Welcome to The Refinery

About Us

THE REFINERY, AN ARTISTS GUILD

At the heart of Refine {the retreat} is the belief that soul-care for the artist, is critical for the production of art that reflects the bountiful, generosity of God, who is the very definition of beauty and Truth.

What lands on the page, or on the canvas, or in the pot of soup we craft for supper—every inch of yarn knitted, and every note sung, comes up from the deeper place inside of us. This is the space we feel called to tend. This is the spring from which our creativity flows. This is why the Refinery exists. Here, members will find nourishment, inspiration, instruction, community, resources and accountability for their heart, their art, and their soul.

BEYOND, AND IN BETWEEN THE RETREAT

It is truly impossible to translate the experience of being at Refine {the retreat} to the online medium. The Refinery is not a replacement for the retreat experience, but rather an extension of the vision that shapes the yearly retreat.

The Refinery offers a “taste” of Refine {the retreat} through teaching videos, art journaling prompts, book discussion, mentoring (and more). Think of it as a table set outside of the retreat, for all* members of the Refine community, whether you have joined us on retreat yet or not.

*At this time, The Refinery is open to women ages 18+

Why Join The Refinery?

Creative work can be lonely--but it doesn't have to be. To be a member in the Refinery is join a group of creatively diverse women, connected to one another through their shared Christian faith.

Together, we share:

Encouragement: looking for someone who understands what it's like to struggle and wrestle with your muse and your message? Yeah, we get it. Inside the Refinery we have resources to help support you in your journey, and a community of kind souls who understand the unique issues makers face.
Inspiration: videos, live conversation, creative prompts, book clubs, and more are just inside the door. Find your favorites, play along, let your mind wander!
Conversation: there are no green rooms inside the Refinery. In here, every voice matters. We’ve all got different strengths and weaknesses, and we’ve all had different experiences that have taught us important things along the way. We want to hear your unique perspective and learn from you. You’ve got something to share, we are listening.
Education: whether you’re here for the poetry circle, book clubs, guided spiritual practices, devotions, mastermind meetups, video interviews, or other creative workshops, we’re focused on helping you grow your art, and your heart.

WHY CHOOSE A PAID MEMBERSHIP SITE OVER ONE OF THE OTHER "FREE" SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?

The Refinery isn’t just another social media channel. It is a community in the best sense of the word. In The Refinery, members can share ideas and inspiration freely, without their content being buried by some mysterious algorithm designed to manipulate what you read and choose to engage with.

The absence of ads or potentially offensive content enhance the sanctity of the space. Organized by topic, posts are easier to find and connecting with people interested in, or working on, similar projects is super simple.

We all know that "free" isn't really free. The public platforms available for “free” are costing us in ways that we can never earn back.

Being a member of the Refinery is a way to support your creative endeavors, grow your skills, strengthen your relationships, develop spiritually, deepen your faith and expand your love of God and neighbor.

In this community, you’re not a number or a consumer, you’re a flesh and blood person with ideas and experiences we want to know about. In here, YOU matter.

There's room for you here

If you’ve ever felt like a square peg in a round hole, or wondered why everyone else seems to be thinking in straight lines, while your lines look more like a tangle of a hundred different threads, if you’ve ever struggled to fit in when you think in song lyrics and color, and shapes, welcome to your community. You’ve found your people.