by Terry Barone

HUME LAKE - Ministers need balance in their lives, according to a national outreach leader who spoke at the Ministers' Leadership Conference April 24-27 at Hume Lake Christian Camp.

Using Philippians 4:4-7, H.B. London, vice president of church, clergy and medical outreach for Focus on the Family, explained the Apostle Paul was writing about being able to rejoice, relax and rest.

Noting ministers lead hectic lives and often are called upon to solve a myriad of problems for church members and others, London reminded participants "God doesn't want us to play God, but to trust God."

He also cautioned ministers about having "so much of 'I' and 'me' in ministry that we never see 'Him.'"

Fermin A. Whittaker, California Southern Baptist Convention executive director, told ministers they need to take care of themselves physically so they can be used of God for ministry. He encouraged the group to be like Elijah, who, while on the run from Jezebel in I Kings 19, ate, drank and slept to renew his strength.

"The journey is sometimes too great, and you can't do it (ministry) and make good decisions when you are tired and running on empty," Whittaker said.

The Ministers' Leadership Conference has been held at Hume Lake for more than two decades, but leaders of California Southern Baptist Convention's healthy church group announced the 2007 conference will be held as part of a cruise to Mexico.

Mike McGuffee, CSBC ministerial leadership specialist, said the cruise format will be used to "try to connect with pastors and ministers who are not attending Hume Lake for whatever reason, and to give them an opportunity to do something with their spouses and possibly families."

He added, "We wanted to try something new, provide something that is valuable to the leaders in our state."

The purpose of the new style of event is not to "get attendance at one of our
meetings," but to see what can be done to "connect with leaders and meet their needs," McGuffee explained.

He noted the cruise would be "an affordable opportunity for pastors and spouses" but that ministers wishing a more traditional leadership conference would be able to attend such an event at Jenness Park Sept. 17-20, 2007. The cruise will be held during the traditional month of the Ministers' Leadership Conference, April 23-27.

No matter which venue pastors and ministers attend, McGuffee said the purposes of the gathering - inspiration, recreation, relaxation and education - would be fulfilled.

For more information about next  year's events visit www.csbc.com,
e-mail kfoxen@csbc.com or call 559-229-9533, ext. 259.