Pastors and wives relax, connect at AZMN retreat

At the Pastors and Wives Retreat in July, participating Arizona ministry couples had just two jobs: Relax and make friends.

From July 11-13, The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park hosted 164 ministry couples from 108 churches across the state for the fourth Pastors and Wives Retreat, according to Jessica Barker, an administrative assistant for the Arizona Mission Network’s Church Life Team.

Every three years, the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists hosts this retreat to give pastors and their wives an opportunity to connect — the theme for this year’s retreat — with God, each other and other ministry couples.

“We’ve discovered over the years the loneliness of pastors in our network,” said Monty Patton, associate executive director of the Arizona Mission Network. “One of the reasons why we do this retreat is so guys and their wives can meet other couples and develop some kind of connection that will flourish into relationships and friendships.”

That’s why the retreat was light on programming, with plenty of time to nap, lounge by the pool or get food with friends, new or old. The network also gifted couples with $100 each for a date night and breakfasts, along with pool bags and beach towels.

Scheduled programming included a Thursday evening game night; times of worship, prayer and teaching on Friday and Saturday morning; and a movie on Friday night. The band from the church Tierra Fertil in Yuma led worship in English and Spanish. And on Friday morning, Ben and Lynley Mandrell shared some of their own marriage and ministry story. Ben Mandrell is the president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources.

There were also fellowship opportunities for Hispanic pastors and chaplains.

“It’s so refreshing to be around people who just understand,” said Elesea Russo, whose husband, John Russo, is the lead pastor at Sabino Road Baptist Church in Tucson. “We have similar funny stories and we have had similar challenges in raising our children and loving on our families and serving in ministry, so it’s nice to come from that place of sameness.”

Andrew and Caitlin Marchbanks also appreciated the opportunity to connect with other ministry couples and look forward to potential partnerships between churches as a result. Andrew is the executive pastor at First Southern Baptist Church at Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale, and Caitlin works on staff as a secretary.

For Caitlin, with a new baby, it was especially valuable to connect with older pastors’ wives who could share about their own experiences raising a healthy family while ministering to a church, she said.

The retreat also gave the Marchbanks time together.

“Since we both work at the church, so much of the time we spend together is at work, and when we get home, most of what we end up talking about and thinking about and dwelling on is ministry-related,” Andrew said. “So this set aside time … was really nice for us, with this expectation that you’re not worrying about ministry or work, you’re just enjoying each other and being with other couples.”

The retreat costs about $150,000 to put on, with the Arizona Mission Offering contributing about $22,000 per year. Couples paid $245 to participate. For the network, the emotional and spiritual health of pastors is vital to ministry throughout the state.

“A healthy leader will lead a healthy church,” Patton said. “The church will only be as healthy as its leaders. That’s a reality.”
John Russo from Sabino Road Baptist Church agrees.

“I think friendships really matter, and you’re not going to grow with people that you don’t know or care about,” he said. “Any time relationships are forged, I think that’s helpful for the kingdom of God.”

Johanna Willett, a freelance writer living in Tucson, is a member of Mountain View Baptist Church, Tucson.