(from the May/June 2001 issue of Pray! magazine)
Prayer
Retreats for Pastoral Couples
Estes Park, CO -- Set in the seclusion and grandeur of the Rocky Mountains is a haven that helps pastors and their wives reorient their time-crunched schedules around the priority of prayer and God's Word in their lives.
Mary's Place borrows its name from the Mary who sat at Jesus' feet and about whom Jesus said, "only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Lk. 10:42). Mary's Place began as a ministry in which participants could spend a week as guests of Doug and Margie Newton, veterans of the pastoral life, in their home near Rocky Mountain National Park. During the week, guests had one primary task: to pray and think creatively about their personal life and ministry routine, and develop a workable plan that would reorient their daily schedules around ample time for prayer.
This year, Mary's Place will go "on the road." The Newtons will travel to various locations and offer week-long ministry to two or three pastoral couples at a time. The program will continue to include the extended time, pleasant surroundings, hospitality, ample privacy, prayer, spiritual conversation and support, and practical resources that are its distinctives. The goal continues to be to guide guests toward permanent lifestyle changes that will enable them to lead their congregations to the place where Mary was--at the feet of Jesus.
During 2001, the Newtons will offer four or five Mary's Place retreats in various locations. They specialize in helping pastoral teams from small churches in their denomination, believing that these churches have great potential for revival.
The Newtons, however, are open to other ways in which God may lead their personal ministry. They have encountered several other couples, for example, who have expressed interest in offering Mary's Place-type ministry, and they are enthusiastic about the possibility. They believe the training for this type of ministry would be minimal, and the results could revolutionize the church.
For more information about how Mary's Place works, visit www.marysplace.org.