Starting on the Right Foot
A group of CRC pastors gathered in January to navigate the waters of new ministry. Malibu, Calif., played host to “The Right Foot: A Gathering of Pastors Starting Anew,” an event designed specifically for pastors in their first two years of a new congregational call.
For congregational pastors, the transition into a new church is rarely seamless. Organizers from Thrive, the CRC’s congregational support agency, noted, for example, that the first year of a new congregational call is frequently a mixture of highs and lows as a leader grapples with community expectations, a new church culture, and potential shifts in home life.
“In the midst of everything that changes with a new call, we want to provide a space for pastors to step back and realign their focus and calling,” shared Ben Van Arragon, Thrive’s pastoral well-being consultant.
Van Arragon led the retreat alongside Sean Baker, Thrive’s church discernment consultant, and cofacilitators Mark and Deone Quist. The gathering offered a deliberate mix of structured sessions and unstructured space for rest, which participants overwhelmingly appreciated.
For many attendees, the simple opportunity to step out of their day-to-day routine was a gift. One participant noted that since transitioning to his second congregation, he had not taken intentional time to process the massive changes in his life. “I came super-tired and really needed rest,” he said, adding that he plans to leave more space in his life for reflection in the future.
Pastor Micah Van Dyken said he shared those sentiments, and he reflected on how the space and time away allowed him to recognize how depleted his soul had become by exhaustion. However, he noted, hearing about the more challenging aspects of his peers’ experiences also affirmed his gratefulness for his current role.
The setting itself contributed to the participants’ sense of peace. Nestled in the mountains with views of the Pacific Ocean, the retreat center provided what Erik Pluemer described as an environment that “really helped with knowing that this is a place to reflect.” He remarked that the retreat gave him the courage to approach difficult conversations.
Lee Khang, a pastor who serves in Iowa, said the experience revealed a deep need to have God’s Word written on his heart. He said he also found that being reminded of his baptismal identity was a powerful anchor for him.
“The role of pastor can sometimes overshadow the fundamental joy of being a child of God,” he reflected.
One exercise in particular, said the organizers, seemed to resonate with participants, allowing them to visualize God’s hand throughout their history in joyful and painful moments alike. Craig Hoekema reflected on how the activity affirmed for him that God uses hardship to “shape us into more useful vessels.”
The event aimed also to introduce ideas and habits that could trickle into pastors’ daily routines. One participant shared that as a result of this event, he has begun implementing breath prayers – short single-sentence prayers that one repeats as one inhales and exhales – into his spiritual practices, and he has successfully found a retired pastor to mentor him through his next season of ministry.
“Thank you for ‘seeing’ the needs of pastors,” another participant shared. “It was good to be affirmed in this way.”
Thrive is committed to being a resource for the well-being of pastors and their spouses through every season of ministry. For more information on retreats, consultation, direct support, or specific tools, reach out to [email protected].
