2024 Men’s Retreat

AUTHOR: SAMSON TANG

“I’m hit! I’m hit!”  

I raised my paintball gun and walked across the field hoping to not catch another stray paintball. As I walked off the paintball field, I thought about how as men, we catch so many stray bullets from the enemy or each other. It’s so easy to catch accusations, shame, condemnation, and insecurities as we try to do life and take ourselves off the field in shame.

Family, work, failure, sin struggles, and relationships can all be part of what weighs us down and takes our focus of Jesus. That’s why it was such a blessing to be part of the men’s retreat last weekend. It was a time for guys to come together, pray together, and encourage one another in our walk together. The worship and teaching built the guys in our identity in Jesus. Our small group time helped us to bring up struggles into the light. Last, the activities, like paintball, helped the guys to build memories, fellowship and grow friendships. 

And just like paintball is a game that is best done with a team. We came away encouraged by the community of men that we have at Grace. Isaiah 61:3, talks about how the Lord will establish as “oaks of righteousness.”  That we as men would be tall, resilient, and righteous. Even though it was a short time together, our time at the retreat “planted” us in His Word, and reaffirmed our identity in Jesus.