Attending the retreat in May were 36 missionaries and their families from Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Congo and Cameroon.

Donn Engebretson, vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church inspired the missionaries with a presentation in which he encouraged them to live out their identity in Christ. "Our job is not to make ourselves great, but to believe what God says about us is true," he told the missionaries.

Engebretson reminded the missionaries they have been raised with Christ. "It is not a mere possibility, or a probability, or a potential, it is an accomplished fact," he said. "You are not an orphan desperately trying to find a home and a place. You are not cut loose without anchor and mooring. You are not bereft of resource and possibility. You have been raised with Christ."

Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission, recounts that "Donn's message touched our lives, and gave us a renewed sense of our identity in Christ and the freedom to live in Christ, without guilt but with joy."

Peterson also met with the missionaries to strategize future evangelism and development. O'Ann Steere, a commissioned and licensed counselor, met with each missionary family to provide support, counsel and care.

Leaders also dealt with the armed robbery of two missionary families that happened during their vacation prior to the retreat. No one was injured, in what Peterson called an "isolated incident."

Tim and Helen Smith, and Roy and Aleta Danforth were robbed when thieves burst into their hotel room. The thieves took money, four computers, a satellite phone (which was recovered), and cell phones. Two suspects were later arrested and charged.

World Mission will replace the equipment, and personal losses will be reimbursed through the Mission Benevolence Fund. Anyone wanting to contribute to the fund can do so by mailing a check in care of World Mission, Evangelical Covenant Church, 5101 N. Francisco, Chicago, IL 60625 and designate the gift.