This past weekend we welcomed leaders from four different cities to the EFM Urban Leadership Retreat held at Victory Acres Farm. It was an amazing time!
On Thursday evening, May 28th, we had a delicious Taco Salad for supper followed with me sharing stories from the last twenty years of ministry. I traced the story of God’s faithfulness and provision to where we are now. I also connected the dots between where our leaders are currently ministering and Victory Acres Farm. We want the farm to be a resource to our city ministries – a space for hospitality and healing that they can come to as a family to retreat and be refreshed.
The thunderstorm that had been threatening finally washed away our evening together. The next morning we had a breakfast complete with delicious Elevation coffee. In our sessions throughout the retreat, each family shared about their personal lives, families, and ministries for about 20 minutes, and then we would all gather around them for a special time of prayer.
We had a lite lunch of sandwiches on Friday followed by an amazing session with Dr. Hank Voss, a personal friend who worked with World Impact in Los Angeles for 17 years. He talked about the importance of spiritual friendship to those in ministry. It was a highlight for me!
Friday afternoon we took time to tour the farm as a group and see the progress on our new house. The weather was perfect, and the mile-long hike through the farm meadows was a perfect time to fellowship.
Friday evening we had spaghetti, salad, and farm-fresh garlic bread (with freshly baked bread made by Kristin Branch.) Pastor Matt Hallam shared on the topic of “Developing Spiritual Identity.” It was thought provoking with many stories interwoven from Dorcas and Matt’s time of ministry in inner city Cincinnati.
After the session, our children who had been having a mini-VBS while the adults were meeting, joined us to share the song, “Thank you Father for making me, me.” It was precious. We had 26 children and youth from our city leaders at the retreat, and we thank God for each one of them. They are all SO special.
We shared a bonfire and smores together after dark. It was a perfect ending to a practically perfect day.
On Saturday morning we welcomed “The Board.” EFM’s Urban Ministry Division Committee and the Board of Directors for VICM met together with our urban leaders. Dr. Stephen Gibson, president of EFM, shared an important training session from the book of Ephesians regarding the importance of the church followed with an amazing reading of “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.” It sparked a lively discussion that continued long after his session was over.
We had a cookout for lunch, and then the Board toured the farm before starting our Board meeting. The families were free to enjoy the afternoon at the farm, continuing to fellowship.
Spending time together like this is perhaps more important than we realize. Every family shared the story of how they were resisted by the enemy in coming. We thank God that they were able to make it, and we hope that as they return to their various battle fields they will be strengthened and encouraged with the realization that they are not alone.
Thanks to everyone who has given to support our work in the cities. It is your giving that made this time possible. We will continue to recruit new leaders and expand the number of cities where we are working, and we could never do that work without friends like you. On behalf of our city ministry leadership – Thank you!!
The Gathering at Victory Acres 