Last week our students spent 2 days away from IGSL at a spiritual retreat – just to spend extended time with the Lord in different ways.  You can see a lot of highlights from the retreat in the video, but I love the testimony that Jillie shares in this video. Jillie is a 2nd-year student in my conflict and leadership negotiation course right now. It is such a picture of a young leader feeling the pressures of “ministry” but encountering the grace of God as she learns to drink more deeply of the living water as the foundation of all ministry activity and efforts.
 

        The other student Gabo is in my course right now too and it was fun to see one of our new faculty David Haken who Christine and I journeyed with in their recruiting/onboarding process.  Asian pastors come into seminary with immense pressure and burdens from cultural expectations and contextual challenges. This is a powerful experience every year when these pastors, some for the first time, get a modeled and intentional time of how to “Be Still and Know That He is God.”  It is one of the most heart-transforming things we do!