In our last blog, we talked about returning home exhausted. I shared that we had experienced a long period of being over-extended that had taken a physical and emotional toll on us as we served in leading and equipping on the field. I described what intentional rest and renewal has been looking like, and at the end of the blog, mentioned that I would share about a special gift received in the vein of intentional rest. This special gift was the opportunity to attend a retreat for men in cross-cultural ministry.
A few years ago, I received a flyer about a retreat called TRACTION. This is what the flyer reads:
TRACTION is a six-day experience for men working in cross-cultural ministry that focuses on managing stress, isolation, and opposition, reconnecting with God, cultivating the character of authentic leadership, honoring God with our key relationships, and persevering with courage and trust in the face of challenges. The week includes worship, teaching, counseling, medical consultation, outdoor activities, and personal reflection in one of the most spectacular natural settings on Earth.
That setting is the Swiss Alps.
By faith (and maybe desperation), about two months ago, I decided to put my name on the waiting list. I assumed it was far too late, but felt something like this could really help. To my surprise, an email arrived about a month later saying that a spot had opened up. I had 24 hours to decide if I could go! I immediately contacted a friend, who has been both a mentor and a supporter of ours, since he and his wife recently shared their desire to help us financially with something like this. I told him about the opportunity and asked if they wanted to help with the cost. He wrote back and said they wanted to cover the entire amount needed! Wow! I am still so blown away by this.
So, last week I flew to Switzerland and arrived at an inn called Credo in the town of Wilderswil.
Over 80 men serving all over the globe came together for worship and teaching in the mornings, as well as small group debriefing, and optional afternoon counseling with licensed counselors and doctors familiar with the stresses of cross-cultural ministry. They also gave us a lot of free time and encouraged us to use some of it to reflect and spend time with the Lord.
These were some of the big ideas:
- Depletion is inevitable, so restoration is essential.
- Inadequacy turns out to be OK after all because dependency is our greatest achievement.
- Failure not only reveals needed character adjustments but can open us up to living in and relating out of grace.
One of my biggest personal takeaways from this time has been the need for better patterns of spiritual renewal in my life. This refers not only to regularly hearing from the Lord through His Word and talking with Him in prayer, but times of rest, solitude, and reflection. In my zeal to serve the Lord, I got too busy. In being over-extended, I was unable to love my family and those we serve as well as I could. I was challenged early on in the retreat by this thought:
The best thing I can give you is a healthy me.
We were cautioned that the same zeal that led us into missions is the same zeal that can burn us out if we do not recognize and respect our limitations and need for renewal. Time out and away with the Lord is not selfish or a waste, but critical to longevity.
As I write, I am sitting in an airport in Geneva reflecting on this past week. I cannot put into words how critical this time was for me with the Lord. It has been one of the most life-giving opportunities I have ever experienced as a man and as a missionary. I spoke with several counselors during my time that helped me sort through some ministry discouragements and doubts. This would not have been possible if the Lord had not provided through people who love Him and cheerfully wanted to invest in our recuperation from the field.
- Side Comment: If you have the resources to send a missionary you know to something like this, please consider doing so. It is not only a massive blessing, but an investment in their longevity. I am so grateful to have been the recipient of such a generous gift.
What about Beth? Some of you who heard about my travel asked about a similar opportunity for Beth. This organization also holds retreats for women in cross-cultural ministry, called Ava, with the same goal of providing a time to focus on spiritual renewal but set in a different location. We would love to be able to send her to this at the end of January. I don’t need to tell you how meaningful it would be. If you want to have a part in seeing this happen for Beth, contact me for details.
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