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RENDEZVOUS

Come Apart So You Don't Come Apart

by Steve Bicknell, Priest Lake (Idaho) Community Church

If you want to drive through some of the most beautiful scenery in Montana, then drive up to Camp Elohim for a Pastors' Retreat! The high rocky cliffs, wooded mountainsides and verdant valleys with wild rivers and pristine lakes make a drive like this relaxing as well as inspiring.

This is an ideal Pastors' Retreat—both relaxing and inspiring. Camp Elohim provided just the right combination of structure for inspiring and uplifting encouragement from the Scripture and relaxed, unstructured time.

One Bible command sticks in my mind from the retreat, Jesus' words to His disciples, "Come ye apart and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31).

The truth is, we pastors are clay vessels just like other humans, and if we don't "come apart" once in awhile, we will "come apart."

Pastor Rick Weinert's message regarding pastoral integrity, and Pastor Jim Bridges' counsel regarding how to come out of pastoral burnout were much appreciated. Part of the integrity that prevents burnout is the obedience to God's call that realizes that God has not called us to "herd" his sheep but "shepherd" them. In addition, I need to realize that I am not significant (as a pastor) because of who serves me, but because of Whom I serve. When we truly listen to God, He is able to answer our prayer, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psalm 51:12).

I put in my strong vote for this to be an annual event. We enjoyed wonderful food, roomy heated cabins, and valuable networking opportunities. I'm grateful that Warren Edson, Elohim director, and Rick Weinert, Director of Libby-based International Messengers, put their shared vision together to make this superb retreat possible.