Thank You, From Our Hearts!

Transcript: Teachable Woman Podcast

Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry

Thank You From Our Hearts!

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:00:00] Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Teachable Woman Podcast. We are so excited to be back with you. This is Reverend Michele Owes, and I am with the one and only Reverend Mrs. Diana P. Cherry, author extraordinaire, and we are Teachers of Good Things. Say hello, Mrs. Cherry.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Hello, everyone. We are indeed Teachers of Good Things, and we are so thankful that we have good women who are teachable. Because if we teach good things but don’t have women who are teachable, it would all be for naught. So thank God for you.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen, amen. Well, this particular session is going to be a special thank you from Mrs. Cherry and me, from our hearts to yours. We want you to know how important and meaningful it was to open our eyes and see the sea of women who traveled from across the country to be at the first Teachable Woman Podcast Retreat.

You blessed our hearts. We were humbled by the fact that you took your time, used your resources, and came to be with us. We were just humbled to see you there with smiles on your faces, joy in your hearts, and love for one another. It was a beautiful atmosphere, and we just want to thank you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Amen. Indeed, it was. And in addition to the different places people traveled from, there was such a good representation of the body of Christ. We had people from so many different churches, denominations, and persuasions. I think that had to have been pleasing to the heart of God to see us come together, regardless of our theology, because all of us should have the same doctrine.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:02:00] Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Regardless of our theology—how we practice what we believe—doctrine is what we believe, and all of us should believe the same things. But thank God that we had a wonderful time, regardless of our different churches and backgrounds. We had a wonderful time in the Lord.

Rev. Michele Owes:

We really did. And I have to admit, it was a blessing in my heart to see that as well. People were not concerned about the “name over the door,” if you will. They were women who wanted to receive something from the Lord, and they came with expectation. I am humbled again by the fact that God chose little old me and little old you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes.

Rev. Michele Owes:

It really is.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

And, you know, I love doing retreats at secluded places, but I loved being at our meeting place in the Galleria, the Westin Oaks Galleria. I was able to walk—at least two miles every day.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

I felt safe and secure. On the last night, Saturday, I went out around 7 or 7:30 PM and took my daily walk.

Rev. Michele Owes:

All right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

So things worked together for good, and every woman loved our retreat site.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I have heard the very same things. You know, it’s interesting—when you and I first talked about this, you wanted me to find a remote location where there wouldn’t be much interest in shopping and all those other things that women do. I really tried to find a remote location that could house us. Then the Westin at the Galleria offered us the best deal, and I thought, "Oh, Lord, it’s over the Galleria. This is the one thing that Mrs. Cherry really doesn’t want." But it ended up being so perfect due to the weather. We didn’t need to leave the building, right?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

[00:04:00] Yes.

Rev. Michele Owes:

It rained almost daily, but it was sunshine where we were because we were so happy to be together. The teachings were outstanding. I loved the way God moved with each person who shared with the married, the single, and the widowed. It was just an awesome time in the Lord.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

And God knows all things. He knew that the restaurant was going to be closed.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

So, although we didn’t have room service, there were so many restaurants in the Galleria. You could grab a quick bite or have a really nice sit-down meal.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, it was great. They had a restaurant for every palate and every budget, which I thought was wonderful. Unlike you, I didn’t get out to see the Galleria or walk. I worked, and it was my honor to labor to make sure that all the things God desired to accomplish while we were together were done.

But I had a great team of young adult women who stood with me, worked hard, and helped phenomenally. I gave each of them a new title and promotion, you know, without pay, but it was a great promotion. One became the VP of logistics, and one just my VP in charge. They did such a phenomenal job, and the ministry of music—oh my!

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

[00:06:00] Yes, it was beautiful. And you know, those young ladies worked as if they worked together all the time.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

They were not all from the same local church, but they served with cheerful hearts. They were forerunners, and I’m going to say this—they were the forerunners of all the joy that we’re seeing in another arena in this country these days.

Rev. Michele Owes:

I tell you, they really brought us into the presence of the Lord, and they settled the hearts and minds of women so that when we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ground was fertile, and they could receive all that God wanted to plant in their hearts. That was a beautiful thing. We cannot thank them enough. The same women who were laboring to help get the swag bags together were the same women organizing and getting the rooms ready for our breakouts. They were the same women recording the sessions and the same women bringing us before the heart of the Lord. It was wonderful. I loved every minute of it.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Yes, we did good.

Rev. Michele Owes:

We did good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

And the teachings—everyone was on one accord.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

We have to thank God for all the teachers who poured out their hearts to us. I even got up one day and did the Zumba class.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Right. I want to give a special shout-out to all the women who, due to the computer glitch that the airline had, were not able to make it. Some of the airlines wouldn’t have been able to get them to Houston until two days after the retreat ended, but they graciously called and gave their paid retreat registrations to any woman who wanted to be at the retreat.

[00:08:00] Some women who, in their words, were deserving of an opportunity to be in that room. Not a single one of those offers was left unfilled. We filled every seat, and the women were so honored to be there. They had a beautiful time. So I want to say thank you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Thank you for thinking of someone else in this hour. After you had made preparations early and were, you know, understandably displeased with the airline service, it didn’t stop you from giving. It didn’t stop you from considering someone else’s plight. Even in a moment that wasn’t pleasant for you, your thought was to give. So I just want to say thank you. That’s a beautiful sentiment. It’s where God wants us to be in the body of Christ. You set the bar, and you set the example. We honored you by making sure that somebody was in that seat, and I’m sure the deposit God made in their lives will be a beautiful one that will rebound in the kingdom of God.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Right, and rebound to your account. Your generosity was a blessing to us because, as we always said, we’re just two little old women out here trying to do the will of God. We didn’t have any big backers, didn’t have any sugar mamas or sugar daddies. We were just trying to do the will of the Lord.

Rev. Michele Owes:

No.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

[00:10:00] Because I know our hearts were pure, and we were simply trying to do what God told us to do—what we felt God was leading us to do—you played a significant part in our being able to minister to others because of your generosity of heart. And we are truly grateful to you.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Amen, amen. And a shout-out to From the Heart Church Ministries of Houston, Texas. They had their conference just before our retreat. They were with us for a part of the time and then invited their husbands to join them on Saturday. What a beautiful expression of how we can all serve together in the kingdom of God.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

And that was special. It was. Having the men join us for the final day of the retreat was really special.

Rev. Michele Owes:

It really was. I think it made all the difference. It is a beautiful thing to know that our husbands and families support us in what God has called us to do. Mrs. Cherry, any final thoughts before we close out this thank you?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

I just want to say that the retreat was awesome. We are grateful to each of you who came and those who listened and watched our podcasts. We’re excited about the future and looking forward to what God will do next. We’re getting ready to release some of the recordings from the retreat in upcoming episodes, so be on the lookout.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:12:00] Absolutely. So, listeners, don’t miss a single episode. We’ll be bringing you powerful teachings from the retreat, personal reflections, and much more. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. This has been the Teachable Woman Podcast with Rev. Michele Owes and Rev. Diana P. Cherry. God bless you all, and until next time, stay teachable.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:12:00] We are truly excited about what God has in store. You know, Mrs. Cherry, one of the things that we often talk about is the importance of being teachable, not just in the sense of learning new things, but in being open to the ways God wants to stretch us and grow us. I think this retreat was a perfect example of that. Women came with open hearts, ready to receive, and left with something tangible to carry back into their everyday lives.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Absolutely, Michele. And you know, being teachable isn’t just about taking in new information; it’s about applying that information in a way that transforms us. It’s about letting God work in us so that we can, in turn, be a blessing to others. That’s why I’m so grateful for the women who attended, because they came not just to be filled, but to be poured out into others when they returned home.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:13:00] Yes, yes. I’ve already heard so many testimonies from women who have shared how the retreat impacted them. They’re saying that they feel more equipped to handle their challenges, that they’ve been reminded of their value in God’s eyes, and that they’re more confident in their roles as wives, mothers, and leaders. That’s the kind of fruit we prayed for, and God is so faithful.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

He truly is. And it’s a reminder to all of us that when we put our trust in God and step out in faith, He does exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think. We couldn’t have planned for the blessings that came out of this retreat. We just had to be obedient and watch God work.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Yes, and you know, Mrs. Cherry, I think it’s important to mention that being teachable is also about being willing to adjust when things don’t go according to our plans. We had some hiccups along the way, but instead of getting discouraged, we kept our eyes on the bigger picture. God used those moments to show us that His ways are higher than ours, and His timing is always perfect.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

[00:14:00] Amen. Flexibility is key. We must be willing to move when God says move and to be still when He says be still. I believe that’s a lesson for all of us, not just in ministry but in every area of our lives.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Absolutely. And I’m just so grateful for the way everything came together, from the teachings to the fellowship to the worship. It was all just so divinely orchestrated. God really met us in a powerful way, and I believe we’re going to see the ripple effects of this retreat for a long time to come.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

I believe that too, Michele. And you know, it’s not just about what happened at the retreat; it’s about what happens next. What will we do with what we’ve received? How will we allow it to change us, and how will we use it to change the lives of others? That’s where the real work begins.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:15:00] Yes, yes. So, as we close out this special thank you episode, I want to encourage all our listeners to stay in that place of being teachable. Don’t let the fire that was ignited at the retreat burn out. Fan it into flame in your daily life, in your homes, in your churches, and in your communities. Be the light that God has called you to be.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

Amen. And remember, being teachable isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a lifestyle. It’s a commitment to ongoing growth and learning. So, let’s keep pressing forward, growing, and being open to all God has for us.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:16:00] Yes, let’s keep pressing forward. We are so grateful for each of you, and we look forward to continuing this journey together. Thank you again for being a part of the Teachable Woman community. We couldn’t do this without you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

We really couldn’t. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and may God continue to bless and keep each of you.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Until next time, stay teachable, humble, and hungry for more of God. We’ll see you in the next episode.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry:

God bless you all.

Rev. Michele Owes:

[00:17:00] Bye now.