Liz Kirkland – Denver, Colorado … Twelve pastoral couples attended the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Pastor’s Marriage Retreat at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, April 5-6. This was the first time the retreat has been held since August of 2019.
The retreat was open to all RMC pastoral couples and featured former-pastor and guest speaker, Mike Tucker. Tucker’s program “Mad About Marriage” explored the marriage relationship and provided practical tips for improving a marriage.
“I think the presentations were very well done, encouraging, helping us to realize how we could be marriage partners,” explained Mickey Mallory, RMC Ministerial director.
“My wife and I had one of the most special Sabbaths of this 2024. The weather was amazing but the speaker and the spirit we share with colleagues and their spouses were more than amazing. Thank you, Pastor Mickey, for bringing us together; we can’t wait for the next one,” shared Jose David Rodriguez, lead pastor of the Boulder Hispanic, Brighton Hispanic, and El Refugio Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Boulder, Brighton, and Aurora, Colorado, respectively.
The retreat was expected to run until April 7, but was cut short by one evening due to the loss of power at GVR. A windstorm with damaging wind gusts ranging from 70-95 miles per hour hit the mountains and the north central Front Range in Colorado. Even with the reduced schedule, the retreat was still beneficial for the attendees.
Mark Phillips, lead pastor at Piñon Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church in Farmington, New Mexico, commented, “I just wanted to say a big thank you to the leadership of RMC for all the support they give to the pastors. Your mentoring and retreats are a real blessing. It is a privilege and honor to serve our Lord and Savior along with you all. Thank you for your investment in time and money to help us be the best that we can be.”
Lucas Lujan, head pastor at Colorado Springs South and Woodland Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park, Colorado, respectively, furthered that sentiment: “[It is] awesome to know how much the Conference leadership cares about our marriages and family relationships. They poured into us so we can pour into others!”
“Thank you for providing an opportunity for my wife and I to participate in this marriage retreat,” remarked Michael Shannon, lead pastor at the Greeley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Greeley, Colorado. “It has been a real blessing for us.”
He continued, “By sponsoring these types of events, the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Ministerial Department demonstrate that they truly care about the pastors and their families. It is easy to say, ‘we will pray for you and your family,’ but here, true concern is demonstrated with time, money, and effort. We had a wonderful time and learned a lot. I hope in the future that we can have the opportunity to participate in more events like this.”
—Liz Kirkland is the RMC communication assistant. Photos by Mickey Mallory.
