Hearts of Beauty launches its inaugural Canadian women’s retreat

Esther Kwan
Special to Spur Ottawa

There is a growing movement of female Christian leaders, across North America, seeking to create opportunities for women to experience God. Among these leaders is Jax Farmer, one of the founders of the Hearts of Beauty weekend retreats.

“The goal of Hearts of Beauty is to direct women to the only source who can help and heal them: Jesus,” Farmer says.

Based on Captivating, the best-selling book by John and Stasi Eldredge, the weekend retreats explore every woman’s three primary desires. Captivating says women long to be swept up into a romance, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to unveil their unique beauty.

Hearts of Beauty started gaining momentum in 2011, when Farmer was prodded by the Spirit to multiply the work she was doing.

“God gave me a scripture: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,’” she says. “That encounter was followed by many divine connections with like-hearted women who also have a passion for the [Hearts of Beauty] weekend, to help duplicate this incredible experience in multiple cities.”

Hearts of Beauty retreats now take place in dozens of cities across the United States, but this year marks their inaugural weekend in Canada. Hearts of Beauty Canada is holding their first retreat at Cedar Ridge Camp in McArthurs Mills, from May 12 to 15, and the event is already sold out.

Despite the program’s tremendous growth, Farmer says its aim has not changed. Their heart is to connect women’s hearts to God’s.

“Women’s response to the retreat is so individual and intimate, but they often say, ‘I experienced Him,’” remarks Farmer.

Hearts of Beauty helps participants see themselves as “the captivating women God created them to be.” It also mirrors Band of Brothers, a men’s retreat described as a “four-day quest into the recovery of a man’s masculine soul.”

Farmer says the close connection between the two events is evident.

“The best part is that many men who invite or encourage women to go have already gone to the Band of Brothers weekend. They are excited for their wife, mom, sister, or friend to attend.”

Farmer says the Hearts of Beauty retreat has a profound impact on women, leaving them hungry to experience God more. She believes this is largely because the program enables women “to intimately connect with God, as we ask Him questions and give Him time to answer”.

Local realtor Yetta Dekker, from the Dekker Team, says the program has deeply impacted her. She first attended a retreat, in Ohio, back in March 2014.

“I read the book Captivating and I wanted to catch the vision of Hearts of Beauty and hopefully help launch it in Canada,” she says.

Dekker began encouraging other women to attend the weekend retreat. She is now one of the women behind Hearts of Beauty Canada. She says the weekend experience often gives women a transformative encounter with God.

“God shows up and impacts women profoundly in their marriages, lives, careers, and their families. The legacy of the event is for eternity, and that’s the beauty of it.”