Ministry is a powerful and fulfilling vocation, but without proper support in place, it can lead so many hard-working pastors to burnout. That’s why FEC provides THRIVE cohorts for its credentialed pastors and leaders. A THRIVE cohort consists of four retreats over a two-year period at Miracle Camp in Lawton, Michigan. All expenses are covered by FEC.
During these retreats, pastors gather for a time of teaching, discussion, prayer, and rest. Pastor Andrew Wingo at The Ascent Church recently returned from his second of the four retreats in Illinois. He describes it as “a big invitation to take a breath and to have our souls be cared for.”
Retreats take place in the spring and fall. Time is spent together studying God’s word, in breakout sessions, doing team-building exercises, opening up during one-on-one walks, or in times of scheduled solitary reflection and prayer. In between retreats, men from each breakout group of five stay in touch, sometimes meeting together or texting and praying throughout the year.
After a difficult year in Andrew’s life, he received a word from the Lord at the beginning of the retreat to “be still, be quick to listen, and slow to speak.” His natural gift helping people, but God allowed him to receive support and to rest rather than shouldering burdens that he knew God was handling. “It was really nice to be poured into,” Andrew says. “I can’t recommend it enough. I would love to have this become such a bigger ‘something’ in our denomination. It’s something that’s so needed.”
