Leadership Retreat Report - Fall 2021

Results from the Congregational Feedback Form

Leadership Retreat 2021

Some Retreat Reflections

Kent Caughlan

At the retreat we were able to study scripture, reflect on data from questionnaire, share fellowship with one another, pray and worship, and most importantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in regards to One Hope. It was time well spent and we are thankful to God and One Hope for making this gathering possible.

Jerry Timboe

This was my first experience of attending a church sanctioned retreat, it was a very inspiring and enjoyable weekend.  For myself the retreat was an opportunity for self-growth and reflection.  I walked away feeling that our church and community is truly blessed to have such a "God" listening Pastor and group of Elder leaders.  

Cheri Campbell

For me the leadership retreat weekend was filled with time to listen, learn, love and laugh ... we listened for the Holy Spirit, to Pat's teaching and to each other; we learned from Pat and each other; we praised and loved God, we loved each other ... and we laughed (a lot) ...

Mark Hooper

After more than 18 months of working around Covid restrictions this was an opportunity to gain consensus on vision and mission, rebuild and strengthen relationships within the Leadership team and to spend significant time in worship and prayer.  The result can only be a renewed commitment to the Great Commandment and to making disciples of all of us and of course the mission field of the greater Gig Harbor area as well as beyond.  This was time very well spent.

Matt Misterek

Thanks to the OHC family for blessing church leaders and spouses (like me) with this time away! A key moment was Pr. Peter re-committing to the "dual track" approach of corporate worship and cell groups, with full support from the elders. This is a tall drink of water! But it's also a natural wineskin to quench a world dying of thirst. It will take everyone at OHC, working together, to keep it full. C.S. Lewis wrote: "God is both further from us, and nearer to us, than any other being." The two-winged structure is the most practical, biblical way to experience His glory and His intimacy.

James Wilborn

Our BOE retreat last weekend was a welcome respite from our chaotic world and, as such, was a perfect setting for us to get away and focus on some time together with the Lord and with one another.  Pat’s reflective lessons and the worship music sessions led by Peter and Matt were restorative and informative and really helped us separate from the anxious world in which we all dwell in our “normal” lives.  Pat’s message from 1 Peter, in which we were called to humble ourselves and cast our anxieties on God, was spot on as a reminder of what our “normal” lives should actually look like - they are not “normal” in any spiritual or Godly sense, just “normal” because that’s how we spend most of our time - in anxiety and stress and over-exertion.  So to have a few days off from that to focus our minds and hearts on God was a beautiful blessing, and I think all the attendees would agree that it bore fruit not only in restoring us but in helping us focus our minds on the vision God is calling us to in our sweet church family.  I am grateful to everyone who helped make it possible, all those who prayed for us and who provided the food and the lessons and the funds.  Thank you all - and I can’t wait for our church to see what God is calling us to do!

Kari Hooper

I highly recommend a weekend retreat—especially valuable as we continue to move through this “Covid storm impact”.

This was a focused time of worshipping—praying—fellowshipping—listening—sharing—caring—connecting—learning—growing—guiding—laughing—crying—visioning—and intentionally seeking FaceTime with God.

We were well fed in every way in an incredibly beautiful retreat center.

I’m most grateful to have experienced this weekend together with my spouse. ♥

Nathan Jones

This retreat was a great opportunity to leave behind distractions and connect with each other and with God. It was a time to reflect and listen as we look forward to the plans God has in store for our faith family.

Debbie Harrer

My review would be that we ARE united in our vision of making disciples and to further that we will have weekly corporate church at Ocean5 and encourage members to join LT groups. Along with that we will have home church in several homes for people who are not comfortable with corporate church and once a month they will meet with everyone at Ocean5 as a whole church family. Also we will be looking at ways to reach those who don’t know Christ in our community.

Christine Timboe

OHC Leader Retreat 2021 was pure gift!  After years of praying about a retreat, then finding and subsequently securing a great location only to have it cancel multiple times (due to the pandemic) we, at last, convened at The Refuge.  It was truly a result of Gods perfect timing.  The takeaways were many. For me, the opportunity to intentionally shut out the noise of life brought about renewed joy in both praise and prayer.  Through Pat’s sharing we were reminded of the privilege of praying to seek God’s face and of keeping our hearts fixed on Gods glory. There was powerful sense of the Lords presence in every conversation. 

Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs  3:5-6)