Retreat, Take Me Away

Raise your hand if you’re old enough to remember those classic Calgon bubble bath commercials. You know the ones—an overwhelmed mom juggling dinner, noise, chaos, and one last nerve… until she finally cries out, “Calgon, take me away!” and suddenly she’s transported to a peaceful bubble bath, far from the madness.

In the world of missionaries, retreats can feel a little like that.

Retreat, take me away!

Over the past few weeks, most of the Sowers4Pastors staff has had the opportunity to do just that — step away from the constant motion of ministry and spend intentional time being refreshed.

“As Christians, especially as missionaries, it is important to stay close to God,” Brandy shared. “We try to take the chance to attend retreats whenever possible.”

There is an organization that hosts retreats for foreign missionaries twice a year, and S4P’s American staff members usually attend one of them. Mary Faith recently participated in one of these retreats, and another will be held in the coming months for Rachel and Brandy to attend.

At the same time, local churches organize retreats as well. This past weekend, Alejandro, Secia, Brandy, and Rachel traveled to Tegucigalpa for a church retreat, while other Honduran staff members attended one closer to home in Gracias.

Different locations. Same purpose. To pause. To rest. To be filled.

Brandy took a moment to reflect on why that matters so much. “We are always pouring into other people,” he said. “We help more than 2,000 kids. We pour into pastors. We just keep pouring and pouring throughout the year. It’s important for us to also take time to be filled spiritually.”

And this season? It’s been a full one.

Backpack distributions. Coffee harvest. Launching a new program. Starting the Sunday school teacher training. Good work. Meaningful work. But still — work that requires energy, focus, and heart.

Which is exactly why stepping away matters.

After his recent retreat, Brandy summed it up simply: “It was refreshing. I feel like I can keep going now. And I encourage others to remember to take time for God. Take the time to seek the Lord, and He will renew you. He will refresh everything.”

There’s something powerful about that reminder.

We don’t have to wait until we’re completely drained to pause. We don’t have to earn rest by running ourselves into the ground first.

Sometimes, the most faithful thing we can do is step away long enough to be refilled.

As Psalm 51:10 reminds us:

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Because unlike a bubble bath commercial, real renewal doesn’t come from escaping life. It comes from returning to the One who sustains it. And if you’re wondering whether it’s worth the time? Go ahead — try it. It’s even better than Calgon.

- posted by Christi