Sycamore Reformed Presbyterian Church (Kokomo, Indiana) recently hosted a Women’s Retreat for the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery. Organized by Addie Bell, Ruth Rowe, and Trisha Watkins, the event welcomed women from five RP congregations and beyond. Attendees gathered to hear Creation Desautels speak on the theme “In Relationship To”. Creation, an engaging and insightful speaker, also led breakout sessions on trauma and communication, candidly answering attendees’ questions. Additionally, Tori Sturm, from Southside RP in Indianapolis, offered a breakout session on depression, adding depth to the retreat’s focus on mental and spiritual health.
Creation’s journey to Sycamore RPC began in 2019, when she arrived in Kokomo as a single mother of three to complete her Liberty University internship. Drawn by Rosaria Butterfield’s The Gospel Comes with a Housekey, she sought a Reformed church community and found Sycamore RPC, where her family eventually joined. Since then, Creation has earned multiple certifications and now practices family and sex therapy, maintaining an office within the church. Her co-counseling with Pastor Shawn Anderson has been a blessing, equipping the congregation with vital communication skills and psychological insights.
During the retreat, Creation explored relationships on three levels:
- 1. With ourselves: She challenged attendees to prioritize self-care through proper sleep, nutrition, and mindful breathing.
- 2. With others: She emphasized the value of community, particularly within the church, where accountability and mutual growth flourish.
- 3. Sexually: Creation addressed sexuality for singles, those courting, and married couples. She encouraged singles to approach their sexuality with wisdom and education, advised those courting to seek godly counsel to avoid heartache, and urged married couples to embrace God’s design for sex with open communication and joy.
Creation stressed that the church must speak positively about sexuality, highlighting its God-given purpose, not just warning against sin. Her words left attendees encouraged and inspired. The main talks as well as a question and answer session can be viewed here
Thanks to Tammy Anderson for putting together this article.
