What happens at the ART Retreat isn't meant to stay there.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Introduction: A Cultural Contrast

Angie and I were blessed to participate in the annual Americas Team Retreat (ART) in the Smoky Mountains this summer. The ART team consists of veteran World Gospel Mission (WGM) missionaries who have returned to the U.S. in recent years from long-term service on different mission fields. The retreat was refreshing spiritually, and the beautiful scenery contributed to an atmosphere of relaxation.

What happens at an ART team spiritual retreat? Our recent missionary retreat provided something entirely different: space to slow down, be truly seen for who we are, and allow God to reshape us. Our ART team discovered that our experiences during retreat are not meant to be left there; they are meant to overflow into our daily lives and ministries. Sharing these experiences openly is essential.

When the ART missionary team gathered for a spiritual retreat, the opposite of the Vegas slogan was true. We didn’t get away to hide or escape; we went to be seen, renewed, and sent back out. What happened on our retreat wasn’t meant to stay there; it was meant to spill over into our daily walk, ministry, and the people we serve. The ART retreat was a stark contrast to much of daily life. While enjoying fellowship with other WGM missionaries, I thought about how many other people seek ways to escape from their everyday routine.

Vegas: The Culture of Concealment

We’ve all heard the slogan: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. In contrast to what we experienced at the ART retreat, the insinuation of the Vegas motto is to promote a culture of secrecy and indulgence by taking a short, intensive getaway from ordinary life. Going to Vegas is often promoted as an adult vacation that will give a person the freedom to momentarily be whoever they want, do whatever they want, and then leave unchanged. People often give hints and a wink of the eye that they have taken a Vegas vacation, but never provide any details of their experiences there. In Vegas, no strings are supposedly attached to having a good time. Nobody else would know.

ART Retreat- invitation to spiritual renewal

In contrast to “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” we have learned that what happens at a spiritual retreat becomes a part of our story, and we can freely carry that story home with us and share it with everyone.

·       Vegas whispers, “Come inside; no one needs to know.” In contrast, the Bible tells us to openly be imitators of Christ, to let everyone know who we follow and what we believe.

·       While Vegas promotes secrecy, a spiritual retreat offers transparency.

·       Vegas offers indulgence, whereas a spiritual retreat provides restoration.

·       While entertainment is abundant in Vegas, spiritual retreats provide an opportunity for reflection. The difference is between distraction and restoration. 

Half the fun was getting there.

Our 1st draft copy of our book. 

The Bible portrays spiritual retreats as intentional withdrawals from the noise of life to seek an intimate relationship closely aligned with God. The Old Testament reports that Moses, Elijah, and David got away for short periods to seek a new encounter with God. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” After feeding the 5,000, he retreated to the mountainside to pray. In Mark 6:31, he admonished his disciples to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”. We waited to start our trip until the last minute before leaving home. We were waiting for the postal service to deliver a proof copy of our book so we could review the manuscript for errors. 

After driving partway there and staying overnight in a hotel, we stopped in during the Sunday morning church service to visit one of the churches that has supported us during our missionary career. We were allowed to share an update during the church’s Missionary Minute. The church focuses on one missionary project every month. Every year, the mission team from the church is faithful in praying for the Honduras ministry for one specific month. We rejoice in witnessing how so many churches continue to show a vibrant testimony of God’s love.

Calvary Christian Center

Another important part of our retreat was stopping by to spend the night with Ken and Nancy Mansfield in Kentucky. That brought back many memories of God’s faithfulness in our lives and ministry over nearly five decades. As a pastor in northeastern Ohio, in January 1982, Ken helped us contact pastors of churches that would be interested in supporting the ministry in Honduras. Most of those churches have remained as faithful ministry partners. Ken made several trips to Honduras on work projects, El Sembrador and Choluteca. Nancy was Rachel’s 1^st grade teacher.

Ken and Nancy Mansfield on the left of Angie. Ken told me 
a title of a new book to read. 

Our short time with them was a little slice of what I expect heaven to be like. Our conversation focused on heavenly topics. We shared prayer concerns and talked about how God continues to help us grow. We talked about podcasts and books that have encouraged us. We were blessed by being together. 

While in Gatlinburg, Angie and I enjoyed God’s creation together. The Tennessee mountain peaks gave us the feeling that our retreat time was like a bridge that carried us from one mountain-top experience to another, with our daily life between them. 

We didn’t contribute to supporting the local souvenir market, but enjoyed window shopping. Everything was expensive, but we mostly did not see anything we wanted.

We had devotionals each morning with our Missionary Pastors Greg and Teresa Leeth. We also met each evening to share our concerns, victories, and prayer requests.

Angie joined in on all the table games with other missionaries in the evening, and it was obvious that everyone enjoyed being together. We loved the food, but did not partake of the beer offered in the area.

Closing

Vegas represents the world’s invitation to indulge without consequence. Our spiritual retreat was an invitation to get away from the noise and distractions surrounding us and to enter, along with others, into a new encounter with God.

What God began in that space was never meant to be locked away; it was meant to ripple outward—to our homes, our teams, and the communities we love. May every retreat become a launchpad for everyday faithfulness, not a memory sealed off from the rest of life.