The SEC in Review….

The Pastor and Spouses’ Retreat

The Southeast Conference’s Pastor and Spouses’ Retreat, held at Canterbury Retreat Center in Oviedo, Florida, was a great success. Rev. Glen Wiberg, our keynote speaker, spoke of the stages of life in one of his sessions, using the story of Abram who in Genesis 12, “went out in stages to Canaan.” “Stages,” he said, “are the various periods of time along the journey of life.” 

Rev. Wiberg and his wife Jane invited us into their own journey of life in ministry and the stages of life for the journey. It was a time for pastors and spouses to retreat, fellowship with others and to enjoy the serenity and peaceful environment that Canterbury Retreat Center offers. The retreat offered time for spiritual reflection, rest and lighthearted moments with Dave Johnson, the SEC ministerial president, leading us through talks about the most memorable moments in our pastoral lives.

It was a lot of fun to hear some of the stories pastor and spouses have

                     Pastors praying for Rev. Glen and Jane

experienced. We missed those of you who were not there. Those who attended spoke of the need to regularly retreat and enjoy the fellowship of others.  Our retreat for next year is being planned; watch the SEC Website for dates, time and location. We need you there. 

SEC Women’s Retreat- “The Lord hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”- Micah 6:8
                                                                                                                          The beginning of the SEC Women’s Retreat began with a historical moment. Dr. Robert L. Owens attended his first SEC Women’s Retreat as the SEC Superintendent.  He stated, “When women get together, exciting things happen.  Everybody knows when women get together and get excited about the possibilities, things begin to happen.”  Oh, how right he was!

The theme for this year’s women’s retreat held in Marietta, GA was “Trouble the Water”, addressing the issues of compassion, mercy, and justice.  The planners picked speakers and a worship leader who are genuinely passionate about what God has called them to do. Judy Swanberg, Velda Love, and Joyce Sutton were up for the mission of raising thought provoking questions, assigning heart provoking challenges, and leading others into a place of pure worship.

Although there was the option to completely retreat, the choice for the attendants was to engage in the weekend that was packed with reminders of God’s instructions as to how we are to relate one to another and everything God has created.  We put on our flip flops and were challenged to think outside of the box, to step out of our comfort zones, and to be the “radically compassionate, merciful, and just” women God has commanded us to be.  What is it that the Lord requires of you?  Will you trouble the waters?

For some the challenge of engaging in the ministry of compassion, mercy, and justice was a new idea.  For others it was the revival they needed to continue the ministry in which they are already involved.  Whichever the case, it was “good, good, good, good, good, good, and very good.” (You had to be there.)

The SEC….Looking Ahead

This Sunday November 4^th Bridges will hold its first preview service in the newly renovated Church that once housed the Asbury Covenant Church. Please pray for Pastor Mark and Karla and the Bridges’ team as they seek to reach the lost, nurture the faithful, reflect the kingdom and transform lives in the Traves, Florida area.

Prayer Requests

• Fuquay Family, in the lost of Raymond Fuquay, member of Kallam Grove Covenant Church and dear friend and partner to the SEC and to the SEC superintendents
• Pastor Owens- family, traveling mercies
• SEC-finances, pastors, and church congregations, Annual Meeting planning committee

F.Y.I.

The SEC office is attempting to release a conference update at least twice a month.  If you have news and/or pictures that you wish for us to include in the update, please feel free to e-mail (southeastconf@bellsouth.net) us the write-ups and photos, and they will be included.  Also, go to the SEC website @ se-conf.org  to read the November devotional by Rev. Marcus Putnam, pastor of Trinity Covenant Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Stay Strong,

Your Staff,

Robert
Requaya
Veronica
Jim