This July, Corey Pelton hosted Rural Church Development’s first Small Town Pastor’s Retreat for pastors who are ministering in small towns and rural settings. Corey wanted to connect these men with each other while also offering them a relaxing space (and great food) away from their ministry routines.
The retreat was a restful, prayerful, enjoyable time for the group of nine. Six pastors and two presbytery employees (Travis Vaughn and Matthew Bryant) joined Corey for three days at a beautiful home in Ellijay, GA. A couple that supports RCD offered up this house for the retreat. In large part because of their generosity, the retreat was very affordable for the pastors.
After the retreat, Corey reported, “The conversations that happened between our scheduled devotionals and sharing times were some of the most impactful parts of the retreat.”
At each morning and evening meal, one of the pastors shared personally about a great joy that’s happening in his ministry and a current thorn, or as Corey puts it, “what keeps him up at night.” The group then prayed specifically for that pastor. This intimate sharing led to other impactful, unprompted conversations throughout the retreat.
Corey reflects, “It's the power of being able to share with others who are in the same circumstance. Otherwise, it’s easy to isolate and trudge through ministry.”
In small towns specifically, Corey says there is a need for long-term care in words, actions, and relationships. “There’s a care that has to be taken with long-term relationships in small towns. You have to be careful of what you say and don’t say. Cities tend to be more transient, and you won’t necessarily see people who've left your church around town, but you will in small towns.” This reality can weigh on these pastors; they’re aware of the drastic impact small-town gossip can have on their ministry.
Reflecting on the sharing and conversations at the retreat, Corey says, “Generally, I think the guys are wrestling and looking for help with current issues in the church or within themselves as pastors. I think they received good and wise counsel from one another.”
Other highlights included a devotional on Psalm 23 from Will Davis (a young Baptist pastor who Corey has been mentoring) and hearing from Eric McDaniel about his dissertation on church revitalization. (Eric is the head pastor at Grace Presbyterian in Jasper, TN and is working to revitalize that church).
One of the pastors said that the retreat may have been the best time he’s ever spent with other pastors, and Matthew Bryant was struck by the significance of the peer-to-peer encouragement.
Erik agreed that the retreat was encouraging, and he would love to return next year. He said, “Being far out in Marion County, it’s hard to connect with other people during the daily grind of church revitalization. The retreat gave me the opportunity to hang out with fellow pastors in my presbytery. We talked about everything from family to sports to world events to things going on in the Church.”
The retreat also included plenty of fun activities, such as fishing and kayaking. Getting caught in a downpour while on the pontoon boat was a memorable bonding moment for the guys.
Corey made sure that they ate well, bringing a pull-behind smoker, brisket, pulled pork, and bologna for smoked bologna sandwiches. One morning, two members of Cartecay Gathering served the pastors by cooking breakfast.
Corey is already thinking through next year, and he’d like to have room for more small town/rural pastors. As for himself, he says the retreat helped him get to know and appreciate these men on a deeper level. After the retreat, the group continued texting in a chat. “It was great to see them engaging even through the group text. A camaraderie developed over those three short days that’s building something.”
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