AMBS plans taking shape

Loretta and I now have confirmed plans to be at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, January 7 to February 12, 2008. During this time I will do research on rural
ministry, talk to professors, engage the seminary community, visit surrounding agencies that deal with rural issues, and perhaps continue to develop a book idea I have on rural ministry.

I was excited to hear from AMBS that there will be six pastors on campus this winter as a part of their Sabbatical, including two pastoral couples. One of these couples, Gary and Margaret Peters, from Hanley, Saskatchewan, were peers of ours when we lived in Saskatchewan, and it will be special to reconnect with them. All of these Sabbatical pastors except me are from Canada!

A major committment for my Sabbatical is to spend a day a week in spiritual retreat, using the retreat models found in The Upper Room, A Guide to Prayer. For this day, Loretta and I plan to visit each week a retreat center or camp in the Michiana area, so we are planning which day of the week to do this and beginning to contact these retreat centers. Currently, we are thinking of Thursdays as a time for this.

Loretta and I have also been working on our application to Christian Peacemaker Teams for a delegation to Israel/Palestine from March 4-17. I will write more about that process on my next posting.