Bethel’s directors/pastors got away to Vista Hermosa for a couple days to “experience a fresh encounter with Christ and begin a new process of pursuing and knowing Him together as a staff.”

Joseph Christopherson kicked off the retreat with a teaching on “The Call of Christ,” and a key takeaway was under Moses’ call, when Joseph zeroed in on the necessity of us leaders “taking our filthy sandals off” (repentance) and “going to the Bush” (getting daily fresh glimpses of God).  He also proposed some deep thought questions:

• Why am I here?
• Do I have fire in my bones?
• Do I weep?
• Do I have ecstasy in my calling?
• Have I “camped out by the Ark”?
• Am I at least happy to be “invited”?

Pastor Dave Bechtel continued that first night with “4 Purposes of Struggle”:

1. Struggle is the only way to strength. And God uses strong people then to minister.
2. Struggles are often for someone else.  We are being watched.
3. Sometimes our struggles help us shed some stubborn self-stuff.  He wants us to desperately rely on Him.

4. Struggles school us in sharing. Satan, however, wants to isolate us from the flock and make us independent.

On the second day, Kelli Templeton spoke on “Christ Alone”, and 3 instructions from the book of Colossians (which we read in entirety):

1. Know Christ more and more. Then we’ll always honor/please God, our lives will produce every kind of good fruit, and we’ll grow as we learn.

2. Be strengthened by His glorious power. Then we’ll have the endurance and patience we need.

3. Remember the cross. Then we’ll be joyful and thankful.

Praying that these words will also encourage you in your leadership!

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