Minister Strong Cohorts finish on Colorado retreats; a time of renewal, breakthrough

August 2-6, 52 Pastor Strong Cohort and 17 Women Strong Cohort participants traveled to Colorado for a time of worship, fellowship and rest to celebrate how God moved in and through the cohorts since their start in February. 

Strong Cohorts met monthly to learn how to establish healthy rhythms of mental, spiritual, emotional or physical health in ministry.

Remembering the “why,” trusting that God is at work 

The Pastor Strong Retreat took place in Buena Vista, CO, at Silver Cliff Ranch. Participants enjoyed prayer, worship, soul care sessions and fellowship activities such as fishing and hiking. 

Kevin Abbott, Minister Strong Team lead, said it was a beautiful thing to watch relationships deepen between pastors throughout the retreat. He encouraged pastors to not do ministry alone. 

“The last night we ended up as one big group of 50, arm in arm around each other, circled up, and I had them all look each other in the eyes after we prayed over some leaders that were struggling… I said, ‘This is your band of brothers, alright? This is your safe space. You don't do ministry alone,’” Abbott said. “That [was a] goosebump moment. Ultimately, what [Pastor Strong is] about for us [is] they get great tools and resources, leadership development, mental health stuff and personality tests, and it's awesome stuff. But at the end of the day, we want them to know that they're not alone and that they can do ministry and get support and care along the way.”

Jason Huddleston, pastor of First Baptist Church Elgin, participated in the Austin Pastor Strong Cohort and said it came at exactly the right time. 

“I joked with Kevin and Chad [Schapiro] that I seemed to have to live out every book we were reading, but that was actually pretty accurate,” Huddleston said. 

Huddleston said his cohort read “Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change,” by Tod Bolsinger, at just the right moment in his ministry. He said he was reminded to stay faithful, hang on and trust that God is still working even in difficult seasons. 

“As I was walking through that book and preaching through that season, it helped shape a question I asked our church that many people still quote: ‘Is the enemy winning, or is God working?’” Huddleston said. 

Huddleston said the retreat was just as timely as it reminded him that he was not carrying ministry alone, but with his fellow Austin cohort pastors.

“One of the most rewarding parts was the way our Austin cohort bonded. Since the retreat, we’ve continued texting, encouraging one another and making plans to get together regularly,” Huddleston said. 

Phillip Sundar, lead pastor of CJCLife Church in San Antonio, said the retreat allowed him space to reflect on what God is doing in his ministry and remember his “why.” 

“When everything slows down, and you reflect on your quiet moments [at the retreat], you realize why you are a pastor and what it’s all about. All [of your] questions can really be answered, and you find a deep sense of connection with God and a sense of connection with your purpose [at the retreat],” Sundar said. 

Returning to ministry with renewed confidence

The Women Strong Retreat took place from Aug. 2-5 in Napa, CO, at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort. Participants enjoyed prayer and devotional times, worship and fellowship activities, such as a spiritual art night, and spa amenities. 

Melody Brackett, wife of Pastor Zach Brackett at LifeBrook Church in Houston, said she enjoyed learning about ministry strategy and the importance of balancing rest, family care and ministry with her Houston cohort. 

She said being at the retreat, surrounded by other women in ministry, reminded her that God is still working despite the challenges they face. 

“One of the most incredible things about being [at retreat] is to be able to sit at a table with these women and be able to pour out all of our broken pieces, then speak life to one another,” Brackett said. “[It’s encouraging] to not only share with people who understand the honor of doing ministry for Christ, but who understand the sacrifice and the cost that comes [with] walking through difficult ministry seasons.” 

Brackett said Texas Baptists’ Women in Ministry Network has been an incredible blessing. She said she is thankful to be a part of an organization that pours into her as she walks through her calling. 

“I look forward to going back [to my church] and jumping in with a newfound sense of confidence, renewal, energy and inspiration for what the Lord has called me to do,” Brackett said.

Trisha Alonzo, a member at Mighty Fortress Church in San Antonio, said that the retreat was timely, as she got the opportunity to share and be encouraged in her ministry experiences during a time called “Circle Stories,” where women shared their experiences, victories, struggles, prayer requests and dreams for their ministries. 

“It’s true that we all walk through some valley lows, but we all got to celebrate our mountain highs in ministry,” Alonzo said. “We got to create a sisterhood, friends that we can do life with from here on out.”

On the last night, the ladies took communion together and had two resort staff members join them. Bennye Bryant, director of Women in Ministry Network, said that was a result of prayer. 

“As I prayed over the plan [for the retreat]... I asked the Lord to do something in this time that we would know it's only him. It is not my planning, not [the ladies] showing up, but what God did. And he did that. The Spirit of God was in the place, so much so it affected the people who were serving us. We had the same servers [every day]. And one of the ladies ended up joining us on our last night when we had communion,” Bryant said. 

Ministers experience breakthrough, importance of abiding

Bryant said the most rewarding part of the Women Strong Retreat was seeing women experience breakthroughs.

“The greatest reward for me was to see these women break through their challenges and what had been holding them back and the burdens that they have on their hearts, and saying that they left them there at Mount Princeton... So my reward is knowing that they saw God and they moved from one place to another of trusting in him,” Bryant said.

Abbott said the most rewarding part of the retreat was seeing pastors recognize the importance of abiding in Jesus and that they are not alone. 

“I heard a lot of pastors also talk about starting to understand the importance of healthy rhythms and rest, and putting rhythms in their calendars, to stop long enough to hear the voice of the shepherd in their life and in their ministry,” Abbott said. “The first night we were there, I read John 15 and the message paraphrase, and then we sang the song ‘Abide.’ And we did that every night, on purpose, just to really drill in our hearts and our souls that is really our strength comes from the Lord.” 

Huddleston encouraged pastors to get involved with Pastor Strong. 

“If you’re a pastor who feels like you’re out there doing this alone, I can’t encourage you enough to join a cohort. You are not alone. You’re just in ministry—and we’re in it together,” Huddleston said. 

To learn more about Pastor Strong and how you can get involved, visit txb.org/strong.