The purpose of this project is to encourage ministers in the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to experience physical and spiritual rest and rejuvenation in a retreat setting. The motivation for the project is the desire to help ministers with the important aspect of self-care. It is hypothesized that a small group of ministers on spiritual retreat together would experience relaxation, reflection, spiritual, physical and emotional nurturing, and the chance to experience safe Christian community.
An analysis of the context of the state of Ohio and the state of the Church reveal a difficult arena in which to minister. Seventh-day Adventist ministers in Ohio are in genuine need of opportunities to stop, rest, reflect, and experience safe community for the sake of their souls. The greatest tool a minister has is a healthy soul. When a minister is healthy, it benefits the minister, his or her family, and the congregation. The retreat is also designed to help Seventh-day Adventist ministers in Ohio learn more about their Protestant heritage through the life of Martin Luther and the impact of three key aspects in his spiritual life and ministry. The three areas of focus are Scripture, righteousness by faith, and prayer. The pilot retreat affirmed the belief that such experiences can be a powerful tool in nurturing a minister’s physical, emotional, and spiritual life.
Content Reader: Gary R. Sattler, ThD, Psy
