Amazing Joy: A Spirit-Filled Ministerial Retreat

The heavy rain could not prevent the Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Administration, different employees and even some volunteers of the Central California Conference from meeting for our annual ministerial retreat. Weather conditions called for a last minute change in location and instead of traveling to Camp Wawona, God’s servants met at Soquel. Most cars had been to this campgrounds before and most Pastors knew the place well. As they arrived, prayers were offered for each of them, for their families and ministries. We prayed for the retreat to be baptized by the Holy Spirit as the rain was baptizing the green grass outside.

The theme chosen for these special days was “Amazing Joy.” We wanted the Pastors and Conference workers to focus on the eternal reasons each child of God has to rejoice everyday, regardless of any precarious present condition. On Tuesday evening, February 10, Pastor Marlon Lamand spoke about the joy of being forgiven by God through the Cross of Christ, and the joy of forgiving others. Pastor Sandi Colón spoke Wednesday morning on the joy of salvation, that sustains us even when ministry doesn’t go as planned. Pastor Timmy Baze shared that same afternoon on the nature of the deep joy that God gives us, even if we must, unashamedly, shed tears many times. The evening was dedicated by the Ministerial Director to meditate on the joy of being in the presence of God as something superior to all types of apparent success in ministry. Thursday morning, we were blessed by Pastor Jim Berglund’s deep reflections on how to present the Three Angels Messages in a relational, loving and joyful way.

Our Conference leadership, Elders Ricardo Viloria, David Dean, Anil Kanda and our Conference Treasurer Michael Wixwat also shared on different topics of critical importance. They offered and received support from the Pastors, modeling a healthy and loving culture. We spent time praying fervently for each other, our families, our Churches and our Conference. We ate good food, some hiked in the rain, we laughed and we wept together. Some even played soccer… or something like that! Finally, though we are living in difficult times, we are rejoicing because our names are written in heaven and because Jesus is coming soon!

Written by Daniel Gouveia