Retreat draws young leaders

By Lance Wallace

CBF Communications

ASHEVILLE - The sixth annual Current retreat drew more than 100 participants Feb. 23-26 to Asheville to engage in communal, vocational and personal rest.

Current - a group composed of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) Young Leaders Network, Seminarians Network, Youth Ministry Network, Collegiate Ministry Network and Children's Ministry Network - focused on the theme of "Pause" with the intent of rejuvenating ministers and young Fellowship Baptists to face the challenges of ministry.

Retreat leaders Marty and Robin Anderson of University Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md., provided devotional thoughts each morning and thought-provoking worship each evening. In between, participants learned from peers and top ministry professionals in a variety of workshops and enjoyed activities in and around Asheville.

In keeping with a daily theme, the first night's worship was based on the text in Mark 6 when the disciples returned from being sent out in teams of two to do ministry in the surrounding areas. When they returned, Jesus emphasized the need for rest and fellowship together as a community, according to Robin Anderson.

"Jesus knows the disciples are exhausted and need rest," Anderson said. "He knows you need to take a break if you are going to keep on serving."

She said the present culture makes it easy to slip into isolation and warned counterparts about the dangers of neglecting fellowship. "We can very easily become hermits if we don't make time for fellowship with others," Anderson said.

"Time with friends can be more rejuvenating than a good nap - and this comes from a woman who loves a good nap," she said. "We're ready and excited to spend some time of communal rest with old friends and make some new ones."

Following Anderson's message, participants celebrated Communion in groups of five to 10 at tables located around the perimeter of the seating in the chapel at First Baptist Church in Asheville. The evening's activities concluded with a time of fellowship around hot chocolate and s'mores.

After last year's retreat, the Current steering committee received feedback that the event was too structured. Participants wanted more free time, according to steering committee member John Uldrick, minister of students and activities at College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla. The 2005 retreat was purposefully geared down to include much more free time.

"As ministers, our week revolves around Sabbath, but it isn't Sabbath for most of us," Anderson told the group in a morning devotion on the second day of the retreat. "My hope is today we will all find time to have Sabbath moments."

Attendees had the opportunity for Sabbath moments by touring the Biltmore Estate, hiking nearby trails, exploring downtown Asheville or playing basketball in the church's gymnasium. They reconvened for dinner that night and the second worship experience focused on personal rest.

Marty Anderson once again led the music for the service, which centered on the text Exodus 33:7-14 when Moses visits with God in the tent of meeting.

"When life becomes overwhelming, what happens to our tent of meeting?" Anderson asked. "Spending time with the Holy is the way to be intimate with God ... If we make ourselves be still and silent, then we will hear new whispers from the Holy."

The message was followed by 15 minutes of solitude during which Marty Anderson played guitar and the participants were invited to sit quietly and reflect or go to tables to make a creative response to the message. Options included molding with clay, paint and drawing supplies and pens and paper for journaling.

The final day of the retreat was reserved for vocational rest. More morning workshops and afternoon free time highlighted the final day of the retreat that concluded with dinner and worship. Anderson spoke from Mark 1:27-39 to drive home the point that ministers need rest if they are to serve others.

"We are never going to accomplish every ministry task that is laid before us," Anderson said. "No matter how sincere or diligent we are, there will always be more that can be done."

Current's new steering committee was also announced on the final day of the retreat. The new committee is made up of the following: Carol McEntyre, Augusta, Ga., co-chair Kelly Burkhart, Houston, Texas, co-chair Rhonda Abbott, Louisville, Ky. John Uldrick, Orlando, Fla. Anne Jernberg, Boston, Mass. Steve Guinn, Kansas City, Kan. Bryn Bagby, Richmond, Va. Ryan Clark, Atlanta, Ga. Scott Ford, Conyers, Ga. Chris Homiak, Waco, Texas "I had a restful time just sitting at the table with people," said Justin Joplin, a second-year student at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond from Hickory, N.C. "Eating with people is as intimate a thing as we can do. I was able to see some old friends and make some new ones."

Others found the increased free time to be just what they needed from the experience.

"It gave me the freedom and permission to reflect and be restored for ministry," said LeAnn Gunter, associate pastor at Peachtree Baptist Church in Atlanta. "It gave me the opportunity to have fellowship with other ministers and leaders in other creative ministries."