Kingdom Living includes joining Jesus’ mission in the world, through his Church. Healthy churches who make disciples have healthy leaders.
And healthy leaders function in teams. One way we build strong teams is through intentional time together. We carve out devoted time to build cohesion, listen to the Spirit, and plan for the future.
Read on for stories of two congregations who held annual planning retreats. Learn more about strategic planning retreats here.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Faithful God, we thank you for guiding the Annual Planning Meeting and for the fruitful conversations and united vision it produced. We praise you for the energy and willingness of the younger members who stepped up to serve, bringing fresh life, and hope to the gathering. Bless every plan made and every person who contributed, that this coming year may reflect your wisdom, love, and purpose. May this spirit of collaboration continue to shape the life of your Church.
A heartfelt thank you to our special guest, National Director Marshall Dube, for your guidance and encouragement. We are also deeply grateful for the support of the National President of the Men’s Fellowship Ministry, Pastor X. Mpande, and his Organizing Secretary, Mr. Dabengwa Senior, who kindly hosted us at his lovely home.
The session was filled with fruitful deliberations and a shared vision for the year ahead. It was more than a meeting — it was a day of true fellowship, productivity, and joy. Here’s to a purposeful year ahead!
By Vuyile Mpofu, Pastor
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Durham, North Carolina, US
The Durham church plant held a three-night retreat for our core team. It was a priority to include the caregivers on our team, so we rented a house that could accommodate the entire team plus children and elderly parents.
We bonded over cooking together and sharing meals. We scheduled downtime for rest and recreation. And of course, we played games and shared much laughter.
The bulk of each day was devoted to planning, though. We performed exercises that demonstrated the variety of gifts represented and how that works together for a healthy team. One exercise that was particularly life-giving was naming the strengths we see in one another. Left is an example of one of the “affirmation boards.” (The name has been removed.)
We plan to hold a team retreat every year.
By Elizabeth Mullins, Plant team member
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
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