As an organization committed to empowering inner-city leaders in a lasting way, we seek ways to support the longevity and character development of the whole person. The faithful walk and witness of an urban minister can be one of the most transformative elements of a church family. Sometimes, resources from beyond the city can serve to supply, rejuvenate and recommission those ministering restorative work within communities of America’s urban poor – resources like The Oaks Camp and Conference Center.
At World Impact’s camp in northern Los Angeles County, a retreat house for personal booking is offered to those in ministry. The Oaks provides four private rooms and a shared living area with a kitchenette to guests in which the disciplines of solitude and silence can be practiced while nestled in the quietest part of the 650 acre property. The elements of fractured families, violence, and poverty can erode on anyone; yet urban ministers are often at the forefront of these crises in their neighborhood. As many inner-city churches openly reach out to those reeling from the consequences of sin a minister’s own focus, energy and ability to endure is at stake. We believe that a time of retreat and solitude is needed for these pastors to continue to minister effectively. We recognize biblical examples for seeking times of solitude in the lives of Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, Jesus and others.
Pastor and writer Neil Cole recently spent a series of personal retreats at The Oaks and reflected:
“Jesus saw solitude as a spiritual discipline. As long as I have been a leader a retreat has been a regular rhythm of my life. Sometimes it is for personal rejuvenation, sometimes it is for writing a book, always it is to hear God’s still small voice. Our leadership team has made it a practice to get away every year without any agenda but to listen to the Lord and have some fun together. Our best ideas have almost always come from such times.”
Through the resource of a quiet place and the ability to set aside regular work and routine, Cole was able to complete sections of his book material. He concludes, “I am very grateful to World Impact and The Oaks for providing a place where I can get away without cost, and hear from our Lord and write.”
As a ministry of World Impact, the camp offers the resource of hospitality so that urban ministers can enter into a sabbath time away from distractions; and God restores them for a new season of missional work and proclamation of the good news in the inner city.
