a Jesus encounter
“Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.”
Mark 6:31
Life has a way of becoming wonderfully full. Our days are filled with people we love, responsibilities we carry, and good things that deserve our attention. Yet somewhere along the way, the pace of life begins to crowd out the very relationship that gives life to everything else.
This doesn’t typically happen all at once but little by little. We convince ourselves we’ll spend more time with Jesus when life becomes less demanding. After this occasion in life. After the next deadline. After things finally slow down. But they rarely do.
And so the invitation of Jesus waits patiently beneath all the noise.
Poiema Missions creates sacred spaces where women step away from the demands of everyday life to encounter the living Christ through Scripture, worship, prayer, and authentic community. Because intimacy with Jesus doesn’t happen by accident. It grows wherever we choose to make room for Him.
Sometimes the most courageous step of faith isn’t adding one more thing to your life. It’s stepping away long enough to remember what matters most.
Perhaps that’s why you’re here.
Perhaps Jesus has been drawing you all along.
IS POIEMA FOR ME?
Somewhere beneath the responsibilities, the routines, and the constant busyness of life, there’s a quiet ache you haven’t quite been able to put your finger on.
Maybe you’ve found yourself longing for more time with Jesus. Or maybe your faith has become more about doing than abiding. If any part of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
AT POIEMA, YOU’LL FIND…
A place where no one expects you to have all the answers. A community that values authenticity over appearance. Time to sit with Scripture instead of simply rushing through a devotional. Reverent moments of worship. Conversations that matter. Space to listen for the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. And above all… Jesus.
Because while retreats eventually end, an encounter with Jesus has the power to change everything that comes after.
IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO ANYTHING LIKE THIS…
Perfect.
Many of the women who come to Poiema arrive feeling uncertain. Not all come from church backgrounds. Some haven’t been in years. Others are simply curious about Jesus.
You don’t have to know the Bible from cover to cover.
You don’t have to have your life together.
You don’t even have to know exactly what you’re looking for.
Just come.
If your heart has been longing for more of Jesus, we’d love to welcome you.
FOR WE ARE HIS MASTERPIECE
The Greek word for masterpiece is poiēma. It speaks of something intentionally crafted, or thoughtfully designed. A work that bears the fingerprints of its Maker.
Scripture tells us that we are God’s poiēma…His masterpiece, “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance, that we would walk in them.”
We believe every woman has been created with purpose.
Sometimes life has a way of obscuring that truth. Pain, disappointment, failure, fear or simply the relentless pace of everyday life can make us forget who we are and whose we are.
Our desire is to create places where women can once again hear the voice of the One who has been speaking over them all along. Because when we encounter Jesus, we begin to see ourselves through His eyes. And everything changes.
MORE THAN A RETREAT
We weren’t called to plan an event. We were called to cultivate an environment where every conversation, every meal, every moment of worship, every teaching, every quiet pause is prayerfully considered because we believe God meets people in ordinary moments as well as extraordinary ones.
Our goal has never been to entertain women. Our prayer has always been that every woman would leave having encountered Jesus personally.
LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Poiema Missions was built on one simple conviction: Jesus is still leading His Beloved.
We believe the Holy Spirit still speaks through His Word, still guides His people, and still faithfully directs those who seek Him. That conviction shapes everything we do. Our leadership doesn’t make decisions based on preference, convenience or tradition alone. We begin with prayer. We seek the Lord together. We wait when He asks us to wait, and we move when He says it’s time to move. We don’t claim to do this perfectly.
But it is our sincere desire that every decision reflects our dependence on Him. We believe that one holy encounter with Jesus has the power to transform a life…and the ripple effect begins. We simply want to create space for women to meet Him. We do that by hosting a weekend women’s retreat.
PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH
Poiema Missions is a parachurch ministry in partnership with Genesis Church in Monroe, LA. Simply put, a parachurch ministry is a Christian ministry that serves alongside the local church, rather than functioning as a church itself. Poiema brings women from different churches, denominations, and communities together with one purpose: to create sacred space for them to encounter Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him.
We are grateful to partner with Genesis Church, whose spiritual and pastoral support, along with a shared commitment to the Gospel, allows us to serve beyond the walls of any one congregation while always honoring the vital role of the local church.