There was so much to love about the Kansas District Pastors’ Retreat. Here are five things that especially stood out to me:

It was affordable.
And by “affordable,” I mean free! The cost of the retreat came out of the district budget—not the local church’s budget or the pastor’s personal wallet. The district valued the importance of the entire team being together and removed one of the biggest barriers that can keep pastors from attending.

It was bi-vocational friendly.
The retreat ran from Thursday evening through Sunday morning, meaning those who work another job typically only had to miss one day of work. Some pastors came directly after work on Friday and missed the first 24 hours, but they were still able to participate meaningfully. The format made room for them.

It was diverse.
In part because of the first two points, there were pastors both young and old, from different backgrounds and experiences. The district also provided a translator and translation equipment, allowing several Hispanic pastors to participate fully. There was a beautiful sense of unity throughout our time together. It felt like a little piece of heaven.

Everyone was together.
While we had plenty of free time to rest and recharge, there were also wonderful opportunities to connect. Conversations around the meal tables were rich, the worship was meaningful (thanks to MNU’s PR group!), and there were plenty of moments of laughter and fun. A rousing game of bingo and some talented—and not-so-talented—karaoke singers made for two unforgettable nights!

The Lord met with us.
As I spoke, the participants and I quickly connected, and the Lord met with us in a beautiful way. Each session was special. There was a sense that God was doing something among us that went beyond simply gathering pastors together.

I’m so very thankful that District Superintendent Kendall and Denise Franklin invited Karla and me to be part of this gathering. We loved being with this great DS and his pastors and spouses. It is an experience we will not soon forget.

What a gift to spend time with pastors, worship together, laugh together, and most importantly, experience the presence of God together.