Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA have a chronic illness and about 96% of it invisible. Are these women attending your church retreats? Many of them are suffering silently, depressed, isolated, and feeling very alone. Others are some of the wisest, calming, most spiritually beautiful women who will touch attendees at your retreat in ways no planned speaker can. But are any of them coming?

Rest Ministries is the largest Christian organization that serves the chronically ill, and they recently surveyed 20 people about the specifics of attending a retreat while living with illness. Out of the twenty respondents, seventeen attend retreats less since their diagnosis. When asked why, they shared the following:

Three said, “Accessibility issues (I know I can’t easily get to and from different buildings at the retreat)”; 6 people reported, “The pain factor. It’s just too draining”; 4 responded, “The unpredictable health issues”; and 10 said, “A combination of the above.”

So, how could you encourage women with chronic illness to get involved in your church retreat?

1. When deciding upon your retreat location, ask a lot of questions about the center and promote the fact that you have this information before people even register.

For example, are the hills steep? Are there “golf carts” available? Exactly how far are the rooms from the main building? Is electricity in the rooms? Are only bunk beds available? Are there chairs other than just metal folding chairs? Elevators? One women explains, “I stopped going a year or so ago because the retreat planner does not tell you what is expected, or about walking, stairs, etc. They need to be more honest.” People with illness look for retreat centers held in locations where there is little walking involved and preferably the ground is flat. Large homes or hotels are also good. It’s easy for a retreat director to assume that fifty yards is a “short walking distance.” But fifty steps may be the limit for some people. So provide actual distances on your promotional flyers, not just “rooms are within a short walking distance.”

2. Understand that women desire to go on retreats and socialize with others, but they must feel that the retreat planner understands that they will be on their own schedule

Margaret lives with a malignant brain tumor and uterine cancer. She says, “I don’t attend retreats because people don’t want to understand or accept that sometimes I have to retreat from the ‘retreat.’ I may have to go back to my room to rest. Others decide that I’m escaping from my problems. They demand that I participate in whatever is happening. I’m not wishing to be anti-social and I will participate when God enables me to do so; but at the same time, when God tells me to rest, I must rest despite what the [retreat] ‘timetable’ states.” One way a retreat director can help rectify this is by distributing the retreat’s event schedule a week or so before the event, even if it’s just posted on the church’s web site.

3. When planning events such as ice breakers or fun games, remember to have something for those with physical limitations to participate in if they wish

You may ask those with chronic illness what their preference would be. Many are happy just to cheer on their team, rather than participate in the actual race where everyone dresses up in costumes. Debbie, who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome shares, “Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any retreat planners who understand that I am unable to participate, not because I’m uncooperative, shy, or antisocial, but rather because I cannot physically do so; the result is that I do not attend church retreats any longer.”

4. Don’t gasp when you see all the stuff she has packed

All women have necessities they pack to make their weekend more comfortable. For the chronically ill these typically include: their own bedding, chair cushions, pillows, snacks, pain patches, eye shades to sleep, or a flashlight and book to read in case she is awake all night. They may bring bottled water, the biggest collection of medication you’ve ever seen (don’t comment), and perhaps even a service dog (which she should ask you about before the event.)

5. Remember that she knows her body better than you do, and she is trying to plan for the best experience

Riding on the bus with everyone else, for example, may put her in a great deal of pain the entire weekend. So if she requests a ride in a car with a staff member, make that accommodation. If she puts on a headset to listen to music, don’t take it personally that she isn’t talking. She may need to rejuvenate so that she is able to socialize that evening. She also may need to eat. If she is diabetic, she will likely need to eat small snacks and meals throughout the weekend. Don’t tell her, “Dinner it is in just thirty minutes, so please wait so you can eat with us.”

6. Recognize that she’s not being a prima donna; take her requests in stride

She may be insisting that she have the bottom bunk bed and then pull out her own mattress, but it’s not because she is the Princess and the Pea. She may have some needs that are medical requirements. For example, electricity in her room is necessary if she uses something like a CCAP machine for sleep apnea. (Out of 20 women surveyed, 2 used this). Her medications may also need to be refrigerated and an ice pack won’t do the job, so she may need access to the retreat center kitchen or a staff member. Sheryl, who lives with chronic myofascial pain says, “Make sure there are always chairs available for those who can’t stand more than a couple of minutes.” You may not see a cane or walker, but her feet, knees or balance may not be able to take more than a couple of minutes standing.

7. Respect her privacy

Anjuli, who has congenital myopathy (a form of Muscular Dystrophy) says, “Don’t single me out!” and Marjorie agrees. “When an explanation is given in confidence, don’t respond so much that everyone knows that I have a problem.”

8. Have scholarships available

Most people with illness are on a very limited budget. These women, however, are often too proud to ask for financial assistance for something they consider “frivolous”–which it is compared to paying for their monthly medication. Let them know scholarships are available.

9. Assign a person in charge of overseeing the necessities of those with chronic illness

Find your “healthiest” volunteer with a chronic illness, or a cancer survivor, in your women’s ministry who would be the staff member to communicate with attendees with chronic illness; one who would try to meet their needs and listen to their concerns. Those who responded to the survey by Rest Ministries still attend retreats and most often contact the retreat director beforehand to talk about health issues they may have. But dozens of other people sit in the benches at church and never consider attending a retreat because they assume it’s not a possibility due to their illness. Make a special effort to reach out to women who have a chronic illness by adding an extra line at the bottom of your promotional flyer that says, “Do you live with a chronic illness? We have some special accommodations! We hope you’ll make it this year!”

Those who live with chronic illness are one of the most valuable gifts in our church that we often overlook. September 8-14, 2008 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, sponsored by Rest Ministries, and it’s the perfect time to take a second look at your ministry’s priorities and who is missing out on being served. Don’t forget that the joy in the Lord many ill people have is also contagious and your church is missing out on their influence. Get them involved today. In time, one of them may be your next retreat speaker.