What is an "ELIM Retreat"?
An ELIM Retreat is a cost free, six day gathering of global Christian workers, for the
purposes of debriefing, personal spiritual assessment/renewal and pastoral care.
What does ELIM mean?
From Exodus 15:27. Israel was in the midst of her wilderness wanderings. The Lord
brings His people from a place of spiritual turmoil, at Mara, to a beautiful place of rest at the oasis
called ELIM. ELIM also forms our acronym, "Encouraging Leaders In Ministry".
What is the goal of an ELIM Retreat?
Following the Lord's pattern stated above, the goal is to provide the time and occasion for God's servants
to move out of spiritual turmoil to recovery and strengthening in Christ's rest. Matthew 11:28-29
Who leads ELIM Retreats?
Henry and Diane Stewart were given the original vision from the Lord for this ministry. Hollis and Mary
Chandler have added their considerable gifting to help shape that vision as partners with the Stewarts.
Other individuals and couples are in various stages of leadership training.
What is the relationship of ELIM to Barnabas International (BI)?
Henry and Diane Stewart are staff members of Barnabas International. They carry on ELIM Retreat Ministries
as their fulfillment of the BI mission statement. Hollis and Mary Chandler, Barnabas applicants, are
heading towards full time ministry as ELIM leaders.
What core values undergird ELIM’s model of ministry?
The key factor that determines whether or not a global servant can withstand the stresses of cross cultural
service is the strength of his/her personal walk with Jesus Christ. The fruitfulness of Great Commission work is in direct proportion to the spiritual vibrancy of Great Commission
workers.
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While ELIM leadership values and learns from a purely medical/psychological model for sin, dysfunction and
healing, ELIM's therapeutic orientation runs more towards spiritual formation and pastoral care.
- ELIM's emphasis is in prevention. We do not offer in-depth crisis counseling.
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ELIM believes that there are stress factors and challenges that are unique to the calling of a full time
vocational Christian servant.
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ELIM believes in the primacy of the Holy Spirit teaching through the Scriptures as the source for true
repentance, recovery, and healing.
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ELIM believes in the wisdom of God discovered when the people of God share together. Hence small group
prayer and discussion is a primary strategy in an ELIM Retreat.
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The "schedule" of an ELIM Retreat doesn't presume to offer lots of new skill sets or task orientation.
The goal in the Retreat format is to gently encourage spiritual health and assessment, especially as those
impacts relationships.
- ELIM believes in a team approach (10-12 people) of varied gifting in the leadership of a Retreat.
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ELIM believes in training and equipping new Retreat leadership so that the number of Retreats offered
global workers can grow.
- ELIM believes in the ministry as a training venue for local church leadership in "doing member care well."
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ELIM believes in building vital partnerships with sending churches and mission agencies in integrated
approaches to member care.
How is it that ELIM Retreats are "cost free"?
The Retreats are cost free to participants. The only cost they bear is reaching the retreat site.
There are 3 reasons why we hold this policy:
- The historical commitment of BI to offer its ministries cost free.
- God told us to offer this ministry as a gift, reflecting the "free gift of salvation".
- Most missionaries don't have discretionary income to spend for the purposes of spiritual renewal.
How many participants attend an ELIM Retreat?
There are 10-20, depending on the location of the Retreat.
Where are the Retreats held?
There are a variety of Retreat sites in the United States and overseas. See "
ELIM Retreat Locations" page
for a current listing.
How and when did ELIM Retreats begin?
The first two ELIM Retreats were offered in Michigan in 1999, shortly after the Stewarts came on staff
with BI. The only answer to the "how" question is that God told us to do it. He made very clear to us
that one of His purposes of preserving 1400 acres of Great Lakes shore property in Diane's family for
150 years was so that we could share it with those in full time ministry needing renewal and
encouragement.
