Reflections and Thoughts from Pastoral Day-Retreat
Rev. Anson Ann (Good Shepherd Richmond Church)
I received an email from CCST Vancouver in mid-July, informing me about a day-retreat designed for Cantonese pastors in September, titled “Healthy Shepherds, Healthy Churches: The Importance of Self-Care for Pastors.” I thought to myself, “It’s time to slow down and be still,” and I immediately signed up without hesitation. That day was a Monday. Weary in body and with a mind full of worries only a pastor could understand, I arrived at the UBC Golf Club. I was eager to learn from the experienced speaker, Dr. Vincent Poon, and to seek his advice on my pastoral challenges. However, he quickly clarified the focus of the retreat: we needed to reclaim that space that belongs to God and ourselves, to listen to His voice and engage in conversation with the Lord.
Dr. Poon first led us in meditation on the first chapter of Jeremiah, revisiting the experience of how God called the prophet. He encouraged us to write a letter to the Lord, expressing our inner concerns and needs. Afterward, we had an hour of walking on our own. As I walked along the forest path, I poured out my heart to the Lord, and He responded to each of my inner questions through Scripture. What moved me the most was this verse: “I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12 NIV) The Lord attentively watches over everything, and He will keep it until His will is fulfilled. Therefore, as long as we walk faithfully in His ways, we need not feel lonely or discouraged. After the walk, I felt a weight lifted from my soul, filled with the Lord's comfort and reaffirmation of His calling for me. In the morning, I experienced spiritual renewal, and in the afternoon, I learned how to care for my physical and mental health. Being able to draw close to the Lord in a quiet environment and openly share with other pastors had nourished my body, mind, and spirit, what I received from the treat exceeded my expectations. I thank the Lord for His provision and appreciate the thoughtful arrangements made by CCST Vancouver. I look forward to participating again next time.
A rich and Grateful Encounter
I arrived in Vancouver about nine months ago, leaving behind over a decade of ministry to live in an unfamiliar place with my young son. I have two goals: to focus on caring for and teaching my son, and to pursue further studies. Returning to seminary after twenty years, I initially thought I could rest and enjoy campus life, especially compared to my busy ministry days. However, I’ve found myself occupied with many things in the past six months, with little time to slow down for quiet reflection. When I learned that the seminary was offering a pastoral day-retreat, I felt like this is a wonderful opportunity to spend a day in quiet communion with God.
During the first part of the day, the speaker helped us go into quietly reflecting, walking, and conversing with God. I was able to honestly share my struggles and feelings with my Heavenly Father, which was indeed a precious experience. After lunch, the speaker shared insights on the health of body, mind, and spirit. I wrote a letter to God, more openly expressing my emotions and concerns. As I reread that letter, I saw my own reflection and heard God's guidance and messages, which is incredibly rich and fulfilling. Although the retreat time was short, it was a profoundly grateful and restful experience.
Precious Time for "Self-Care"
Li Kwan Shuhua
I am grateful to have participated in this day-retreat focused on "self-care." During my time alone with God, I reflected on and counted the footprints He has left in my life, I was able to see His guidance clearly. After the session whereby I walked alone in the nature, I wrote a letter to my Heavenly Father. This deepened my understanding of the theme of the retreat and allowed me to respond to the Lord’s grace toward me, enjoying the joy of His presence.
Additionally, through interactions with other pastors, we shared with each other’s joys and struggles in ministry, and we offered support and prayers for one another, which is truly valuable. Through this retreat, I realized that self-care is about creating space in my heart for God's love to flow, allow God to nourish and inspire my heart and spirit, this clarifies my calling once again. Ultimately, it has strengthened my relationship with both the Lord and others.