New pastors, church planters participate in retreats in Phoenix

Twelve Arizona Southern Baptist pastors and their families who are new to the state or whose churches recently affiliated with the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists participated in a New Pastors Retreat June 2-3 at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix.

At the same time and place, Send Network Arizona church planters from outside of Phoenix, accompanied by their families, enjoyed a time of relaxation in a Church Planters Retreat.

The New Pastors Retreat included an hour-long orientation with AZMN Executive Director David Johnson, Associate Executive Director Monty Patton and Eddy Pearson, evangelism/discipleship facilitator. The new pastors and church planters also participated in a joint dessert fellowship.

“The response we got from the new pastors was that it was a great event to get to know some of the state staff, hear the vision, see where their Cooperative Program money is going and learn about the benefit of being part of a network of churches that makes disciples in Arizona and around the world,” Patton said. “Having the Church Planters Retreat at the same time gave the new pastors in our state an opportunity to see, speak with, and potentially develop relationships with not just new pastors in the state but also church planters.”

The pastors also enjoyed that the retreats were for the whole family, not just the pastors, because the wives got a chance to meet each other, Patton said.

Elizabeth Young is director of communications for the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists

Nancy Patton, a freelance photographer living in Peoria, is a member of Mountain Ridge Baptist Church, Glendale.