Without this vision, staff and volunteers could easily get the impression that our mission is simply to please people so they will return. That's the bottom line question. Retreat and conference ministry ties directly to our mission even when we are serving groups beyond United Methodist congregations and beyond religiously affiliated groups. Too often, however, our motivation is more a financial strategy rather than a calling. Even our own language sometimes uncovers what is perhaps an unconscious split between who we say we are and what we say we are about, and how we view some of the groups who stay with us.
Language has power, and it reflects or creates inner thought and direction.
We don't have to offend or take over to live out our Christian identity. We can expose every retreat group to the way of love, whether they are a religiously affiliated group or not. We must remain true to who we are and to our mission regardless of whom it is that we're serving. It's important to get out of our boxes and to realize that we are not as bound as we imagine we are. School groups are a perfect example.