Nearly 600 attendees participated in the Mid-America Union Conference Pastor and Family Retreat hosted by the MAUC ministerial team July 28-31, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas. Themed Flourish, the event was held at the Doubletree Hotel and featured highly-sought speakers, including Ty Gibson, Elizabeth Talbot, Fredrick Russell, Michael Campbell and Joe Kidder.
Over 230 pastors registered for the retreat, which is usually hosted once every five years. That number represents more than 90 percent of pastors in Mid-America territory.
Early planning breeds high impact
“From a survey of pastors in Mid-America about two years prior, in which 88 pastors responded, we began learning about the current issues, challenges and blessings that pastors were interacting with in their lives and ministries,” said Craig Carr, MAUC ministerial director and event organizer. He added that while wrestling with these various topics, the theme of Flourish eventually bubbled up from the verse in Psalm 115:14, “May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children” (NIV).
The focus of the Flourish event was eight fold. May the Lord cause you to flourish in your:
- Faith (personal spirituality, walk with Jesus)
- Leadership (administration, vision and empowering others for ministry)
- Optimism (hopeful mindset, emotional health, burnout avoidance)
- Understanding (compassion, discernment, emotional intelligence and wisdom)
- Resiliency (self-care and healthy response to anxiety and stress)
- Integrity (healthy boundaries, balancing priorities and life-giving habits)
- Soul-winning (outreach and evangelism)
- Homelife (care and attention to marriage and family)
The event’s theme song – with lyrics written by Carr focusing on the above themes – featured an original musical score composed by Sullivan Dutra, former worship pastor at College View Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Pastors also received a devotional book with contributions from each conference ministerial director, compiled and edited by Carr. The afternoon seminars were recorded by Adventist Learning Community and will be available online at a later date.
Nordia Ikner, speaker/director of The Sister Healing Circle, provided special attention to the pastor’s spouses. For the youth, Pastor Karsten Rogers was transparent sharing from his experience growing up as a pastor’s kid. He encouraged the teens to make good choices. He emphasized that the health message is not just about being physically fit but taking care of our mental health as well. In addition, activities were available for the younger children. Children’s ministry leader Jackie Martin said, “I like seeing the smiles on their faces and seeing them having fun.”
“Our goal was to minister to the pastor and their family in a meaningful way in which they felt recharged and encouraged to return to their respective ministries. While pastors often come to hear about resources and tools for ministry, this convention was meant to pour into them as individuals: socially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally,” explained Carr.
Relevant and timely
“The sessions have been substantive and the content is relevant, timely and very helpful to our current experiences,” said Kerth Paye, pastor of the Chapel Oaks and Lawrence churches in Kansas. “It’s coming at a good time—we needed this break from the challenges of ministry as we’re getting ready for fall. It’s a good recharge. The presenters are Spirit filled. You feel God speaking through them.”
Fredrick Ssepuuya, who pastors a virtual church for the Central States Conference, said “I especially thank the Ministerial Department for this insightful event, which was a unique opportunity to grow spiritually and intellectually. Fellowship with fellow ministers and our families crowns it all, and my children are very grateful to be part of the Mid-America Union. We gladly thank God for this tremendous spiritual and interracial revival.”
Carr expressed appreciation to AdventHealth Shawnee Mission for their partnership in this event, both in financial support as well as multiple hospital personnel and chaplains who were present to minister to and support the pastors.
Photos: Hugh Davis
