On a 73° March morning in Wilmington, North Carolina, I set out for Navarre, Ohio, to lead a three-day staff retreat with the leaders of The Brethren Church National Office. This wasn’t just another get-together; for the first time since becoming Executive Director, our entire team would finally be together in one place. This retreat was the pivot point where we stopped reacting to the past and started building our future together. With our new Coordinators of Multiplication and Vitality having just started their roles—and our Coordinator of Student Ministries only two months into hers—the primary goal was to plan the way forward, close the book on our time of transition, and turn our collective perspectives into a shared vision for the future.
About midway through the drive, the weather shifted as dramatically as our recent organizational charts. In the mountains of Virginia, I was slowed to a crawl as a sudden blizzard turned the roads into a wintery mess. While this extended my ten-hour commute, the forced stillness became a gift. Much like the “sudden but not quick” transitions our National Staff has endured over the last two years, the storm provided a necessary moment to prayerfully prepare my spirit for the heavy lifting ahead. I realized that just as the snow required a change in pace, our team needed this retreat to slow down, breathe, and realign after a season of change.
My hope for this retreat was to strike a balance: to bring our staff closer together—especially those in new positions—while ensuring we “moved the needle” on some of the important work on the horizon. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the humility of our staff, I believe we achieved both.
Our first session focused on team development using a personality assessment called SDI. This tool helps teams systematically understand one another’s motivations, strengths, and communication styles. By peeling back these layers, we grew in both our understanding and patience for one another. We are now better positioned to support each other and anticipate areas of tension before they arise.
Equipped with a better understanding of how we relate to one another, we then felt safe enough to peel back even deeper layers, turning our attention to the challenges of the last two years. We intentionally prepared our hearts for a time of mourning, repentance, and lament regarding past challenges. While I am often concerned that our people are unaware of the many things we have to celebrate, I knew we couldn’t look forward with clarity until we had honestly looked back. This period of reflection prepared us to shift our focus toward a season of anticipation and hope.
Finally, we turned to the “nuts and bolts” of our shared work. This included conversations about the Strategic Plan and the best way to move forward despite the time that has passed. We celebrated a proposed balanced budget for 2026-2027 and discussed ways we can best help our churches through the Rural Small-Town Church Grant we’ve recently received. Lastly, we looked ahead toward this summer’s General Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
While the strategic work was essential, the most significant moments occurred in the spaces between our sessions. In a providential turn of events, we lost power for about 18 hours, which forced us to slow our pace even further. Without the distraction of electricity or a rigid agenda, we huddled around the fireplace to play games, laugh, and talk. This “forced” Sabbath allowed us to truly connect with one another. Most importantly for my soul, we took time to pray for each person individually, creating space for the Spirit to guide and encourage us.
We concluded our time together with prayer and foot washing. For us, the act is familiar, but the experience is never routine. As the Spirit settled heavily in our midst, we practiced the very humility we hope to model for our entire tribe. It was a powerful reminder that the Spirit never skips a foot washing. This posture of waiting on the Lord—not our own power or organizational skills—defined the weekend. The Brethren Church national staff are hungry to support the Spirit of God at work in our movement in any way we can.
There have been a few moments in my tenure as Executive Director so far that I wish our whole tribe could witness firsthand. One is the humility and unity with which our Executive Board operates during their meetings. Another was this staff retreat, where the staff’s deep focus on Christ’s will for our community culminated in the shared vision we sought. We are deeply grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your joy. We are moving forward with a unified staff, a balanced budget, and a spirit of optimism. The transition is over; the work of our shared vision has begun, and we are ready to see where the Spirit leads.
Respectfully Submitted,
Miles Larson
Executive Director, The Brethren Church