New Around the Mission
38th Annual BC Christian Ashram Brings Healing and Rest
August 12, 2011
Have you ever left a retreat more exhausted than when you arrived? Ed Hird, Rector of St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver, B.C., knows the feeling. That’s why he and his wife Janice led 70 attendees from more than 15 churches in the 38th Annual BC Christian Ashram July 15-18. The long weekend at Summit Pacific Park on Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford, BC, featured speakers Bishop Charles Dorrington and the Rev. Josh Wilton of the Table in Victoria, BC, and introduced rhythms to renew attendees and prepare them to reenter a hectic world.
Ed, who frequently leads ashrams throughout Canada, says they are more needed than ever to help 20th century churchgoers avoid the “Martha” mentality.
“There’s something about the ashram DNA that connects with postmodern culture,” he says. “People are looking for roots and escape from busyness. How do you ‘come apart’ so you don’t come apart?”
The spiritual growth ministry, patterned after the Indian “ashram” or retreat for disciplined corporate study, brings people together to learn and share the abundant life in Christ. Since evangelist and missionary E. Stanley Jones introduced the Christian Ashram in 1930, it has ministered not only to Anglicans but denominations and churches across Canada and the U.S. All are welcome, regardless of religion or church affiliation—and many meet Christ there for the first time.
The 38th BC Ashram included all the traditional elements: prayer groups, Bible teaching, evangelist or keynote speaker, youth program, sharing times, free time and a talent show. Attendees also had a chance to reacquaint themselves with classic biblical teaching found in the writings of E. Stanley Jones, J.I. Packer and others.
Ed says the speakers were especially powerful.
“Bishop Charles and Claudia focused on healing and forgiveness and breaking generational bondage,” he says. “People carry a lot of baggage and this gave them hope and emotional freedom. The Dorringtons run a prayer counseling center where many people have been impacted. Josh Wilton is a remarkable Bible teacher—when he opens the scriptures you see it afresh.”
Ed and Janice encourage participants to carry the benefits of the Ashram back into their daily lives.
“We have really benefited from refreshing and seen a real impact on our people,” Ed says. “Jesus spent so much time away on retreat with his people—that’s a clue that we might need to do it more often.”
Learn more at United Christian Ashrams.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories:
