2022 CHURCH PLANTERS RETREAT

STEADFAST

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” —Romans 12:12

If you are a church planter, network leader, Presbytery leader, Pastor with a heart for planting churches—or married to any of these—you need to be at the EPC Church Planter’s Retreat, October 17-20, 2022 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for three days of refreshment, spiritual renewal, fellowship, and practical support for church planters and spouses! Each day provides opportunity for corporate worship, contemplative time, table conversations surrounding current church planting topics, individual and couple counseling, great food, and fresh Rocky Mountain air!

Pastor and author Scotty Smith will be our keynote speaker for church planters and Pastor Rufus Smith will lead our time with pastors, networks, and presbytery church planting leaders.

Use these quicklinks to navigate to the appropriate section:

Main Session Leaders
Retreat Mentors
Senior Leader Peer Cohort
Registration

MAIN SESSION LEADERS

Scotty Smith cares about the soul care of church planters and their families. He is founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and now serves as teacher-in-residence at West End Community Church in Nashville. He also serves as an adjunct professor at five seminaries and is the author of several books, including Everyday Prayers, Unveiled Hope (with Michael Card), and Speechless and Restoring Broken Things (with Steven Curtis Chapman). “How would life be different if we could think, see, and do all things in light of the person and work of Jesus?” (from Everyday Prayers).

Dean Weaver serves as the EPC’s fourth Stated Clerk. He is a longtime advocate of church planting and will be available to hear your hearts during this great gathering.

Rufus Smith serves as Senior Pastor of Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Over the past eight years, Hope has transitioned from a predominantly Caucasian congregation to a multi-ethnic church—with 30% of members being people of color. He believes that the authentic and attractive gospel of Jesus Christ consists of three things equally necessary: preaching (the proclamation of a person); teaching (the explanation of principles); and healing (the mitigation of human pain).

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RETREAT MENTORS

Rodger Woodworth was the founding pastor of two interracial EPC churches, and also served as Director of Cross Cultural Ministries for the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). He has been in pastoral ministry for 30 years, including 22 as a church planter overlapping 15 years as an adjunct seminary professor teaching on missions and church planting. He is the author of Kingdom Holiness: Holy Living in a Challenging Culture and Playing Favorites: Overcoming Our Prejudices to Bridge the Cultural Divide. 

Michelle Munger is an expert on supporting individuals with disability and their families. The disability ministry subject encompasses everyone, every age. Michelle also serves as Conference Director for the Faith Inclusion Network in Newport News, Virginia, She has led Networking Lunches on disability ministry at numerous EPC General Assemblies. She has much to teach us about how even small church plants can provide good care in this area.

Cron and Elizabeth Gibson are longtime EPC church planting advocates. Cron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Hopewell Equipping and Counseling Ministry Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His passion is helping people find life-transforming hope, build deep and satisfying relationships with others, and learn peace in their own souls in the midst of the deepest struggles in their lives and relationships. Elizabeth is a gospel coach with a passion for helping women understand their freedom in Christ.

Counseling For Church Planters, Planter Couples, and Spouses is available in one-hour personal marriage coaching sessions with Cron and Elizabeth Gibson and their team on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon (no cost), Times available between 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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SENIOR LEADER PEER COHORT

Rufus Smith and Tom Ricks will host and convene a learning experience for Presbytery leaders, network leaders, and pastors of churches that are currently a church planting church—or are planning to. The group will explore biblical, historical, and practical rationale for being a multiplying church. He will share best practices with discussion on how to form a vision for church planting in an existing church, how to lead a Session to unify around such a vision, and methods of organization and funding for long-term church planting out of an existing church.

The Senior Pastor Peer Cohort will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, and are encouraged to join the Church Planters for Thursday’s sessions. Cost for the cohort is $750 per person ($900 for couples).

Capacity is limited for this Senior Leader Peer Cohort, so register early to ensure your spot.

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REGISTRATION

Cost for active church planters and spouses is $100 for planters and $200 for active church planters and spouses for three nights lodging at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs and all meals. Presbyteries are encouraged to scholarship the travel costs for the planters in their presbyteries.

Lodging and meal cost for network leaders, Presbytery leaders, Senior Pastor Peer Cohort participants, and all others interested in attending is $600 per person.

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