We are planning a Time to Breathe Retreat just for you - youth workers!  From March 11-13, 2008 youth workers will gather together in Malibu, CA to be with God. There are many reasons why you should consider attending the upcoming Time to Breathe Retreat, read what some of your fellow youth workers are saying about the retreat and consider going yourself! 

If you would like information about registration or possible funding options through the SPE grant initiative click here.

Ben Pease has this to say about Time to Breathe...

The other day, I asked a coffee shop employee how her day was going. She answered, “Things have been pretty crazy, but now I finally have time to breathe”.  I’m sure she got more tip money during those earlier, hectic hours, but that didn’t seem to matter.  She was now free from having to operate at a hyperkinetic pace, and she seemed pretty relieved.

I recently heard a pastor describe how it wasn’t until he took a full day away from his routine to spend time with God that he realized just how busy he’d been. His goal had been to take one day to slow down, to regroup, and to sort some thoughts. God chose to meet him in that time to completely reorder his perspective.  As a result, the pastor began a habit of devoting one day each month to time in God’s presence and to prayerful listening.  He shared how this practice has radically transformed how he goes about ministering to others every other day of the month.

I invite you to consider participating in the “Time to Breathe” retreat scheduled in March.  This retreat is intended to bless those who are thirsting for some time with God, some time to pause and listen.  It’s a great “excuse” for those of us who know we need this kind of time with God but can’t seem to find it in the midst of the busyness of ministry, family life and personal commitments, diversions and distractions.  As described on the Covenant website, “A Time to Breathe” is an interactive and experiential retreat designed to provide guidance and experience in spiritual practices so that participants may grow in their journey with God.  Throughout the retreat, a high value is placed on individuals’ time alone with God, yet there are also frequent times of sharing, celebrating, worshiping, and mutual encouragement as a gathered community of participants.  I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to know and to hear from the hearts of other youth pastors through these retreats, and have been blessed by how God has so often used these times to convey a message of peace, comfort, direction or inspiration, both in my own life and in the lives of other participants.  More than anything, I’ve been blessed by the reminder of just how good and how awesome it is to be in the presence of God – wherever I am.

Ben Pease
Youth Pastor, Salem Covenant Church
New Brighton, MN

CV Hartline has this to say...

I was compelled to give Marti Burger a call yesterday thanking her for including me in the process of “Time to Breathe.’  In the course of our conversation I wanted to affirm to her what God has done in the congregation that I helped start and serve (Vibrant Covenant Church).

Five years ago I would have never known the impact of ‘spending time in the presence of God’ would have on me or Vibrant.  Specific time to listen to God is a tremendous gift to be given in the throws of ministry.  Our church has been directly molded and shaped because of the gift of intentionally spending time with God for the purpose of listening. 

The invitation to come and be with Christ is potent. Vibrant’s potency is in the questions we chose to ask.  Questions like: what does it mean to ‘be church’ (rather than doing ‘churchy’ stuff?), what does it mean to know and be known in the context of community, as well as, how to make Christ known?, what were the values of the early believers and how do we live into those values?, are we willing to be transformed? (Or do we focus on changing the way we think?), how do we risk faith together?, etc. 

The questions that we ask are crucial to who we are in Christ.  Our identity in Christ is shaped by who we understand God to be, what God is interested in, and how do we live into our  identity in Christ?

When I began the time I would spend in the presence of God during ‘time to breathe’ I had no idea that it would impact who I am and who I know God to be.  God has formed and is forming a clear identity in me.  That identity shapes the way I lead, my values, my expectations, my hopes, my dreams and essentially my faith. 

I hear often that people want ‘to do the will of God.’ My question is, ‘how can you do or participate in the will of God if you aren’t intentionally listening to God?’  “Time to Breathe’ is simply an invitation to listen to God, I pray that you would prayerfully consider participating… it will change who you are, by whose you are…

CV Hartline
Pastor, Vibrant Covenant Church
Portland, Oregon

Troy Hoppenrath has this to say...

So often in life and in ministry we don’t take enough time to listen and just “be” with God.  I was almost at a point of “burn out” and was really struggling to see God in the midst of the business of life and ministry.  Then I attended the Walk on Retreat (now called Time to Breathe).  The space, which was created for me to be with God, gave me an opportunity to be in His presence, experience His beauty, rest, listen, question, worship and grow.  I left feeling a renewing of God’s Spirit in my life.  I look back on this experience as a defining moment both in my personal journey with Christ and in my ministry to students.   Plus it’s in Malibu, California what could be better than that?  (Stalking Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and other movie stars with friends was also a lot of fun)

Troy Hoppenrath
Pastor of Student Ministries, Summit View Covenant Church
Portland, Oregon

To read more about the retreat scheduled this coming March visit the Time to Breathe website; there you will find more information about the retreat as well as how to register.