One of the most rewarding things I have done since being elected moderator is to lead a series of prayer retreats around the country. The idea for these retreats came to me in the middle of the night during General Assembly in Birmingham. The next day I announced that we were going to have prayer retreats, but this was an adventure in faith, as I had no idea how they would happen. I knew that I wanted to have these retreats at Presbyterian camps and conference centers. The first providential occurrence was that John Hicks volunteered to make contact with the centers and help the logistics fall into place. The Reverend Ruth Hicks, John’s wife, volunteered to help with the organization, publicity, and registration planning. The retreats never would have happened without John and Ruth’s work. So far we have had retreats in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, New York, and Virginia.
The purpose of these gatherings is to carve out a space amid the business of our daily lives to be with God. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) is more an invitation than a commandment.
These retreats are focused around worship, scripture, and communion with God and each other. Participants have reported powerful experiences with God. The next prayer retreats will be held October 14-16 in Montreat, North Carolina; December 2-4 at Calvin Center near Atlanta, Georgia; and June 1-3, 2008 at Mo-ranch in Hunt, Texas.
Please read the information below on the upcoming prayer retreats and pass the word and encourage people to come!
If your conference center, synod or presbytery would like to be the site for a prayer retreat in 2008, contact me.
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