Northwest Ministry Staff Retreat

On January 21st - 23rd, the Northwest Ministry Staff met for a time to retreat, enjoy one another's company, strengthen each other's faith, spur one another on, build up one another's faith, pray, have spiritual discussions, have fun and time in the Word.  There were representatives from twelve different churches (approximately 40 staff members) from all over our part of the world.  The Seattle Church hosted this event and was organized by Jay and Carol Kelly from the Seattle Church.  Stefanie and I had a great time as it was our first time really getting to know the different leaders from the Northwest Family of Churches.

On the first night highlights for us included dinner with Scott Green from the Seattle Church and Daren and Karla Overstreet who lead the Church in Tacoma.  The atmosphere that night was like a family reunion.  We had some good news sharing about ideas that were working well in the Churches.  We found out that Daren Ford had been appointed evangelist recently.  It was great to see Ron and Linda Brumley who are serving as elder and women's ministry leader in Seattle.  It was great to see Ashland's Ministry Intern, Chris Schwartzenberger who was converted to Christ through the campus ministry in Spokane Washington.  We saw brothers and sisters from Canada, Boise Idaho, Sacramento and Fresno California, Missoula Montana and Ashland Oregon. 

The next day, we started off our time with singing and in extended prayer for the retreat, our Churches and for God to move in a powerful way throughout the Northwest.  We heard lessons and had discussions on mutually encouraging one another, spurring one another on, partnering with one another and being transparent with one another.  After this, everyone one went to lunch with their Spur-Partner...Stefanie and I are partnered with Daren and Karla Overstreet.  It was a time to get to know one another, learn from one another and share a little about the church in Tacoma as well as in Spokane.  We are planning on getting our families together, spending time over the phone and visiting one another's local church family.

We then met back together as a group and discussed the art of decision-making and pondered the question, "what is a healthy Church?"  We also discussed some of the upcoming Northwest Events we have together for 2008.  After this, we had dinner with Marcus and Naomi Wallace who lead the youth and campus ministry out in Tacoma.  I spent some good time with Jake Jenson from Missoula Montana.  And later on that night Stefanie and I had some great time with Mark and Annie McCune who led the Church in Spokane for five years before we moved here.  

The next morning we had breakfast with Dana and Gingerla Perkins who lead the Church in Boise Idaho.  Thank you to the Seattle Church for hosting this event.  I'd also like to thank the Spokane Church for supporting Stefanie and I to be able to attend such an outstanding event.