On October 20th, Connections Pastor Adam Lanter lead a small group of 12 South Side Christian Church men on a spiritual retreat to the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in Oregon, Illinois. This 640-acre, year-round retreat and camping center is in the heart of the Rock River Valley of Northwestern Illinois. Three other groups from various denominations were also there for the weekend. Two groups were middle school age; one group was in high school… we were the ‘Old Man’ group.
We met on Friday evening to get our bearings and review our goals during our time there. After receiving our goody-bags (with flashlights) and taking a short night hike it was time to bed down and get rested up for Saturday. The next morning found us sharing an outdoor prayer with the other groups prior to entering the dining hall.
After a short morning hike to one of the rocky outcroppings, we met – surrounded by God’s beautiful autumn foliage – in a prayer circle and shared our personal stories. We learned more about each other, how we came to be at South Side, and how we viewed our relationship with God. It was a calming, emotional discussion representing a variety of life experiences.
When lunchtime came it was our group’s turn to be first in line. The food was delicious, plentiful, and much appreciated. A short hike around the lake was followed by an exhilarating ride on the 1,200-foot zip line, complete with safety harnesses and helmets for all. Starting at the high point and descending almost 120-feet in elevation at 40 mph, each rider was brought to a jarring halt, just ask Adam.
An afternoon discussion group under the falling leaves brought more prayer, discussion and ideas for becoming better disciples, praying, and creating a stronger bond with the Holy Spirit. There was also discussion centering on a ‘how-to-pray’ list Adam had presented earlier that day.
Later afternoon found us on our own, with 4 of us taking a short trip to discover the best coffee & chocolate vendors in Oregon, Illinois. Other members of our group went for solo meditation, one-on-one sharing of ideas, etc. A visit to the on-site archery range resulted in Adam showing how not to ‘knock’ (load) an arrow on a left-handed bow.
The evening meal was followed by a short trip to the Castle Rock Overlook scenic-viewpoint on the slowly flowing Rock River. After dark, gathering around a roaring campfire provided the third opportunity of the day to join in thanking our Creator for the chance to be a soldier in His army with the goal of sharing His message. We exchanged ideas on being better Christians and bringing others into the world of Christ to experience His ultimate reward.
Sunday morning after leaving the LOMC campus found us transporting our small convoy to visit Heartland Community Church in Rockford. In 2005 this now mega-church bought the vacant Colonial Village Mall for $7.85 million and spent more than $13 million renovating and converting the property. The church’s average total attendance in Rockford is reported to be more than 5,500 each weekend. Although it is very impressive, we all agreed that we missed being at South Side on Sunday morning with our regular ministry team.
The camaraderie shared that weekend between these 13 men is something that seems to be lacking in the male psyche. To sit down, verbalize, share feelings and develop ideas on improving ourselves needs to be something that happens more frequently. After all, what better goal could there be than becoming closer to our creator?
