Prayer Retreat

This weekend 31 people from our churches (including babies) went for a weekend retreat to seek God's face in prayer. People trickled in on Friday night after work and we stayed until Sunday afternoon. On Friday evening we focused in on Mark 6:31 and expressed to God our desire just to be with him and rest in him.

On Saturday morning after a time of worship and prayer we separated and spent a good time alone with God and John 6:24-69. Later we came back together and shared with each other what God was saying to us through his Word. This was followed by a good time of corporate prayer and worship. In our afternoon session we had a good time of interceding for each other as several people expressed prayer needs regarding personal and family growth issues. We gathered around each one and lifted them up before God's throne of grace. This was a very powerful time as God touched people at their point of need. Saturday evening we celebrated the Lord's Supper together.

Also, on Saturday we had special activities for the children. Jerilyn took the youngest children for the day to Bethel Church where they had a great time and also did a craft – making and coloring a book about how to and what we can pray for. Our son Joel took the younger teens and spent the day in Salem, mostly at our daughter Jessie’s house.

On Sunday morning after a time of singing praises we separated into family groups and parents and their children had a good time of praying together - hopefully starting a tradition that will continue at home. We all agreed that we wanted to have another prayer retreat soon - maybe in 6 months or so. God is good. This weekend was truly a blessing!

Some pictures:




We met in this log house close to Amity, Oregon. Thank you Lee and Irene!





Praying and worshipping together.



Time alone in God's Word.

Everyone agrees - all day in prayer can be very tiring. This is our beautiful granddaughter, Citlali Rose.

This group picture was unfortunately taken after 3 families had already left.