By Josh Hallahan
Gathering for fellowship, worship, and preaching the Word are hallmarks of the Christian faith and our Wesleyan heritage. For 39 years, FAS has been gathering at The Hemlock Inn for our annual renewal retreat. Oh, the stories that could be told of God’s transformative work there on that back porch.
This past August’s gathering was no exception. It was a blessing to have our new president, Bill Kierce, and our former president, Ron Smith, deliver the word and continue to challenge us to a life of full surrender to the Holy Spirit. One participant said, “We’ve been coming for eight years straight, and each year seems the best ever.”
Rejoicing in what God has done, we look with expectation at the new things he is doing. FAS is in conversation among the staff and you, the Society, about what future retreats such as The Hemlock Inn Retreat should look like. What new thing does God want to do with these retreats?
Next summer, we will gather at what will now be called The Hemlock for our 40th-anniversary retreat! Already, the excitement is building as we consider gathering to celebrate our God and this important milestone. Dates for this retreat will be released soon, and we encourage you to consider joining us for a powerful time of worship and renewal.
We also are praying and dreaming about launching regional retreats nationwide based on the spirit of The Hemlock retreats. We have begun conversations among Society members about possible locations for these retreats. The Hemlock will continue to be high on our list of regional retreat locations, and we are actively looking for other great locations. If you have suggestions for locations in your area, please contact us; we would love to talk with you. Let’s dream and pray together, asking God what new things he wants to do through these retreats.