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Over 60 people (a record for us at the Franciscan Retreat Center), in September of 2009, were enthralled and entertained by two of our key leaders, Dr. Slayden Yarbrough and Hal Aqua. Hal set the tone on the first evening by leading the group through a worship service as it might be seen at a Jewish synagogue. Hal is music leader for B’nai Havorah, a Reconstructionist Congregation in Denver (our own Carol Willard was administrator there for several years). Hal set the tone for our theme, “Covenant Connections: Then and Now.” Then Dr. Sleyden Yarbrough, interim pastor at FBC Boulder in 2009, led in the first of three sessions in developing the theme further. His energy, knowledge and sense of humor helped all of us learn more about the covenant connections in the Scriptures and in our own lives.
Tom and Terry Myers, products of ABCRM churches on home assignment from Bulgaria, enlightened us with personal stories of their ministries with the Bulgarian Baptists. Dan and Estela Schweissing joined Tom and Terry on one occasion to offer a workshop on the scope and futures of International Ministries. Drs. Steve Van Ostran (Region Executive Minister) and Mary Hulst (ABC-USA National President) brought us an informative update on the state of American Baptist Churches as a whole.
Devotions led by Mary Burman, a workshop by Anne Jernberg (she will be our worship leader for our 2010 retreat) on “Personal Covenant Story,” music with Lois Oswalt and John Pipe, and a superbly delicious ice cream social were all “icing on the cake” or “flavoring on the ice cream” for our retreat.
Planners for this retreat were:
Tam and Larry Van Spriell
Dwight and Aladene Neuenschwander
Ken and Karen Pinkham
Mason Brown
Jim Witt
Bill Mankin
Carol Willard
John Pipe
We are grateful to all who help carry out this exciting retreat!
Tam VanSpriell, John Pipe
Co-chairs of the SoulJourners Planning Committee
2009 SoulJourners Report
2008 SoulJourners Report
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