Life Retreat held on 24-26 April has been described as a spiritually enriching and impactful gathering for church families and leaders within the Central Papua Conference.
According to the CPC Family Life Director, Pastor Bill Robinson, the main purpose and theme of this year’s retreat was to lead families to be “Rooted in the Word, Focused on the Mission.”
He explained that the inspiration behind the retreat came from a desire to strengthen worship, prayer, and fellowship among families across CPC, while also sharing the five-year strategic plan for both the Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) Adventist Family Ministry and CPC Family Ministry. The retreat also provided a platform for joint planning and collaboration among family ministry leaders.
Participation was described as strong and encouraging, with representation from both rural and urban churches within CPC. Family ministry coordinators, pastors, district directors, and church representatives actively engaged throughout the program. Facilitators were also commended for delivering solid and practical content.
Key topics covered during the retreat included:
• God’s Design for Families in this Modern Age (Spiritual Renewal & Mission) – Philippians 4:6–9
• Equipping Leaders for Family Discipleship (Ministry Strategy & Action) – Mark 10:45
• Families as Centers of Mission (Ministry Strategy & Action) – Joshua 24:15
One of the challenges highlighted was ensuring full attendance from all districts, including local church Family Ministry leaders, district coordinators, pastors, and district directors.
Despite this, the overall impact of the retreat was described as powerful, particularly through the presentations and shared experiences of facilitators on family ministry topics.
The most encouraging highlight of the weekend, according to Pr Robinson, was witnessing God’s presence during early morning prayer sessions and the spiritual response that followed the presentations.
Robinson emphasized that the retreat has strengthened relationships among CPC church families and reaffirmed the mission of making homes centers of discipleship and service.
Plans are also underway for follow-up activities to continue strengthening families beyond the retreat experience.
