Retreating

Our Wesley had a joint retreat this weekend with the Wesley from the University of Arkansas. My friend, Omar, is the Director there, and last fall we decided that a joint retreat would be a good idea for each our ministries. We had 32 students altogether, and it was everything we wanted it to be for them.

Our speaker was our friend JD Walt, Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Seminary, and alum of the Arkansas Wesley. He challenged our students to live Jesus' story, a story of down, versus the story of the world, the story of up. (See the Asbury Reader site for more on that.) I could tell the students were getting a lot out of each session, and I am very thankful for events like this that  complement and propel our everyday ministry.

But the retreat was also good for me personally. I needed time with like-minded pastors to remind me that I am not alone. Campus ministry is pretty lonely; no one understands what you do, there is sometimes minimal support from the surrounding community, and the fruit of ministry is not always immediately seen. I am also realizing that I think and minister in a different way from a lot of other pastors, which makes my job even more lonely. Omar and JD were such an encouragement to me this weekend - affirming me, praying for me, and just listening to me. 

(The picture to the right is just before parting ways today. I call it "Los Tres Padres.")