{"id":2386,"date":"2021-05-21T01:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T01:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2021\/05\/21\/reunited-and-it-feels-so-good-florida-leaders-spring-retreat\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T07:01:01","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T05:01:01","slug":"reunited-and-it-feels-so-good-florida-leaders-spring-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/reunited-and-it-feels-so-good-florida-leaders-spring-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Reunited, and It Feels So Good: Florida Leaders Spring Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201c<\/span>Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season . <\/span>..\u201d – 2 Timothy 4: 2 <\/span><\/span><\/p>

The annual Florida Leaders Retreat in Melbourne last month felt more like a reunion than a typical \u201cmeeting.\u201d From veteran ministers and elders to newly hired interns, everyone appreciated meeting in-person, masks and all! Over 90 full-time and part-time staff, elders and their wives and lay leaders represented the 15 Florida congregations. Despite leading differing sized churches, from house church size to 500+ size, everyone expressed an eagerness to be together and learn about preaching the Word in pandemic season and post-pandemic season from each other. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Retreat planning falls in the purview of the Florida OPS (Organization, Planning and Strategy) Team. The OPS Team meets throughout the year and considers ideas and solutions for the challenges facing Florida churches. 2020 threw plenty of curve balls to planning committees worldwide. So, the 2021 retreat came up with a different plan and focused on addressing the isolation and burnout that accompanied the pandemic, with a special emphasis on fellowship time and relationship building. Mitch Lavender, evangelist and campus minister for the <\/span><\/span>Crossway Church<\/a> in Tallahassee, appreciated the non-typical nature of the classes. \u201cI came to the retreat very tired \u2013 sharing with people who reject the gospel. The very first class (Deep Rest) was good in a different way with a greater awareness of our mental health. It was so refreshing.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Caroline Ramos, a missionary who works with the <\/span><\/span>campus ministry in Sao Paulo, Brazil<\/a>, caught up with the retreat during a visit to Florida. \u201cI feel like so many of us have come out of the pandemic lockdown somewhat handicapped \u2013 emotionally and spiritually. We all shared the hard things and at this retreat it felt like we were a different kind of honest; I feel very close to my peers.\u201d This is Caroline\u2019s third retreat and she enjoyed the fact that \u201cthe young leaders are not competitive with one another. We celebrate our differences and ask each other for help. A common question was, \u2018Do you feel loved and inspired?\u2019\u201d \ufeff <\/span><\/span><\/p>\"\"

Campus Ministry leaders enjoy a Friday fellowship time. <\/span><\/p>

Because COVID has increased a sense of isolation, the retreat schedule allowed for different ministry groups to spend unstructured Friday night fellowship time together. Campus, singles, youth and family ministers and the elders could use that time to meet needs. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like being with somebody who does your job,\u201d exclaimed Julia Cobb, campus ministry intern for the <\/span><\/span>Anchor Point Church<\/a> in Tampa. \u201cThe campus women laughed and then we talked and then . . . we cried! There were so many empowering conversations. Then we joined up with the campus guys and played some fun games.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\"\"

LauriAnne Conking (L) and Kim Campbell (R) share during a women\u2019s class. <\/span><\/p>

Reese Neyland, interim Chief Evangelist for <\/span><\/span>HOPE<\/a> worldwide<\/a>, presented a HOPE news update. Reese and his wife, Mary Kay, were baptized at the University of Florida over 40 years ago. \u201cIt was so encouraging to see all the people we knew from the old days who are still loving the Lord and serving the churches! The schedule allowed for a great combination of biblical lessons and significant times of fellowship. I especially enjoyed a lesson by Marcus Overstreet, evangelist for the <\/span><\/span> Orlando Church of Christ<\/a>, from Jeremiah on \u2018Hope While We Wait.\u2019 It felt like a powerful Spirit-filled time where I was fed by the Word and some very humble personal sharing. I am now a part-time Evangelist for HOPE <\/span><\/span> worldwide <\/span> and I was very grateful to be given time to give an update on what we are doing.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

The pandemic forced us to find new ways to do church and stay connected, building stronger bonds between ministries across the state. \u201cI think there is more trust throughout the state,\u201d opined Ron Conkling, evangelist for the Anchor Point Church in Tampa. Ron serves as the Florida Regional Family Chairman and has witnessed an OPS team group dynamic of \u201cworking together with authenticity and healthy disagreement – a great cross-section of personalities.\u201d <\/span><\/p>

This Florida Leaders \u201creunion\u201d brought together a diverse mix, ranging from twenty-somethings to grandparents, who share a common devotion to leading and shepherding God\u2019s people \u2013 in season and out of season. <\/span><\/span> \ufeff <\/span><\/span><\/p>\"\"

Caroline Ramos (L), Joy Garcia (Center) and Josh Franco demonstrate their paddle boarding prowess.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over 90 full-time and part-time staff, elders and their wives and lay leaders met for the annual Florida Leaders Retreat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":2387,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[54],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-2386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-north-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/florida_campus_leaders.jpg?fit=879%2C318&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-Cu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2194,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/icoc-elders-service-team-report-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":2386,"position":0},"title":"ICOC Elders Service Team Report 2021","author":"dtadmin","date":"December 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Elders Service Team is a diverse team of elders that meets almost monthly to discuss the churches and church discussions that affect our fellowship of churches as we strive to spread the Gospel.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/WalterandKimEvans.jpeg?fit=500%2C580&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5396,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/florida-churches-appoint-next-generation-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":2386,"position":1},"title":"Florida Churches Appoint Next Generation Leaders","author":"dtadmin","date":"May 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In the last two years, the Florida family of churches witnessed the appointment of three young evangelists and women\u2019s ministry leaders who partner with mature leaders and bring fresh perspectives to winning communities for Christ.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Fernandez.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Fernandez.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Fernandez.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Fernandez.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Fernandez.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":169,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/elders-service-team-addresses-crucial-shepherding-issues\/","url_meta":{"origin":2386,"position":2},"title":"Elders Service Team Addresses Crucial Shepherding Issues","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"December 22, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Our Committee enjoyed our final 2010 face to face meeting in conjunction with the International Leadership Conference in Miami in September. We were sobered by the news that our brother Jeff Balsom of Chicago was unable to attend because of his diagnosis of cancer. Fervent prayers continue on behalf of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4459,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/heartland-regional-family-leadership-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":2386,"position":3},"title":"Heartland Regional Family Leadership Meeting","author":"dtadmin","date":"April 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"On April 13, over 100 disciples made up of Church Staff, Elders, and Lay Leaders from the Heartland Region family of churches met in Kansas City for the second time in eight months. Our goal was to pursue unity, leadership development, and discuss plans for planting new churches as well\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/heartlandregionalfamilyleadership.jpg?fit=1200%2C361&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/heartlandregionalfamilyleadership.jpg?fit=1200%2C361&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/heartlandregionalfamilyleadership.jpg?fit=1200%2C361&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/heartlandregionalfamilyleadership.jpg?fit=1200%2C361&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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