By Wallace Mawire
Renowned gospel minister Sharon Manyonganise-Cherayi is set to host “The Great Exchange”, a transformative women’s retreat taking place on 4 to 5 September 2026 at the Glen City Campus Retreat in Ruwa, with sessions beginning from 5PM.
The gathering is designed as a sacred space for women to step away from the pressures of daily life and experience rest, renewal, and spiritual revival.
Born from a long-held vision, “The Great Exchange” is centred on creating an environment where women can pause, breathe, and reconnect with God.
The retreat encourages attendees to surrender life’s burdens and embrace spiritual restoration, exchanging stress, fatigue, and silent struggles for peace, grace, joy, and renewed purpose. It is positioned not just as an event, but as a deeply personal and collective moment of reflection, healing, and rejuvenation.
Sharon Manyonganise-Cherayi described the heart behind the gathering, saying, “It’s all about women gathering to just breathe… to pause, breathe, rest, reconnect, self-introspect and be refreshed and renewed by the presence of the Lord.” She added that the retreat is about creating space for women to “rejuvenate and be refilled and be revived.”
The retreat will feature a powerful intergenerational lineup of respected voices, bringing together seasoned women of faith and influential contemporary speakers. The programme includes Prophetess Wazara, Evangelist Gwatidzo, Mai Chisamba, Nyingeterai Mahaka, Auntie Joy, Chengetai Mhisi, and Yvonne Tivatye, all of whom bring a wealth of spiritual insight and lived experience.
This blend of wisdom and relatability is intended to guide attendees through real-life issues such as relationships, personal growth, faith, and purpose, while also offering mentorship across generations.
Explaining the inspiration behind the lineup, Sharon said, “We wanted people who have experienced what we are experiencing and what we are yet to experience… so we can listen to them, learn how to navigate life, relationships, marriage and purpose.” She noted the importance of balance, adding, “There has to be a balance between seasoned wisdom and the younger generation.”Proceedings will begin on the evening of Friday, 4 September, with a spiritually grounded opening session, setting the tone for the retreat’s theme of surrender and exchange.
The following day will include a mix of spiritual teachings, wellness activities, and opportunities for connection and fellowship. Attendees will also have access to the retreat facility’s wide range of recreational activities, allowing for both reflection and relaxation in a serene environment.
Participants are encouraged to come with open hearts, ready to fully surrender and receive. The retreat aims to remind women of their identity, worth, and creative power, empowering them to rediscover their voices and step boldly into their purpose. Organisers emphasise that the experience is for any woman seeking clarity, healing, or a renewed sense of direction.
Sharon said, “Come ready to surrender… ready to exchange… so that in return you receive newness, peace of mind, joy and rest on every side.” She further encouraged women to reflect deeply, adding, “Sometimes life can be so hard that you get used to it… but you need to ask yourself, ‘Am I okay?’.”The Great Exchange” promises to be a life-changing encounter, offering women a rare opportunity to reset, recharge, and emerge spiritually refreshed and empowered.
As Sharon concluded, “My hope is that women realise who they truly are—that they matter, their voices matter, and their contributions and wisdom count. They are fearfully and wonderfully made, with the power to speak, create and shape their lives. I want them to step into their full potential—not just to dream, but to act; not just to hope, but to see their hopes, desires and expectations fulfilled.”