{"id":2263,"date":"2021-09-30T19:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T19:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2021\/09\/30\/us-northwest-leaders-retreat\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T06:59:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T04:59:13","slug":"us-northwest-leaders-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/us-northwest-leaders-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"US Northwest Leaders Retreat 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On September 14th-17th, 2021, the <\/span><\/span>NW Family of Churches<\/a> met for a leaders retreat at Bogus Basin, hosted by the <\/span><\/span>Treasure Valley Church of Christ<\/a>. Disciples gathered from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Alaska. It was refreshing to see each other again after more than a year of postponing a retreat due to social distancing. We focused on the book of Philemon and on deepening our NW relationships as we played games, hiked, prayed, worshipped and encouraged one another. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201c<\/span>I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord\u2019s people<\/span>.\u201d \u2013 Philemon 1:4-7. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I were to sum up this retreat in one word, the word would be \u201cfamily.\u201d The lessons, which focused on quality rather than on quantity, helped inform the ample time we were given to invest in our NW relationships. Multiple times a day we organically congregated in each other’s condos to talk, laugh, play games, and share food together. It wasn\u2019t forced or overly structured, which created a genuine sense of being at home with one another. Even as we discussed some of our churches\u2019 heavy and tense challenges from the past couple of years, there was a deep spirit of unity and camaraderie which only further solidified the familial love that defined the trip. I believe this experience has set the tone for many more experiences to come. I pray that each subsequent opportunity we have to spend with one another will only grow our ability to love one another the way that Christ loves us. May this happen, so that the world can\u2019t help but take notice and see that we are his disciples!\u201d – Riley Sanderson <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n