Retreat Pictures by Pastor Martin Micale
Retreat Pictures by Leanna Schortinghouse
ANNUAL PASTORAL TEAM RETREAT (PTR)
“The best retreat yet!” “The best I’ve attended in 35 years of ministry!” – just two of the comments we received following the Pastoral Team Retreat in Page, AZ, October 6-8. A lot of fun things happened during our fellowship times: fishing, hikes, and breathtaking photo ops in Antelope Canyon; and Prescott Valley’s pastoral team brought a boat and invitations to quick trips out on the lake. On Monday night, a buffet dinner was held in a tent behind the hotel, with one side open to a brisk wind blowing from across the lake, which cooled those who felt too hot; patio heaters were strategically placed to warm up those who felt too cold! Scott and Shelley Van Bibber led us in worship, and we joined them with thankful hearts, singing to the “God of wonders beyond our galaxy!” Many thanks to Pastor Marty and Mary and to Barbara Pakos for coordinating our stay at the Lake Powell Resort – the rooms were great and the view across Lake Powell into Utah was spectacular.
Drs. Dan and Katie Croy were our special guests. Dr. Dan’s career has been varied and includes professor, associate pastor, therapist, consultant, and special speaker. He has worked in a variety of organizations in the corporate world and in the non-profit sector. Dan led our evening sessions with humor, pertinent facts, and an open heart concerning his personal needs and his desires and dreams for the church. He presented an overview of the world our church exists to minister within, insight into the rapid changes we are facing, and a discussion of technology and the current economic situation; then he issued a challenge to rethink our ministry based on the priority of reaching outside the walls of our church, and into the future.
Dr. Dan made two thought-provoking statements I included in my notes of the first evening session: “We are preparing people to solve problems we don’t know we have yet, using technology we don’t have yet;” and “Business management changes so quickly it cannot be taught from textbooks.” How does this apply to the Church? Our goal is to “go and make disciples” in this changing world. One study he quoted gave some interesting statistics: 80% of people who go to church do so because of the preaching or doctrine; 11% responded they attend for the music; and 8% responded they attend because of the location.
He also gave us homework, questions to think about and discuss, including “where are the marketplaces or crossroads where people are connecting today?” and another, “if we were preaching the last three sermons of our life, what would their titles be?”
As an illustration, Dan led us through the stories in Exodus about Moses and the “rod of God.” Moses was given a rod to use as an instrument in leading the people of God in their pilgrimage in the wilderness. The rod of God was a tool Moses used at God’s directions. In Numbers chapter 20, we read the story of the culmination of Moses’ ministry. The following verses reveal a powerful image of a leader following the directions God has given him, but missing the most important point (Numbers 20:7-8, 10-12):
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock” … Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly … Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
Dr. Croy provided us with handouts to read and think through, including statistics about the church and pastors. Once again he challenged us to take a look at the tools we have been given, to remember Who gives us these tools for ministry, and to reevaluate our ministry methods: “What could we do to go where people connect?” His insights both challenged and encouraged us as we shared together how the Lord was leading us to find new avenues of ministry: “You are who and what God needs, right where you are!”
Attached are some photos of the retreat, including views across the marina into Utah, some of our team members at dinner Monday night, and a group photo at Antelope Canyon (not everyone was with this group). It was a pleasure to have both the Croys with us (see photo of Dan and Kay with Byron and Leanna), and for Kay to share her testimony with us.
Leanna