Experiencing Prayer Days and Short Retreats

U. S. Full Session: September 17-26, 2014. Short Session: September 17-22, 2014.

White Oak Conference Center near JAARS and Charlotte, NC

Lead Facilitators: Dr. Andyand Mrs. Kate Ring, The Seed Company

Author/Coordinator: Dr. Evelyn C. Davis, SIL International Training Consultant

Worship Leaders, Topic Facilitators, and Prayer Coordinators will be announced

Thank you for your interest in experiencing prayer days and short retreats, and also in learning how you can facilitate them for others. In addition, there will be one leadership topic that will show you Jesus’ example as He led others. The time for the training is ten days (full session) or six days (short session). Please note: Arrival time is by noon or early afternoon on the first day (we begin at 3:00 p.m.), and departure is on the last day at 11:00a.m.(after evaluation and prayer). Information is given below, and the application form is on page three. Send your application (only page three)to , (put an underscore between her names). Contact her if you have any questions and/or comments (she will follow up with Andy and Kate Ring if needed).

Location: The White Oak Conference Center is approximately 1½ hours drive from the Charlotte airport, and

airport pickups and transportation to White Oak can be arranged at a reasonable cost. If you need to

arrive early or stay later, we can arrange for you to stay at our JAARS Center near Waxhaw and

transportation can be arranged from there as well. White Oak is about an hour’s drive from JAARS.

If flying, you will need to arrange your flight to arrive in Charlotte by noonor earlier on Wednesday,

September 17, to allow for a lunch stop on your way to White Oak, and arrival there in time for you to

get settled in your room and ready for our session at 3:00 p.m. There will be introductions, sharing, and

an overview of the training. Our first meal is Wednesday evening, and then we will have prayer and

communion. If you can’t arrange a flight to arrive Wednesday morning, as noted above you can make

arrangements to arrive on Tuesday and stay at the JAARS Center Tuesday night(contact Evelyn Davis about this).

On Friday, September 26, we will conclude with a time of evaluation, communion, and prayer, and

leave White Oak at 11:00 a.m. Since it is a 1½ hour drive to the Charlotte airport, be sure to arrange

your flight home mid-afternoon or later.

Schedule: Day One—Afternoon and Evening: We will begin at 3:00 p.m. with introductions, sharing, and an

overview of the sessions. After dinner we will have prayer and communion.

Day Two: Experience A Spiritual Inventory and Spiritual Markers.

Day Three: Use Personal Worship as your morning devotional, and then work in a small group led by

a staffmember to experience (and then study and prepare to present) one of the other topics.

Days Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Nine: Each group presents the topic that they have prepared.

All participants will experience each topic, and will also have an opportunity to practice how to

use the topics later.

Day Eight: Ateaching session and video designed to prepare you for praying with and for individuals

and groups when you return to your place of service.There may be a youth and family option in the afternoon.

Day Ten: Closing worship time, evaluation, sharing, and praying. Departure approx. 11:00 a.m.

Other: Quality time will be allowed for you to peruse the books and other resources that will be available.

There will be a few evening activities, including an overview of how to lead prayer times, two fun

nights, and sharing what God has done during your time of prayer and reflection. There will also be

opportunities for appointment(s) with the prayer coordinators.

An Exciting Development: We now have an interactive website, and participants who take the Prayer Training

can make it into a Prayer Life-Style! We will introduce the website during the training sessions, and

as participants return to their place of ministry, they will be able to share through this website how

God is using prayer in their own lives and, through them, in others’ lives. The website will also serve

as a prayer hub, and the place where all former participants and staff can access updated materials.

Cost: Full Session:$795.00 for accommodations (double occupancy), meals, a notebook with the topics,

copies of the retreat manuals, books, and other basic resources. There is a daily surcharge of $18.00

for single occupancy, and $100.00 of the above amount is required for registration. Short Session: If

you prefer to attend days One through Six (Wed 17th – Mon 22nd), the cost is $585.00. Registration is

$100.00 of that amount. If you need scholarship help, please contact your church and/or mission agency.

To Register: The number of participants is limited. Persons who attend must be recommended by theirbranch

or entity (if WBT/ SIL), or by their mission, church, or agency (if not WBT/SIL). Fill out the form

on page 3, and return onlyp.3 electronically to . Send it soon to reserve a space!

Overview: Prayer Days and Short Retreats

Author: Evelyn C. Davis, Ed. D., SIL International Training Consultant

The Topics for Prayer Days (and the Leadership Topic)

A half-day or full-day of reflection and prayer begins with worship and singing, then there is a brief overview of the topic the group has chosen. Handouts describe the topic, with Bible verses for reference, thought questions for application, articles, and a special Resourcesbooklet. There is time for personal reflection and prayer, then the option of praying with someone else or continuing with individual reflection. There is a time of closure, with an opportunity to share.

. A Spiritual Inventory and Spiritual Markers

It is helpful to identify spiritual markers in our lives—times when we have encountered God’s call or His direction. Then when we face new options and/or decisions, we can review our spiritual markers to be reminded of the context of the activity of God in our lives—His perspective for our past, our present, and our future.

. Personal Worship

Individuals can use these guidelines (with scriptures) that focus on the following steps: worship; attentiveness; approach the throne; submit to God; confession and forgiveness; prayer for personal protection; guidance; special needs; petitions for yourself, family, friends, church, others; put on Christ and commit the day to Him; walk in triumph, freedom, and safety.

. Finding A Rhythm of Rest

We struggle with trying to find time for a real ‘Sabbath’—a time to take our hands from the plow, let our work lay fallow, and let God and others take care of things. However, it is finding that balance point at which, having rested, we do our work with greater ease and joy, and bring healing and delight to our endeavors—for when we are refreshed we can give more generously to others. Jesus found special times to be with the Father, and to pray. May we follow His example.

. Life Tasks: Strength for the Journey

There are six life tasks that all adults encounter, with a different emphasis on each during the various decades of life. You will focus on the one(s) that you choose. The tasks are: The Self, Identity (Who am I?); Relationships, Intimacy (Who will be with me?); Work, Accomplishment (What will I do?); Health, Wholeness, Freedom (Can I achieve balance?); Faith, Spiritual Vitality (Will my journey be meaningful?); and Commitment, Contribution (Can I make a difference?).

. Our Time of Need

What are you currently dealing with? Various points of need are listed (with related Bible verses) and there is space to add other needs. You will choose which area(s) to focus on, and pray about. Examples are: unmet needs; struggling with relinquishment; disappointments and discouragements; going through a barren time; health issues; family concerns; praying for a lost friend or a family member; carrying a heavy burden.

. Prayer Areas and Issues

This topic focuses on specific prayer areas and issues such as bearing fruit; Bible study and prayer; finances; future direction and decisions; health, home and family; relationships; rest and renewal; restoration of life and ministry; seeking the Lord’s power, strength, and wisdom; service; and submitting to Him. There are related Bible verses, questions for reflection, and short readings.

. The Servant Leader(a booklet forthe leadership topic)

Jesus demonstrated the fact that a leader is called to be a servant. The materials describe what leaders must do to follow Jesus’ example. First there must be a servant heart—leadership character; then a servant head—leadership methods; next servant hands—leadership behavior, and most important, servant habits—leadership commitment and renewal.

The Topics for Short Retreats

These two short retreats can be offered to groups over a weekend, or in sessions over a period of several weeks.

. Life Passages and The Missionary Experience

How do our missionary experiences impact on the usual life passages? And how can we find the necessary joy and strength to sustain us? An overview of this retreat will be experienced on the same day the group focuses on the Reflection and Prayer topic Life Tasks. A set of guidelines for leading the retreat is included with the manual.

. New Testament Images of Adult Growth and Change

What can we discover about the adult learning process from Biblical images? They have important implications for ways we discover spiritual truth, and how our faith can develop and grow. The six images are New Wine, The Body, The Blowing Wind, The Yoke, The Grain of Wheat, and The Bread and Cup.

Let’s Pray! (booklet) Authors: Fran Woods; Chesley (Tiny) and Ruth Ray

There will be instruction in facilitating ministry prayer, following the Bible’s strong foundation. There is a great need for healing and renewal in the church and in society. Steps to follow in the facilitation of ministry prayer are listed with example prayers, worksheetsand also articles and resources, so that participants will be prepared to facilitate prayer both for individuals and in groups.

Application Form

Experiencing Prayer Days and Short Retreats

September 17-26, 2014 (Full Session) or September 17-22, 2014 (Short Session)

White Oak Conference Center near JAARS and Charlotte, NC

Return this application form electronically (send ONLY this page).

Please ask the persons sending your references to forward them electronically.

General Information(use more space if needed)

Name ______Serving Where? ______

Address ______E-mail ______

Land Line phone ______Mobile phone ______Fax Number ______

If the session of your preference is full by the time we receive your application and references, are you interested in

attending the U. S. session in 2015? ______

Is a double room acceptable? ______Or do you prefer a single room? ______($18.00daily surcharge for a single)

How Long a Member of Wycliffe/SIL? ______How Long Serving in Current Entity? ______

If not Wycliffe/SIL, work with ______For How Long? ______

Current Job ______For How Long? ______

Describe your job responsibilities ______

What do you like best about your current job? ______

What do you wish could be different? ______

In what other places have you served? ______

What job(s) did you have? ______

Training Focus (use more space if needed)

What is your background in education and/or training (formal and/or informal course work, seminars, etc.)?

______

Do you have a background in teaching and/or the delivery of training? ______

What interests you most in considering the possibility of attending the Prayer Days and Retreats sessions?

______

Could you use these materials in your current position? ______

If not in your current position, how do you envision that this training might be useful? ______

Are you willing to make a commitment to try to begin offering days of prayer after the training? ______

The Prayer Web Site

Are you willing to make an on-going commitment to interact with other participants on the prayer website? ______.

Note: If you have limited computer or internet access, we can work with you in other ways to include you in the on-going ministry of sharing your prayer days with other participants.

Finances

Are you applying for theFull Session($795.00)or theShort Session ($585.00)? ______

Do you need financial assistance? Have you contacted yourchurch and/or mission? If so, please explain______

List the name (and number) of the account that should be charged the $100.00 registration fee after your acceptance, and also

for any balance due at the time of the training ______

If you are not a member of SIL or Wycliffe, please mail a check for the $100.00 registration fee (made out to SIL International) to Evelyn C. Davis, 6423 Fellowship Circle #C, Waxhaw, NC 28173 and mark for September2014 P & R Registration.

References

Ask two persons to write a reference for you. At least one should be an administrator or supervisor at your work, and/or your pastor, who expresses encouragement and support for your preparation re facilitating prayer days and retreats, and who speaks to the issue of how you could use this training in the future. Please list the individuals that you are requesting to send thereferences, and ask them to send the references electronically to .

Name ______Position ______