To learn about the retreat read the
magazine article and
look at testimonies from past participants. You
may also view the four-minute video. The
retreat
schedule includes worship, life-changing speakers,
small group
discussions and prayer, Q&A with missionaries, bookstore, personal reflection and prayer.
Is the cost a hindrance to you coming? Don’t let money keep you from
discovering your journey into God’s plan. If you don’t have the funds, but you
do have the desire to learn more about missions and how to bring the glory of
God to the nations, then ask the Lord to provide.
Go to your pastor and request a meeting. Share your desire to
explore becoming a missionary and ask for financial help you go to the retreat. Even if
you have only been attending for a short time, they will probably still want to
help you. Also consider a friend in your church. Invite them to
invest in you and your potential life in missions.
Cast a large vision; don’t just ask them to pay for a retreat. You are a worthy
investment. They are not giving you a handout, and you are not begging. The
Great Commission is the most worthy vocation on the planet, and investing in
potential missionaries is a strategic investment in God’s Kingdom. This is their
offering to the Lord, and you receive it from the Lord. If you have this
perspective then you will understand why the Apostle Paul asked the Lord to provide and then
asked people to give. The body of Christ is God’s instrument.
Checks are tax-deductible when made payable to Finishers Project and mailed to
the attention of Paul Erdmann, P.O. Box 12649, Chandler, AZ 85248-0028.
Special thanks for the above comments from John with The BodyBuilders,
a ministry that gives vision, equipping, and mobilization to the body of Christ
to help fulfill the Great Commission. For more attend their training seminar
"Boot Camp for Personal Support Raising." Visit
www.TheBodyBuilders.net.
Prospective missionaries come from a variety of ages and life stages. A
key part of the retreat are the small groups which meet four times
during the weekend with the same missionary coaches. We have discussion
groups for high school seniors, college students, young adults,
mid-lifers, baby boomers – anyone willing to explore becoming a
missionary. We do not have accommodations or a program for children.
Ask God to prepare your heart. Read most or
all of the first nine articles in the workbookSend Me: Your Journey to
the Nations. If you have the book see pages 15-32. Or read these articles
online in the section titled
Charting the Course.
Or you can download the entire book as a
17 MB pdf file and print pdf pages 7-24.
Invite friends and family to join you in prayer:
- Pray for the prospective missionaries coming to connect with the Lord,
experienced missionaries, and each other.
- Pray for clear minds, open hearts, and physical health and endurance of each
participant.
- Pray for safe travel for all involved.
- Pray for wisdom, grace, and patience for the speakers and staff.
- Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send forth workers into His harvest fields.
This is just a weekend so be practical,
but don't forget your basics. These items you will certainly need.
- Bible
- Notebook & Pen
- Soap, Shampoo, etc.
- Casual clothes only
- Any questions you want to ask the missions coaches
- Money to buy snacks or books (checks or cash, no credit cards). If you have already have the workbook Send
Me bring it. (Send Me may also be available at the retreat to
purchase.)
- For Oklahoma retreat, bring your own pillow, sheets and blanket (or sleeping bag). Married couples should
pack separately since sleeping arrangements are bunks in a guys dorm and bunks in a girls dorm.
- Optional: a digital camera if you're willing to take some
shots that could be added to our website.
- Coaches who have been asked to lead part of the concert of prayer bring
thumb drive with one slide. Here is an
example.
- Print this page with directions below to the retreat location
(Hint: click on all answers you need on paper and then use your browser
print button.)
Everyone who participates in the retreat will stay overnight on site even if you do live nearby.
Guys will have a bunk bed in the guys dorm; gals will have a bunk bed in the gals dorm.
Bring your own pillow, sheets and blanket (or sleeping bag). Married couples should pack separately.
The retreat begins on Friday at 7 pm with check-in 5-7 pm.
(Missions coaches check-in a little earlier and meet together Friday at 5 pm.)
Dinner is not available Friday night so eat before you come. The
retreat concludes around 12.30 pm on Sunday after cleanup and Sunday lunch is not
provided. (Missions coaches debrief and leave Sunday at 2 pm). We
will all have three light meals together on Saturday and continental breakfast together on Sunday.
Please select a flight that arrives Friday before 5pm and departs Sunday after 3pm.
(Missions coaches should select a flight that arrives Friday around 3pm and departs Sunday after 4.30pm.)
To reserve a seat in the volunteer vehicle between the airport and retreat center please
indicate your interest via the registration form and be ready to give some money for gas.
John McVay (918) 261-7363 will coordinate picking up the Journey Deepens participants at
the airport Friday. Please text or call IMMEDIATELY after your plane touches down with the
name of your airline. Then proceed to pick up your bags and meet at the curb of the terminal you flew into.
About a week before the retreat begins we'll send email addresses of others coming from your
area so you can consider sharing a ride together.
Before you plan your departure time take into account rush hour traffic and any time zone change.
For the Oklahoma retreat we are renting the lodge at Camp Loughridge 10 minutes
west of Tulsa and 25 minutes from the Tulsa airport. For driving directions enter your starting
address from inside this link to
4900 Oak Leaf Drive South, Tulsa, OK 74131.
The entrance to the camp is on the right side on 71st Street as you travel one mile west from the
intersection of 71st Street with 33rd W Ave. Turn right at Camp Loughridge sign and then drive
one more mile through the camp. At the end of the main road this retreat will be held at "The Lodge."
If it looks like you will arrive Friday after 8.30 pm or if you need directions please text or call
John McVay (918) 261-7363. Dinner is not served Friday so you may want to eat in advance.
Remember: space is limited at the retreat and pre-registration is required.
For the Georgia retreat we are using the conference facilities of Operation Mobilization
just 20 minutes from the Atlanta, Georgia airport. For driving directions enter your starting address
from inside this link to 285 Lynnwood Ave, Tyrone, Georgia.
If it looks like you will arrive Friday after 8.30 pm or if you need directions please call Ross McAfee
(770) 316-3260. Dinner is not served Friday so you may want to eat in advance. Remember: space is
limited at the retreat and pre-registration is required.
If you're driving from Birmingham take I-20 east. Then exit #10A onto I-285 south. Then take I-85 south.
Take exit #61 which is highway 74 and then proceed south. Exit onto Senoia Road and continue south. Turn right
onto Lynnwood Avenue. Follow signs to Operation Mobilization and The Journey Deepens.
If you're driving from the north or east sides of Atlanta take I-285 south towards Atlanta International
Airport. Then take I-85 south. Take exit #61 which is highway 74 and then proceed south. Exit onto Senoia
Road and continue south. Turn right onto Lynnwood Avenue. Follow signs to Operation Mobilization and
The Journey Deepens.
If you're driving from Montgomery take I-85 north. Then exit #56, turn right onto Collingsworth/Palmetto Road.
Turn right onto Senoia Road and continue south. Turn right onto Lynnwood Avenue. Follow signs to Operation Mobilization
and The Journey Deepens.
For the Pennsylvania retreat we are using the WEC Center in Fort Washington. If it looks like you will
arrive Friday after 8.30 pm or if you need directions please call Bob Gerdsen (215) 485.7807. Dinner is not served
Friday so you may want to eat in advance. Remember: space is limited at the retreat and pre-registration is required.
Note most GPS directions will not be correct since Pennsylvania Avenue in front of WEC has new construction.
Use these instructions instead: Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike and go to Exit 339 which is the first exit East
of the Blue Route (I476). Take Exit 339 - Fort Washington Ambler/Philadelphia. When you exit the toll booth,
get into the left lane and make a LEFT at the first light on Pennsylvania Ave. (sign says to Oreland) which is
0.03 mile after the booth. Pennsylvania Ave. will curve around and go under 309 (a huge underpass) – the WEC
entrance will be the second driveway on the left (0.6 mile after the turn). If you come to a light, you missed
the driveway. The driveway has two large stone pillars at the entrance. Follow the road up to the top of the hill.