February 3-5: Regional House Church Retreat, Prescott Pines Camp

They came from Phoenix, Mesa, Surprise, Gilbert, Peoria, Safford.  They came from established house churches and just forming house churches.  Some came looking for God’s direction to start a new house church.  They came to hear a church planter with 30+ years of experience share what God has taught him all those years.  They came to fellowship with other like-minded believers.  Some came to simply seek God and His will.

This was the first Regional House Church Retreat for the Phoenix area.  Our teacher was George Patterson.  Currently professor of Intercultural Studies at Western Seminary in Portland, OR, George was a church planter for many years.  He shared as many of his experiences as possible in a weekend workshop.   I think everyone attending was very appreciative of him spending his weekend with us. 

George's use of role plays to teach important principles was effective and fun.  He managed to get most of the attendees involved.

I was very encouraged by the number of young people attending.  Its interesting to note that at the same time we were there, there was a large group of teens from North Phoenix Baptist Church on a weekend camp.  I couldn't help noticing that those at the retreat seemed so much more mature that the group from North Phoenix.  As an example of that maturity, I share the following comment that was received this week from one of them:

Calling the Nations 

You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.  Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them out to others.

2 Timothy 2:2 

            Paul wrote those words to Timothy so many years ago.  Timothy sealed them on his heart and Paul asks us to do the same.  The weekend was full of love and compassion as we gathered for the same reason.  Questions and answers rang in the air as George stuffed our brains with loads of new information.  We laughed and cried as we listened and prayed.  George was all over the place.  He told us what to do and how to do it.  No one sat still the whole time we were there.  We listened to George as he took us through the weekend.  He filled our heads with knowledge and insight.  To tell you the truth, we had lots of fun.  Sometimes he would ramble on and on.  Some of the time I couldn’t understand him.  We ended our big weekend with prayer and song.  All of us there were like a big family.  To tell you all that I learned that weekend I would go on and on, but I will leave you with this…

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NATIONS.

Alexandra (Ally) Roberts

Age: 14

On Sunday, a spirit of cooperation and unity among the various groups was evident in our planning session.  Connections were made over the weekend that will continue as the number of house churches in the Phoenix area and all Arizona grows.  This will happen if we follow the commands of Jesus and reach the lost through multiplying the churches.  With this training, we have been given the awesome responsibility of keeping the fires of the Holy Spirit burning in our communities.

Thanks to Darrell, Jeff, and Ralph (and their families) for their work in organizing the retreat and providing the resources, snacks, water, and gift bags for everyone.  

Much thanks to George Patterson for spending a weekend training and encouraging us all.

And thanks to everyone for their generous giving to George. 

See the Album page for some pictures.  If you have pictures you would like to add to this album, please email them to the webmaster.

Downloadable resources referred to by George can be found at http://www.paul-timothy.net and http://www.mentorandmultiply.com/ .