Preparing Leaders for Reflection and Prayer Days and Short Retreats
In the U. S.: May 17–26, 2007 at Lutheridge Retreat near Asheville, NC
October 4–13, 2007 at Brookhaven Retreat near Dallas, TX
Lead Facilitator: Dr. Evelyn Davis
Worship Leaders and Topic Facilitators will be announced
Prayer Coordinators: Fran Woods, Chesley (Tiny) and Ruth Ray
Thank you for your interest in the training that will assist you in facilitating half or full days of reflection and prayer, and short retreats. The training is for eight days, but arrival time is the afternoon prior to the first day of the training, and departure is the morning after the concluding day (the dates listed above include both the arrival and departure dates). Information about the training is given below, and the application form is on page 3. Send your application to evelyn_davis@wycliffe.org and contact her if you have questions or comments.
Locations: Lutheridge Retreat (the May training) is 15 minutes from the Asheville airport, and pickups will be
arranged. Arrive in Asheville by early afternoon on Thursday, May 17th, 2007. Introductions and
sharing will be in the late afternoon. Our first meal is Thursday evening, with an overview of our
sessions after dinner that night. We will conclude with our evaluation session on Saturday morning
the 26th, so arrange your flight home for early afternoon or later. If you can get a cheaper flight into
Charlotte, NC instead of Asheville, let us know and we will arrange pickups in Charlotte.
Brookhaven Retreat Center (the October training) is approximately 2½ hours drive from the Dallas
International Center, and airport pickups and transportation to Brookhaven will be arranged. Arrive
in Dallas by noon on Thursday, October 4—we will drive to Brookhaven after lunch. There will be
introductions/sharing in the late afternoon. Our first meal is Thursday evening, with an overview of
our sessions after dinner that night. We will leave Brookhaven for Dallas after our evaluation
session on Saturday morning the 13th, so arrange your flight home mid-afternoon or later.
Schedule: Arrival Afternoon and Evening: Welcome, introductions, overview of the materials.
Day One and the Morning of Day Two: Experience two of the reflection topics (listed on the
Overview on page 2 below) .
Afternoon and Evening of Day Two: Work in a small group led by a staff member to study (and
prepare to present) one of the other reflection or retreat topics.
Days Three, Four, Five, Six, and Eight: Each group presents the topic that they have prepared
(participants have an opportunity to practice how to use the topics later!)
Day Seven: Teaching sessions designed to prepare you for praying with and for individuals and
groups when you return to your place of service.
Departure Morning: Closing worship time, evaluation, sharing, and praying.
Other: Quality time will be allowed for you to peruse the books and other resources that will be available.
There will be some evening activities, including an overview of how to lead prayer times, how to
plan worship for days of R & P, a fun night, and sharing what God has done during your time of
reflection and prayer. There will also be opportunities for personal ministry and appointments with
the prayer coordinators.
An Exciting Development: One new development in the past year is that we now have an interactive website,
and participants who take the R & P training can make it into an R & P life-style! We will introduce
the website during the training sessions, and as participants return to their place of ministry, they
will be able to share through this website how God is using R & P in their own lives and, through
them, in others’ lives. The website will also serve as a prayer hub, and the place where all former
R & P participants can access updated materials.
Cost $550.00 for accommodations (double occupancy), meals, a notebook of the topics, copies of the
retreat manuals, and the basic resources. There is a daily surcharge of $10.00 for single occupancy,
and $50.00 of the above amount is required for registration. Because of a grant that has been
received, financial assistance will be available. Note additional details about payment on the
application form, and indicate if you have need of assistance.
To Register: Choose May 17–26, 2007 or October 4–13, 2007. The number of participants is limited, and
persons who attend must be recommended by their branch or entity (if WBT/ SIL), or by their
mission, church, or agency (if not WBT/SIL). Fill out the application form (page 3 below), and
return it to evelyn_davis @wycliffe.org.
Overview of Topics for Reflection and Prayer Days
A day of reflection and prayer begins with worship and singing, then there is a brief overview of the topic the group has chosen. Handouts describe the topic, with Bible verses for reference and thought questions for application. There is time for personal reflection and prayer, then the option of praying with someone else or continuing with individual reflection. There is a time of closure, with an opportunity to share.
A Spiritual Inventory and Spiritual Markers
It is helpful to identify spiritual markers in our lives—times when we have encountered God’s call or his direction. Then when we face new options and/or decisions, we can review our spiritual markers to be reminded of the context of the activity of God in our lives—his perspective for our past, our present, and our future. There are guidelines to assist you in working through your spiritual heritage, your salvation experience, times you made decisions regarding your future, and periods of your life when God clearly guided you.
Finding A Rhythm of Rest
We struggle with trying to find time for a real ‘Sabbath’—a time to take our hands from the plow, let our work lay fallow, and let God and others take care of things. However, it is finding that balance point at which, having rested, we do our work with greater ease and joy, and bring healing and delight to our endeavors—for when we are refreshed we can give more generously to others. Jesus found special times to be with the Father, and to pray. During this time of reflection, may we learn how to follow his example.
Life Tasks: Strength for the Journey
There are six life tasks that all adults encounter, with a different emphasis on each during the various decades of life. These materials describe all six, and you will focus on, and pray about, the one(s) that you choose. The tasks are: The Self, Identity (who am I?); Relationships, Intimacy (who will be with me?); Work, Accomplishment (what will I do?); Health, Wholeness, Freedom (can I achieve balance?); Faith, Spiritual Vitality (will my journey be meaningful?); and Commitment, Contribution (can I make a difference?).
Our Time of Need
What are you currently dealing with? Various points of need are listed (with related Bible verses) and there is space to add other needs. You will choose which area(s) to focus on, and pray about. Examples are: unmet needs; struggling with relinquishment; disappointments and discouragements; going through a barren time; health issues; family concerns; praying for a lost friend or a family member; carrying a heavy burden.
Prayer Areas and Issues
This topic focuses on specific prayer areas and issues such as bearing fruit; Bible study and prayer; finances; future direction and decisions; health, home and family; relationships; rest and renewal; restoration of life and ministry; seeking the Lord’s power, strength, and wisdom; service; and submitting to him. There are related Bible verses, questions for reflection, and short readings.
Personal Worship
When the group you are leading chooses a topic that an individual is not interested in, that person can use the time of reflection for a personal focus if desired. Individuals can bring their own retreat materials, or they can use these guidelines (with scriptures) that focus on the following steps: worship; attentiveness; approach the throne; submit to God; confession and forgiveness; prayer for personal protection; guidance; special needs; petitions for yourself, family, friends, church, others; put on Christ and commit the day to him; walk in triumph, freedom, and safety.
The Servant Leader (separate booklet)
Jesus demonstrated the fact that a leader is called to be a servant. The materials describe what leaders must do to follow Jesus’ example. First there must be a servant heart—leadership character; then a servant head—leadership methods; next servant hands—leadership behavior, and most important, servant habits—leadership commitment and renewal. This time of reflection focuses on all four, with thought questions and scripture references.
Overview of the Retreat Topics
These short retreats can be offered to groups over a weekend, or in sessions over a period of several weeks.
Life Passages and the Missionary Experience
How do our missionary experiences impact on the usual life passages? And how can we find the necessary joy and strength to sustain us? We will not experience this retreat during our time together, but an overview will be given the day the group focuses on ‘Life Tasks.’ A set of guidelines for leading this retreat will be included with the manual.
New Testament Images of Adult Growth and Change
What can we discover about the adult learning process from Biblical images? They have important implications for ways we discover spiritual truth, and how our faith can develop and grow. The six images are New Wine, The Body, The Blowing Wind, The Yoke, The Grain of Wheat, and The Bread and Cup.
Application Form
Training Leaders for Reflection and Prayer Days and Short Retreats
In the U.S.: May 17–26, 2007 at Lutheridge and October 4–13, 2007 at Brookhaven
Send the Application Form and References to evelyn_davis@wycliffe.org or evelyn_davis@sil.org
General Information (use more space if needed)
Name ______________________________
Address ______________________________
Are you applying for May 17–26, 2007, or October 4–13, 2007? ______________________________
If the week of your preference is full by the time we receive your application and references, are you interested in
the other week, or in attending in 2008? _______ If in 2008, in May or October? _________ (we will send dates).
Is a double room acceptable? _______ Or do you prefer a single room? _______ ($10 daily surcharge for a single)
How Long a Member of Wycliffe/SIL? _______________ How Long Serving in Current Entity? ____________
If not Wycliffe/SIL, work with ______________________________
Current Job ______________________________
Describe your job responsibilities ______________________________
What do you like best about your current job?
What do you wish could be different? ______________________________
In what other places have you served? ______________________________
What job(s) did you have? ______________________________
Training Focus (use more space if needed)
What is your background in education and/or training (formal and/or informal course work, seminars, etc.)?
What is your background in teaching and/or the delivery of training? ______________________________
What interests you most in considering the possibility of attending the Reflection and Prayer/Retreat training?
______________________________
Could you use this training in your current position? ______________________________
If not in your current position, how do you envision that this training might be useful? _____________________
The Reflection and Prayer Web Site
In view of the fact that most of the expenses for this training are covered by a scholarship fund, and that the vision for
the training is to get people engaged in a lifestyle of reflection and prayer and then to help others do this also, are you
willing to make an on-going commitment to interact with other participants on the reflection and prayer website?
__________. Note: Betsy Hopkins, a former participant and staff member, is the current coordinator of the site. If you
have any questions about this aspect of the R & P training, before answering the above question, do contact her at
betsy_hopkins@sil.org If you have limited computer or internet access, we can work with you in other ways to include you in the on-going ministry of sharing R & P with other participants.
Any comments, questions, etc. ______________________________
Finances
If you are requesting financial assistance, please explain why and indicate how much is needed.
______________________________
______________________________
List the name (and number) of the account that should be charged the $50.00 registration fee after your acceptance,
and also for any balance due after financial assistance is arranged ______________________________
If you are not a member of Wycliffe, please mail a check for the registration fee (made out to Wycliffe International)
to Dr. Evelyn Davis, 18 Winding Poplar Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
References
Please ask two persons to write a reference for you. At least one should be an administrator or supervisor at your
work, who expresses encouragement and support for your training in Reflection and Prayer, and who speaks to the
issue of how you could use this training in the future. Please list the individuals that you are requesting to send
references, and ask them to send the references to Evelyn Davis at the email address above.
Name ______________________________
Name ______________________________
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