All registration fees include lunch and dinner on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. All lodging rooms include 2 double beds and private bath, same as a hotel room, all linens provided. The following are the registration costs based on the type of participant:

• Full Time Resident – Private room w/bathroom ($250)
• Full Time Resident – Double room w/bathroom ($175)
• Full Time Resident – Triple room w/bathroom ($140)
• Full Time Resident – Quad room w/bathroom ($125)
• Full Time Non-Resident with meals ($90)

REFUND POLICY:  Registration fees are not refundable.

Our Mission u 2024 Retreat Leaders are:

Adult Mission Study – Welcome Home:

• Nancy Litton – In addition to her role as Assistant Dean, Nancy Elizabeth Litton is coordinating and participating as a Study Leader for Mission u 2024. Nancy has been a North Carolinian since 1998. She currently lives in Kannapolis with her daughter Katie and two cats. She comes from a family of women who were members of United Methodist Women – she will show you her UMW charm from her great Aunt Edith Cherry, circa late 1800’s. Nancy joined UMW in 2006 as a circle president quickly joined our District Leadership Team. As a District officer Nancy has served as Secretary of Program Resources, Coordinator for Mission, Education & Interpretation. In 2017 Nancy took the first steps to become a Deaconess within the Order of Deaconess; Home Missioner (DHM) within the United Methodist Church. She was consecrated at 2022 General Assembly and is currently appointed to Trinity United Methodist Church, Kannapolis in congregate care.
• Martha Efird – Martha lives on Lake Norman in Huntersville with her dog Grace. She is an attorney with the Charlotte firm Moore; Van Allen PLLC. Born into the Methodist Church, Martha grew to be a faithful and faith-filled servant of our Lord. In addition to serving at the local, district, and conference levels of United Women of Faith, Martha served locally in her home church Mouzon UMC – now Woodlawn Community Fellowship, as well as serving in District and Conference roles. Martha is a Certified Lay Servant Minister and has led both basic and advanced courses through the years. Most recently she led the advanced LSM course from the book Soul Reset by the late Rev. Junius B. Dotson. When invited, Martha enjoys writing and sharing messages at local churches. Recently, Martha resumed ballet, a passion she has had since she was 5 years old. She loves travelling to Michigan and Montana.
• Michelene Mathews – Michelene is a very happy Retiree who enjoys caring for her two handsome grandsons. She serves as the local President of our United Women in Faith at St. Mark’s UMC Charlotte and the Advisor and Coordinator of the Dance Ministry – Angels of Grace and Expressions of Praise. Michelene have served her district in the past as ME&I, Program Resource Coordinator and District UMW President. She also serves as one of the
  Coordinators for Lay Servant classes. Additionally, she has served as Dean of our Mission u and on the Conference Nomination team. She states, “I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve at Mission u this year.”
• Sylvia Sekle-Dueh – Sylvia is a member of Hickory Grove – Charlotte and she is currently serving as the worship committee chairperson and Health and Wellness/Wholeness Ministry chairperson. She was consecrated and commissioned as a deaconess in the United Methodist Church on May 18, 2018. Outside of her church activities, she is an adoption and pregnancy support and generic services social worker by profession. She has worked for the Catholic
  Diocese of Charlotte for the past 11 years. Sylvia is married and this union is blessed with two beautiful children, a boy 13 years old and a girl 19 years old.

Music Leader – Darlene Gardner has always been involved in music of some kind.  She began playing piano at the age of 9. As an adult, she has been involved with her church choir as both a singer and accompanist.  For the last 16 years Darlene has served as music director at Centenary UMC of Clemmons. She also sings with the Yadkin Valley District Senior Choir known as The Joy Singers.  Darlene believes music is a wonderful way to praise the Lord.

Hands-on Mission: UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kits

• Guidelines on assembling and packing the kits may be found at https://umcmission.org/umcor-menstrual-hygiene-kit/
• PDF of instructions for assembling an UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit
• VIDEO of assembling an UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit
• Important notes:
  • All items must be new.
  • Do not wash any of the items as they will no longer be considered new.
  • Do not include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits.
  • Contents of kits or the containers of kits should not be imprinted with cartoon characters, advertisements, religious, patriotic, military or camouflage symbols.

School Officers:

• Dean:  LaDonna Butts, Concord, NC
• Assistant Dean:  Nancy Litton, Kannapolis, NC
• Coordinator:  Karlah Burton, Greensboro, NC

Email any of these school officers with questions about Mission u 2024.

The health and safety of our members and attendees is a top priority for United Women in Faith. We all want to meet in person, and experience the special gift of sharing time together for our retreat. To do that, we will continue to lean into doing no harm, and making efforts to keep everyone safe. With that in mind, the following COVID-19 safety measures will be in place for our retreat. Please confirm below that you will follow our COVID-19 safety measures:

• Up to date COVID-19 Vaccinations are recommended (but not required) for all participants. Click to see CDC Guidelines related to being fully vaccinated and up to date.
• Mask wearing will be by personal choice for participants while inside buildings. Appropriate social distancing will be encouraged.
• Participants agree that they will stay home if they have any symptoms of illness, have tested positive, or have a known recent exposure.