History of Relax Release Renew
What started out as an overnight get-together for four close friends has grown into a weekend, beachfront retreat experience. In 1997, Cheryl Bowie hosted a sleepover for four friends in her Decatur, Georgia, apartment. The goal of the event was for each lady to escape their daily responsibilities and schedules and just relax and network. It was her gift to them.
Each guest brought a dish for the evening meal, and Ms. Bowie cooked breakfast for them the next morning. The one night get-away turned into each guest grabbing a magazine, finding an available corner, and reading, relaxing and being thankful to have someplace to escape, even from phone calls! The next morning everyone who attended left feeling so rejuvenated that this evening became an annual event after Ms. Bowie moved to her new home in Riverdale, Georgia, with the number of attendees increasing each year.
The annual evening focuses on participating in relaxing activities, having fun, sharing thoughts and dreams, and growing spiritually. The theme, “Relax, Release, Renew” (RRR), originated from Ms. Bowie’s experience of attending a poetry reading featuring Nikki Giovanni.
There are three main aspects of the event: relaxing physically through massage therapy, releasing the mental tensions of daily multitasking stresses through testimonials and sharing, and renewing spiritually through prayer, meditation and sister circles. Ms. Bowie feels that it is important that Christian women practice the example that Jesus Christ modeled throughout His ministry. As Christ relaxed and renewed himself with his closest friends and disciples by separating from the cares of this world to pray and fellowship, we equally require time to regenerate our spirits. A person can not do the will of the Father if they are too tired physically and too weak spiritually to serve.
Song By Eric Hayford Rhodes