My sister, Joan, never wanted to go to any retreats because she was of the opinion that a Christian should never retreat but always advance.

Today, she is not in any active church ministry, nor is she regular in church.

To retreat is not a bad thing, as any smart army personnel would tell you. In a combat situation, to retreat is a good strategy so that the soldiers have time to regroup, re-assess the situation and to advance more intelligently.

The WWF has done 5 Silent Retreats this year. I believe that Silent retreats bring us to a closer encounter with God. We hear a clear, direct word from His heart to ours in the silence, as we wait unhurriedly for Him to speak. Many who came to these Silent Retreats testify that they finally hear God for themselves.

Next year, we’ll have Soul Retreats.

While Silent Retreats lead us into a closer encounter with God, Soul Retreats bring us to



God is unable to break in upon us with His healing truth until our hearts are found in the attitude of passionate, persevering prayer.(Jas 4:1-17)

It is passion that wins the world for Christ, and passion has to be stoked (Jer. 20:9). Being with like-minded Christians in a retreat stokes passion.

Passion is not just an elevated emotion. Passion is designed by God to move His purpose forward.

A Christian who has consuming passion is:
Convincing
Compelling
Contagious
Courageous

Let us all get ready for a Year of Great Passion in 2007!