Georgia Men's Retreat Draws Record Attendance

NORMAN PARK, GA (March 5, 2004) - More than 100 men from throughout the Southeast Conference (SEC) of the Evangelical Covenant Church gathered Feb. 27-29 in southern Georgia for a spirit-filled retreat featuring strong teaching, high praise and worship, multi-ethnic fellowship and - most of all - encouragement to stay the course in their walk with Jesus Christ.

The retreat, "Encouragement: A Ministry of Grace and Truth," was centered on the message of John 1: 14-17 and offered a variety of experiences for participants coming from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and other areas. Twenty inches of snow that battered North Carolina earlier in the week prevented 14 men from attending.

The event was held at a Baptist convention center that formerly housed Norman College. Norman Park, a sleepy little southern town three hours south of Atlanta, was the perfect setting for men to get in touch with one another, spend quiet time under a big shady tree, make or renew friendships and play basketball or pick pecans.

Highlights of the conference included a powerful workshop on "Spiritual Maturity" led by pastor Winston Williams of Faith Christian Center in Miami, Florida. Williams, who leads a recently adopted Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) congregation, used John 15:1-8 for his biblical foundation as he explored signs of maturity, which he believes must be cloaked in accountability, integrity and humility.

Too often "we're home watching Monday Night Football when we should be in intercessory prayer developing a prayer relationship with God," he observed. "Our models should be men of profound faith like evangelist Charles Spurgeon, who said 'cut me anywhere and I bleed bible.'"

Another highlight was the response to a call by SEC Supt. Kurt Miericke and Assistant Supt. Robert Owens to assist Audubon Park Covenant Church, which is in need of refurbishing, Several men volunteered to bring tools and equipment to Orlando April 1-4 to tackle the job of a much-needed makeover for the church.

In addition to responding to the needs of an established church, the gathering generously stepped to the plate to meet the challenge issued by Miericke to plant a new church in 2005. Sharing with the attendees his heartfelt desire to begin acquiring funds to successfully plant a new ministry, Miericke joyfully announced near the end of the conference that the men had responded with pledges and contributions of $7,625 of seed money for the yet-to-be-determined project.

Other highlights included a session presented by Miericke, who praised God for the leadership team he and Owens comprise, saying "he's the thunder and the lightning and I'm the steady rain." Using 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 4:1-13 as his primary texts, Miericke exhorted the men to stay together in good times and especially during bad times, using the analogy of the Hereford cows who survive brutal Montana winters by "staying together and leaning into the wind."

"We are the Body of Christ," Miericke continued. "When someone gets separated, they can freeze to death. But just like the Hereford, let's stay together and do some mighty things together. We don't realize the power we have to change lives."

Pastor Jeff Burton of Faith Covenant Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, also praised the men, using Romans 1:11-12 as his foundation.

"I've been encouraged by many of you here by the conversations we've had here this weekend," said Burton, who then named a handful of men with whom he had shared a special moment or concern. "Fellowship is a challenge for many of us. This is very, very rare among men to be happening so naturally. Some of you men have sorrows. But you know, Jesus is not ashamed of our sorrows. We need each other. When you come alongside each other, we become stronger."

Faith Covenant, one of the largest churches in the conference, doubled its 2003 numbers by bringing 41 men to the retreat this year. Kingdom Covenant Ministries of Miami, formerly known as Palmetto Community Covenant Church, was also well represented.

For more information about the men's retreat, call Miericke at 407-977-8009 or email him at Kmiericke@aol.com.

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