Registration for Southwest Focus Retreat Now Open

Registration for the Southwest Focus Retreat for Grace Brethren ministry leaders is now open. The retreat will be January 31 to February 2 at a new location, The Oaks Conference Center, Lake Hughes, California.

This will be the third retreat that follows the theme “Fully Alive” and provides participants an opportunity to step away from their regular responsibilities to focus on what is happening in their own lives. Dan Allan, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church, Ashland, Ohio, and Tony Webb, executive director of Vision Ohio, are the leaders.

“As a family of churches, leaders need some time when they are out of the spotlight and where it is safe to talk,” says Tom Avey, who plans the weekends as coordinator for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. “Focus Retreats provide this setting. Dan and Tony are working to provide 48 hours of re-focus and refreshment for ministry. Please come! It will be safe. You will be out of the spotlight. You will be glad you came.”

Tom Hocking, the 2009-2011 moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, also stresses the importance of participating in a Focus Retreat.

“In order to pursue the passions of our Commitment to Common Mission—namely, church planting, leadership development, and integrated ministry—we must sink deep roots into the reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory,” he says. “Please pray with me that God will use these Focus Retreats to refresh our souls at the fountain of life, equipping us to start springs of life in our everyday contexts.”

This is the first time the Southwest event will be held at The Oaks Conference Center, which is located in a secluded valley at the edge of the Angeles National Forest, 65 miles north of Los Angeles. Click here for directions to The Oaks.

To register for the retreat, click here.