On the Importance of Retreat
By: Rachel McAlister
One of my heart's deepest desires is to know and to be known–to be loved in relationship with others for who I am. That’s the beautiful thing about Jesus, isn’t it? He pulls us in and loves us unconditionally, meeting us where we are at, despite the baggage we carry. There is a deep sense of belonging, being known, and being loved in the community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I’d like to suggest that it’s for this reason that so many of us enter vocational ministry. We’ve encountered the Living God, been transformed by his love, and have committed our lives to “the Jesus way.” We want others to experience what we have: the abundance and freedom in knowing the person and work of Jesus.
Maybe this is why it can feel disorienting to us as pastors and ministers when we find that, yes, we’re known and loved by God, but that it is much harder to be truly known and understood among his people–especially the people we’ve been called to lead. The weight of others’ expectations hang heavy, and finding community seems harder than it used to be. It’s easy to find yourself wondering, “Who do I truly share my life with? What does spiritual nourishment look like in this season?”
I exist in the unique space where I have lived out vocational ministry life and rhythms, while at the same time being married to a pastor. Together we’ve seen the beauties and challenges of ministry, the wins and losses of living in obedience to what God has called us to. Our family has built our lives around serving the local church and our surrounding community, but we’ve found that it is easy to get swept away in the responsibilities of serving – it feels good to be needed, doesn’t it? – and forget that our souls need nourishment too. I have come to realize that overarching Sabbath rhythms need to be prioritized if we are going to pastor well for the long haul.
When my husband, Nick, and I stepped through the doors of The Pastorate’s Pastors Retreat last fall, we felt like we could breathe. Yes, the air was indeed clearer on the small BC island, but the sense of ease came from knowing that we were amongst friends who knew the kind of life we lived and the kind of responsibilities we held. We didn’t have to explain how our work week operates differently than most; we didn’t have to explain that our job and our community somehow co-exist–and that that, in and of itself, can be complicated; we didn’t have to explain that we have committed our lives to following Jesus, but at times struggle to sustain faith for the days ahead. There was a sense of relief in knowing that we could breathe deeply and that we didn’t have to justify ourselves or explain anything about our ministry context. We were allowed to be cared for without carrying everyone else’s burdens. We experienced a shared sense of staying the course together, despite being travel-weary. In all honesty, I didn’t realize how much I needed the retreat from everyday rhythms and responsibilities till we were actually away. The Pastorate retreat helped us connect with that overarching Sabbath rhythm, and reinforced the truth that healthy ministry flows from healthy pastors.
Our schedule was thoughtfully laid out: there was space to rest, to take that holy nap, to be outside in nature, to engage in conversation over a meal, or belly laugh over Trivia night. I’ll admit that our competitive sides emerged, and we found ourselves more passionate about trivia than we had ever been! There was time for spiritual nourishment through speaking and worship and food. The team was intentional in their care for us as ministry leaders, and it was so special to be on the receiving end of such love.
“There is such richness in coming together and getting to know pastors from around Canada – to hear about how God is moving in local churches – to pick up a sense of theme: “What is God doing in the Canadian church?” To feel the wonder: “Wow, I get to partner with what God is doing across Canada!” And then the encouragement: “I am not alone!””
One of my favourite elements of our time away was the time of connection with other pastors and ministry spouses. The purposeful interruption that comes along with retreat opens our eyes to see past our everyday rhythms and wakes us up to the things God is doing outside the walls of our context. This is a very good thing. There is such richness in coming together and getting to know pastors from around Canada – to hear about how God is moving in local churches – to pick up a sense of theme: “What is God doing in the Canadian church?” To feel the wonder: “Wow, I get to partner with what God is doing across Canada!” And then the encouragement: “I am not alone!” There is beauty and depth in sitting around the ecumenical table, breaking bread together, sharing life with one another, and celebrating the goodness of God. Receiving a broader understanding of what is happening across the nation in a variety of contexts, and growing our community of pastoral friends who can support each other was its own gift. I was reminded that I can be known and understood in a profound way that is not contingent on how many days I’ve known someone. I was also reminded that it is its own spiritual nourishment to forge intentional relational connections with those who are invested in the well-being of the capital ‘C’ Church and those who want to see you flourish.
If I can offer any encouragement to others in ministry, it’s this: take the time to retreat from your regular rhythms. There is something holy about rest. Our good work requires strong legs to carry us into the future, those legs are strengthened through both exercise and rest. The discipline of retreat reminds us that our service of others must flow from our relationship with God. It offers us moments to prioritize our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, helping us reorient our hearts toward the One who called us in the first place, to remember that our worth is not measured by our productivity but by our identity as children of God, to step away from the noise and demands of ministry so that we might hear His still, small voice more clearly, to cultivate a rhythm of renewal that sustains us, and ultimately, to return to our work with fresh vision, deeper compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that the best ministry flows not from exhaustion but from a place of abiding in Christ.
Pastor, take a moment to invest in your relationship with God, in your marriage, and in yourself. Retreating together gives us, as the old hymn goes, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Rachel McAlister
Rachel McAlister is an educator and musician living in Abbotsford, British Columbia, with her husband, Nick, and two children. She has served at Abbotsford Pentecostal Assembly for the past four years, and is passionate about following Jesus, deeply committed to the local & global church and loves to see people empowered in their skills and giftings to serve the Lord with their whole being. In her spare time, you can find Rachel attempting to figure out this CrossFit thing, leading worship, and sharing meals around the table with friends.
Join us on Retreat in November
Our next retreat, open to all pastors, will be hosted at Barnabas Landing, British Columbia on November 4-7, 2025. Submit your name and email to be notified when retreat registration opens.
