ORCHARD GROUP RETREAT - FALL 2008!

Wow! What a great weekend and subsequent 2+ days at Lake Champion in Glen Spey, NY this past week. Spent the weekend hanging with family, and Mike (our Worship Guy) had the pleasure of meeting most of Karen’s family. We all watched in anguish as the Eagles let a game slip away against the Monsters of the Midway (Da Bears!). Lots of good food, fun, and laughter were present the entire weekend. We were able to mix a bit of business in with the pleasure, by looking at some of the Valley and actually looking at a possible venue for the plant.

On Monday (29 Sep) we departed for Glen Spey, NY to attend an Orchard Group Church Planter’s retreat at Lake Champion Young Life Camp. For those of you that are not familiar with the Orchard Group, they are an organization that plants churches mainly in the Northeastern part of the US, and pushing hard in NYC. They are also one of our main sponsors for the Lehigh Valley Project/Legacy Church.

These retreats which are held each year are a gathering of all of their church planters, to include past, present, and future planters. The 2 days of actual retreat time were jammed packed with lots of great fellowship, teaching, fun & games, and some eating of course. The discussions were centered on and around two themes: #1 – “I don’t know a whole lot, but one thing I do know…” and #2 – Redemptive themes in Music, Movies, and Literature. Both themes were well presented, real life, and packed a punch for great thought and future discussion. The one other theme that seemed to ring loud and clear was the idea of “dying to self”, and allowing God to permeate all aspects of your life, decision making, and direction.

This is my 3rd retreat and it was Mike’s 1st, and I think that I can speak for him in saying that it was both inspiring and humbling all wrapped into one! It is refreshing to see World Changers that God has used to do great things that have been or are being shaped, bent, burned, molded, and broken; and share it openly and transparently! It was just another affirmation for both Mike and I about the trek that God has us on!

We thank Him (God) for this time in fellowship, love, and teaching! Big “THANKS” to Paul Williams, Brent Storms, Dave Smith and the Orchard Crew for a great 2 days! Mucho Gracias!