Susie and I are doing our first-ever pastors’ retreat in September at Wind River Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado. The camp expenses have been covered. All the pastors and their wives need to do is get there. We’ve still got a few spots to fill.
Estes in September
I wonder if you know any pastors who have served faithfully over the years that could use a respite in the mountains with other pastors and their spouses. If so, how about writing a few comments here about who they are and how they’ve served. Tell me about their impact. I’ll send invites to those you mention until the camp is full. The only requirement is they have to be sr/lead pastors. Thanks!
Will,
The Pastor of Austin Bible Church is someone that I have known now for eight or nine years. He has faithfully taught and pastored his congregation that entire time. He is an awesome servant, making multiple trips abroad, and his son has been studying/missioning in the Ukraine for three years now. Every few weeks, Bob drives 2 hours each way to spend a little time with an inmate that came to Christ while he was being adjudicated in order to teach, and encourage him. He has been doing this for at least ten years now.
His name is Bob Bolender. His email address is pastorbob@austinbiblechurch.com. He loves to hike in the mountains, but he rarely gets to do things like that. I don’t remember the last time he had a vacation.
I hope you will Consider offering him an invite. I know you will get along well.
Pastor Tommy Wilborn and his wife Cindy . Tommy is the pastor at Grace Outreach in Spicewood on Hwy.71 . They both have the most amazing heart and love for God and his people. Our family has watched there tireless work for over ten years . The church can barely cover the overhead. Tommy works all week as a carpenter to pay his expensives, there is not enough money for a pastors salary . He spear headed the Spicewood fire relief ,using the church for the FEMA headquarters. He is always available to his flock,family, friends .They sure could use some quiet time in the mountains . He also plays the drums and Cindy sings in there church band . I have wanted Susie and yourself to spent time with them for a long time.
Tommy Wilborn, river4god@aol.com
Will, I Posted this on my FB in Late January. I think Pastor Pablo deserves this once in a lifetime trip (for him and his wife).
Amazing things happen in everyday life. I had a Sears technician schedule today and when he arrived, I had my stereo blasting worship music. I was turning it down, and he said, No I love the Lord’s Music. Ends up he is a PASTOR in San Marcos, TX of a very small church called Exodus Church – Pastor Pablo Rios. He works full time and he and his wife Pastor their church of 7 families so far (hoping to grow). They started out in his home, and then moved to a lease space. They are praying for resources to add a trailer for the kids church area as they have too small a space.
He shared his testimony and encouraging stories how God has worked in his small church, and also led them to a new Ministry within his church called Shepherd’s Hand, helping people locally in San Marcos where needed. This unexpected conversation during a service call just made my day. I shared with him that our church (gave him a card) started exactly where he is now, and 19 years later is making an impact locally and globally being mission-focused.
He gave me his card, and was on his way – He and his wife’s faithfulness along with his parents there in San Marcos I believe will too make a huge impact on those in their community. My prayer for Pastor Pablo is to receive the resources he needs to further his mission. Yeah God!
Hey Carol, do you have an email for him?
Pastor Craig Dockery and his wife Renee are very deserving to attend an event such as this. In a community (Flint, Michigan) that has been devastated by economic turmoil and uncertainty, their faith and conviction is truly something to behold. I once heard a “Godly man” defined as “someone who can be trusted, and is known by his works and wisdom”. If this statement is accurate, they BOTH qualify as the most Godly people I know and it is a pleasure to be a part of such a small and warm Church. The Harbor Church is very small and currently we meet for service in a Roller Rink on Sunday mornings. Every Sunday, Pastor Craig is up in front of the 40+ members of our church to share a spirited and loving message. Never has he disappointed or strayed from the Word of the Lord! Armed with a degree from Bob Jones University, Pastor Craig Dockery could easily use his communication skills, biblical knowledge and passion for the Lord to lead large-scale churches and reap the financial rewards that often accompany it. Instead, he chooses to live modestly, often going without for the benefit of his fellow-man. His passion and conviction for following the Lord and leading the people of our community is inspiring and something to behold. Pastor and Renee have lead our church by example and I firmly believe they (aside from the Lord) are the reason why our Church remains a close-knit family. Personally, my wife and I have struggled to find a church in our area where we felt loved and accepted. From day one of walking into the Harbor Church, things changed. We felt motivated to become involved and blessed to be included…….all of this of course being a direct reflection of how Pastor Craig and Renee conduct themselves on daily (and consistent) basis. They have managed to raise two wonderful teenage children (in and of itself seems to be an accomplishment these days) and Renee works with all of our children every Sunday during service to ensure they are receiving the Lord’s message! I am not sure that I am capable of truly capturing exactly what these two individuals mean to my family, our church and our community, but I firmly believe they are deserving of an invitation to Wind River Ranch and everyone is worthy of the blessing that comes with meeting them. If selected, I will personally ensure they have the resources needed to fulfill their obligation for travel, etc. Thank you in advance for your consideration and continued thanks to you and your wife for your ministry and writing. God Bless.
Will, I have 2 pastors to sincerely recommend to you. One is my 36 yr old son-in-law, Jason Skaer, lead pastor at The Church at Alden Bridge in The Woodlands, TX. His non-denominational church is 7-8 years old and has had its own building for 2 years. It was begun by a baptist church in The Woodlands, Crossroads, I think. Jason played college basketball and in Europe before he heard God say, “seminary”, to this 6 foot 8 inch man who grew up Catholic. God has turned his life upside down, and I see His hand in Jason’s life as a husband, father, and pastor. My daughter is head of women’s ministry there. Jason’s email address is jason@tcaab.org
The second pastor I have for you to consider is Kirk Freeman, who you know from Baylor days. He and wife Debbie lead Crossbridge Community Church in San Antonio, where my other daughter attends w/ her family. Kirk is like wet clay in the Potter’s hand, moldable, on the Potter’s wheel, ready to hear God say something and do it. Love the man’s heart. My daughter is maturing in ways that blow me away, always teaching me something about the heart of Jesus. I don’t have Kirk’s personal email but the church’s is
information@crossbridgecommunitychurch.com. Their phone no. us 210-496-0158. Bless you and Susie for doing this! Bless you, Oh, how I pray God bis turning our church inside out w/ your current messages. Lynn McGoldrick
Done and Done.
Will, Joel and I would love for you to invite Renaut van der Riet and his wife Brooke to the retreat. He started Mosaic 10 years ago(Easter Sunday) with 9 people, today the congregation has 4 services on the week ends and has about 2,000 regular attendees each week end. Moaic now has 3 facilities, including a service specifically designed to cater to Walt Disney World employees and their work hours. He and his wife also started a coffee shop in our community called “Axum”(named after an African village). All of the revenues go back to Axum to help feed orphans, build running water infrastructure, provide medical care, etc. On top of that, after years of perserverence, Brook and Renaut adopted not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 siblings from Axum. They already had 4 biological children….now they have 8 children…yikes! Talk about insanity!!! They They will celebrate their 1 year of having all 8 children this Easter week end. They truly could use the time away to “fill up their cups”. We have been tremendously blessed by his teachings. He teaches the Truth…straight from the bible. He has a huge heart for missions, building strong community, being authentic and serving Jesus!!
His email is pastor@mosaic.fl.org
Done.