End-Of-Year Gatherings
Although it will soon be vacation time for students, our InterVarsity staff will gather a few times during the end of the year. On Dec. 17-19, I will be hosting a 3-day retreat for 6 of our intermediate staff (4-10 years experience) in the region. I’m calling it the Hilltop Retreat, and it will be in historic Galena, IL.
The Hilltop is a time to step back from the day-to-day ministry climb and to look at the 5,000-foot view. It’s a time where we will hear each other’s stories and gain vision for what God might do in us as well as through us. Please pray for me as I lead the retreat. Pray for God to meet us intimately and esp. for the fulfillment of the retreat’s 3 purposes:
(1) To affirm and empower them as leaders
(2) To deepen relationships with peers and the RD (me)
(3) To gain vision for their future and the region’s future
Another event is InterVarsity’s triennial National Staff Conference on Jan. 2-6, 2008, which happens to be in St. Louis (no travel needed for me!). It’s the only time where all 1,000+ IV staff from around the country gather together. This year’s conference centers on evangelism. (There’s actually been lots of momentum around evangelism recently, including an amazing and recent campus-wide outreach at Michigan State where 103 students made first-time decisions for Christ.) There will also be wonderful speakers, worship, testimonies, art, food, focus on Romans, and seminars. But the best part is the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of colleagues, including national office staff, IVP, spouses, etc.
Please pray for me as I lead regional breakout sessions and for my time at the conference to be refreshing for my spirit. Pray also for our newer staff and ministry interns, for them to enjoy their first conference and develop in appreciation for InterVarsity as an organization.
