Vision Team Retreat

If my followers remain silent even these stones would cry out. ~ Luke 19:40

Dear Vision Team,

I hope you're as excited as I am for our Via Christus Vision Team Retreat. The retreat is Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29.

The theme of the weekend is Teaching a Stone to Talk: Finding Your Spiritual Voice. We will be discovering together the unique ways that God has designed each of us to praise and worship him. We will be exploring spiritual disciplines and ancient spiritual practices as helps in finding the specific ways that you personally communicate best with God. There will be times for solitude and silence, sharing, journaling, creative expression, praying, discussing, playing, and yes, even fasting (which we will all be participating in corporately - with the exception of those who have physical conditions that prevent them from doing so... you know who you are). This is a chance to get away from all the distractions of your usual routine and actually have time to simply sit and listen for God... and then speak back to him from the depths of your heart with your unique spiritual voice. Our goal is that this would be a time for spiritual transformation, that you would leave this weekend, refocused and refreshed, and with tools to continue your spiritual growth beyond the retreat. We also hope that this will be a time for us to bond as friends and co-laborers in this church planting adventure, and to gain a more unified sense of vision for the church.

The retreat is at the Stronghold Conference Center in Oregon, Illinois, approximately 1 1/2 hours northwest of Yorkville. (The address is 1922 N Illinois Route 2. You can use mapquest.com for directions.) You should plan to be there no later than 10:30am on Saturday, May 27th. If you would like to carpool or caravan from Yorkville please contact me as soon as possible. Cost for the retreat is $80/adult and is payable at the retreat (make checks to Via Christus Community Church). However, our expense for the retreat is fixed regardless of how many people come, so please don't let a lack of finances prevent you from attending. Your absence won't save us any money and we'd rather have you there even if you can't pay. You will need to bring your own bedding for the retreat and clothes for three days and two nights. Also, don't forget to bring a Bible. We'll be staying until after lunch on Monday, May 29. If you have any further questions please give me a call (630-742-4062).

I hope you will spend these next week leading up to the retreat in prayerful preparation. If we are willing to soften our hearts and be ready to receive from the Lord I think we will all come away from this retreat changed.

Blessings and Love,

-Mike