The Rev. Kathlyn James founded the Strength for the Journey retreats in the Pacific Northwest, inspired by a similar model in the Los Angeles area. At the height of the AIDS crisis, James was pastor of a reconciling congregation in Seattle, and had experienced the impact of AIDS on her congregation and community. James and the other members of the Conference Task Force on AIDS knew they had to act. And we could do something about that. Held in beautiful, natural settings, Strength for the Journey is designed to celebrate life and living.
Activities range from hiking and group sports to crafting and learning opportunities.
In these retreats, participants experience the true God that shines through the staff members. His partner, Gene, and the other participants in that first Strength retreat have since died, but Looney returns each year. In the process, he has become a minister himself. Because of the retreats, I have been privileged to see seven individuals come to know Christ as their Savior. United Methodist Church, where he feels loved and accepted so completely that he has become the lay member to annual conference, a member of the staff-parish relations team and a church school teacher.