Jesus promised us LIFE! Life that is eternal, abundant, soul-satisfying, and flows from within us.

Ministry has a subtle way of sucking life from us. We are always surprised to see the gauges reading "empty". And nobody really wants to just grind it out as a "faithful ministry machine".

This year at Focus Retreat we will look at the challenges of "Finding Our Way Forward" through the ministry jungle. A clear path through the "many dangers, toils and snares" certainly does take a regular dose of grace at the heart level. Join other seasoned and rookie adventurers as we travel the trail Christ has marked out for us!

Hope to see you there,
Dan Allan

A while back, Bill Hybels wrote a book entitled Too Busy Not to Pray. As all pastors, I constantly struggle with being too busy & so I think I arrange my priorities to accomplish what I think is important. However, Christ has already assigned His priorities for His Church. In our church we adhere to 3 core Biblical values: Worship - Fellowship - Outreach. I pound, pound, pound it to my leadership & congregation, but I sometimes fail to live it personally (& in my professional life). Every time I attend an FGBC conference or Focus Retreat, I always come away with new blessings from God. The worship draws me nearer to my Lord; the fellowship with & teaching from those of like faith is His return gift multiplied over. I am strengthened for greater ministry because I have kept these priorities. Here's my opinion: Any time I think I don't need to attend a "brotherhood" function, I am missing a blessing and I'm not as strong as I could be for ministry in the days ahead. God grieves that I missed the opportunity He gave me. D. Kennedy

Thanks so much for a great retreat! I look forward to this time of refreshment every year. This year I was especially challenged by the reminder of who I am in Christ. It is certainly not a new concept, but a well needed reminder. As a pastor I want to give God my best, but sometimes I find myself looking at other ministries or other ministers and playing games of comparison. 1 Corinthians 12:4 was a powerful reminder to me that as Pastors we have different gifts, we have been given different ministries, and we will also experience different RESULTS. All of this comes from God and His sovereign plan for our lives and ministries. For me the FOCUS retreat is a time to be recharched, refreshed and sometimes receive a renewed view of the ministry God has entrusted to me. M. E. Lingenfelter

The best part of the Focus tripartite formula of revelation, relationship and rest is for me the relationships that can be rekindled. I enjoyed renewing long standing relationships and beginning new ones with men I did not know. Some of the encounters were incidental like encountering somebody on the boardwalk and taking an early morning walk, some were more intentional like tracking down an old friend. The sessions did a good job of opening the conversation. I feel many of these conversations can now take on greater depth because of our time together. R. Greene

Encouraging and refreshing "iron sharpening iron" relationships with a great group of guys! Pastoral and professional stimulation from Brother/Pastors Allan and Fetterhoff, worship and praise singing with a group of over 40 guys, an encouraging blend of "old horses" and "young bucks" that was profitable for all, heightened by an affordable and great location. No notes on messages given, but lots of notes on messages received! Already on my schedule for next year! P. Mutchler

The Central Focus Retreat was great! Kudos to all who participated! Outstanding, practical, insightful discussions. Keep up this ministry of excellence in behalf of our Fellowship and its phenomenal band of brothers!! L. Chamberlain

I have been attending the FOCUS retreats in our eastern region since they began in the early 1990s. Some of the same people from other districts are able to come as well. It is during those times that I am able to get to know them much better and have good fellowship. I would recommend this two-day excursion (especially traveling with others, if you can) to any and to all. It is well worth the time. This most recent one brought back the reminder of how much we in ministry need each other. We need "traveling companions", as leader Dan Allan reminded us. I know from personal experience down through the years how important my traveling companions have been. Were it not for them, I am sure I would not be in ministry today. They reached out at difficult and strategic times to encourage me. It is a lesson that God taught me that I seek to pass on to others. The reasons given for not being able to attend are varied and real. Distance is one that can be effectively addressed by having several come with you. The need for the money to be able to participate is being addressed (at least this year) by the provision of help via a fund for that purpose. I guess the BIG need is for one is first of all to see the need in his own life and ministry. I, for one, am all for it. It is a time of concentrated interaction that even national conference does not provide. D. White

Great time enjoying the Lord and listening to Him. Special challenge to me is to relax more fully as Jesus works in and through me to do the good works He prepared in advance that I should walk in them. I appreciated the challenge from the speakers to be what God wants us to be ? not what we want to be. And to find and live that through the power of Christ not my feeble efforts. It is so good to know that Jesus lives in me, and He is able to do immeasurably above anything I can ask or imagine!! G. Wiley

For someone new to the Fellowship, the retreat provided a great opportunity to meet and pray with other yoke-fellows beyond my immediate district. Dan Allen did a superb job of challenging and encouraging us and I appreciated his generosity of time after one of his sessions to delve deeper into his topic. It was a great time. Well organized, well thought out, well done. L. Skiles

This was my first experience with being a part of a Focus Retreat, I attended the East Coast gathering. What I appreciated most was an opportunity to remember why we do what we do. It's about Jesus Christ, and it's about people. The Focus Retreat was an opportunity to be away from the common background that it is the mission field in which God has placed me. It was good to get away for a short time and be able to release pressures and breathe a soul's sigh of relief. The encouragement was strong, the opportunities to meet others in ministry was welcome, and the food was delicious. I recommend this time of re-focus because, in a ministry world filled with seminars, training opportunities, and symposiums, you might find that this kind of 48-hour experience is what has the greatest impact on your kingdom-mission effectiveness throughout the whole year. M. Heckert

I thoroughly enjoyed the retreat, especially being an "outsider", and I very much appreciate the invitation. From the first moment, I never felt as a stranger. The camaraderie was evident in the conversations I overheard and took part in. I was enlivened by the friendliness and the concern for my work for the Lord as well as for me physically. I really appreciate the men who gathered around and prayed for me. This shows they are a caring group of people and are sincere about God's work. The speakers were excellent and their topics really hit me where they should have. The facility was excellent and the food was wonderful. I feel I have gained some new brothers in Christ and if possible, I look forward to next year. I have a renewed spirit for the Lord because of you and the retreat and will encourage the church to look at your organization. I'll keep in touch and may God bless all of you in all your endeavors for Him. W. Pennington

I'm not one of the pastors, but it's always a great pleasure for me to be able to minister through music and image to a group of pastors who do so much to minister to others. I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with pastors from different parts of the Fellowship, and hearing and learning their stories and thoughts in the small groups. J. Fallin