Living Leadership’s 2021 Pastoral Refreshment Conference has been run online due to the pandemic.
The main speaker was Matt Searles, Director of Training for the South Central Gospel Partnership.
In two main sessions, under what turned out to be an apt title in the current season – ‘Power Perfected in Weakness’, Matt reflected on our limitations, aided by Psalm 127:1-2, and focused on the need for sleep and on God’s greatness, reflecting on how Isaiah 46 and the sustaining power of the God who carries us contrasts with the life-draining emptiness of the idols that we carry.
Living Leadership says it was conscious that the need for encouragement among leaders and their spouses would be greater than ever, so they devised Pastoral Refreshment at Home, giving ideas for making your home a place of refreshment, and providing online content to feed into it.
The varied programme ran on 2-3 February and included teaching, praise, discussion workshops, social spaces, and one-to-one appointments. Participants were encouraged to take as much time as possible to rest physically and spiritually.
‘When we decided to deliver something in the style of our annual Pastoral Refreshment Conferences in an online format, we were unsure what the uptake would be. We were convinced, however, of the urgent need for leaders around the country to receive support and encouragement to take time to be refreshed in the Lord’, comments Marcus Honeysett, Executive Director of Living Leadership. ‘It was a real joy to see so many leaders and their spouses join us, with around 120 people taking part across the two days!’
Speaking about the impact of the conference, participants remarked:
‘[That workshop was] the richest hour of input I’ve had for my own benefit in this [pandemic]!’ and ‘As I heard God’s word shared, I felt burdens were just being lifted from my shoulders’.
The conference was also joined live from Nashville, Tennessee by Ray and Jani Ortlund, who shared about their ministry journey as a couple and brought a timely challenge to build communities of deep and robust friendship in these days so that we can emerge stronger for God’s work after the restrictions.
Paul Coulter, Living Leadership’s Head of Ministry Operations, commented: ‘Through the wonders of technology it felt like we were joining Ray and Jani in Ray’s study. Not only did Ray bring us some thought-provoking challenges about friendship, but it was also a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet them and get to know them more. We are looking forward, Lord-willing, to having them with us in person for our Pastoral Refreshment Conferences next year.’
