years ago, and they are presently serving at their fifth church, North Belt Baptist Church, for over thirty-six years. Linda’s call to ministry is to love and encourage her husband, family, church family, and people her life encounters in the Lord. To please her Father and to know Him more is Linda’s greatest joy.
Past Guest Speakers
Tammy McMahan
Director of The Ruth Project
Ruth Adams
Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Linda Hovey
Pastor’s Wife for 48 Years
Gwen Woodard
Pastor’s Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Gwen Woodard is the mother of five grown children and two granddaughters. Married to her husband, John Prettyman, for nearly twenty-eight years, she was a career homemaker, homeschool mom, and pastor’s wife and found much joy in her calling. Over the years, she taught children and women’s Bible studies in their churches as well as middle and high school Bible classes at a Christian school. A few days before Christmas, 2022, as they were settling into a new ministry in Nacogdoches, Texas, the Lord called her husband home to heaven. “Throughout the next year, the Lord revealed His constant, unchanging character to me and my children in ways that would take a book to recount.” Gwen was remarried in 2024 and with her husband, Brad, continues to serve the Lord while finding joy in Jesus and the path He has for her. She loves the Word of God and her greatest desire is to know the God who wrote it and be able to spur others to know and trust Him more.
Past Guest Speakers
Tammy McMahan
Director of The Ruth Project
Tammy McMahan has been a passionate and joyful disciple of Jesus since childhood, with a deep love for the Lord and all people that has infused her life and ministry. Wife to her college best friend Mark, and mom to five grown children, Tammy has poured her hunger and delight for God’s Word into teaching and writing Bible studies for women, children, and families for more than two decades. Beginning in 2010, the uniquely age-graded inductive Sword Study series that she wrote impacted families across the nation and led to a new mission for Tammy’s whole family. In applying the Sword Study lessons on Ruth, Mark and Tammy realized that the Lord desired them to share the same abundant love and care that they had received through salvation and adoption as God’s children with modern-day “orphans and widows” (James 1:27). As a result, their 20th through 22nd foster children are currently thriving in their home outside of Chicago. The experience of fostering sibling groups inspired the creation of The Ruth Project to support other families in fostering multiple siblings in obedience to God’s Word and alliance with His heart for “the least of these” (Matt.25:34-46).
Ruth Adams
Author, Speaker, Podcast Host
Ruth Adams was raised in a pastor’s home serving in ministry alongside her parents where she learned that it is a joy and a privilege to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. She is now a wife and homeschooling mother to her own seven children. When Ruth is not training her children she can be found encouraging other ladies to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Ruth has authored several books and is the host of The Legacy Homeschool Reflections Podcast. She is passionate about the topics of living out the gospel and embracing family discipleship. Ruth desires to see women of all ages get into the Word in order to experience transformation through the renewing of their hearts and minds.
Linda Hovey
Pastor’s Wife for 48 Years
Blessed with Christian parents who loved the Lord, Linda was introduced to God’s love from her earliest recollections. At eight years of age, she responded to Christ’s loving invitation to make Him her Lord and Savior. Fifty-two years ago, she and Rod were married and have been blessed with three children with their loving spouses and fifteen precious grandchildren. The Lord called Rod and Linda to their first church forty-eight years ago, and they are presently serving at their fifth church, North Belt Baptist Church, for over thirty-six years. Linda’s call to ministry is to love and encourage her husband, family, church family, and people her life encounters in the Lord. To please her Father and to know Him more is Linda’s greatest joy.
Gwen Woodard
Pastor’s Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Gwen Woodard is the mother of five grown children and two granddaughters. Married to her husband, John Prettyman, for nearly twenty-eight years, she was a career homemaker, homeschool mom, and pastor’s wife and found much joy in her calling. Over the years, she taught children and women’s Bible studies in their churches as well as middle and high school Bible classes at a Christian school. A few days before Christmas, 2022, as they were settling into a new ministry in Nacogdoches, Texas, the Lord called her husband home to heaven. “Throughout the next year, the Lord revealed His constant, unchanging character to me and my children in ways that would take a book to recount.” Gwen was remarried in 2024 and with her husband, Brad, continues to serve the Lord while finding joy in Jesus and the path He has for her. She loves the Word of God and her greatest desire is to know the God who wrote it and be able to spur others to know and trust Him more.