THE OTYOKWAH EXPERIENCE
Monday morning October 22, Lance Finley and I drove to Camp Otyokwah in the hill country southeast of Mansfield, Ohio near Butler. What beautiful terrain full of fall color met my eyes! It reminded me of PA, but without the mountains. Lance and I traveled there to lead the fall pastor’s retreat for Great Lakes Conference. Otyokwah, the region’s year round camp, provided an ideal setting for our two-day retreat. It was my first visit (What a place—love at first sight!).
The Churches of God purchased the land in 1946 and named it Otyokwah, which comes from the Dakota Indian tongue meaning “friend meets friend.” After much preparation, the first camping season began in 1947 on the new site and has continued annually ever since with many facility improvements along the way. In May 2004, the barn, which served as the signature building for camp ministry, caught fire and burned down. Today, in its place stands a new camp center with expanded dining facilities, meeting rooms, camp office, gift shop, etc. It’s a tribute to the ongoing commitment of the pastors and people of the region to their camp ministry.
For the retreat we all read Donald. S. Whitney’s book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health (Navpress, 2001), to focus our discussion. The ten questions (see below) that formed the chapter headings provided a natural sequence for our time together. We shared in several seasons of prayer and reflection, including a walk in the woods. For me, the time spent with my fellow pastors and in solitude was well worth the two days away. In all honesty, I wasn’t sure how I could do this given my schedule this month, but I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t afford not to do it. Sometimes our lives get so busy that we fail to take time for reflection and meditation. (At least this is my experience.) Then, we wonder why we feel burned out or tired all the time. I would recommend a periodic retreat for all God’s busy people. The schedule may be full, but do it anyway. I don’t think you’ll regret it. When I’m busiest, I need it most (Mark 1:35).
The ten questions we probed were these:
- Do you thirst for God?
- Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?
- Are you more loving?
- Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?
- Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
- Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
- Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?
- Do you still grieve over sin?
- Are you a quicker forgiver?
- Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?
I would encourage every Christian to ask themselves these questions regularly as a kind of spiritual assessment. The book is a great tool and can help focus the questions. Get it and read it.
The point of retreat and personal assessment is to draw closer to the Lord, both for our benefit and for those we serve. I think everyone who went to camp last week came away blessed. I know I did! The Otyokwah experience where “friend meets friend” awaits all who seek it.
Ed
GLC Director, Dave Green, Overlooking the Lodge
Pastors Attending the Retreat
Front (l to r): Mark Chambers, Lance Finley, Dennis Jones, Bill Moorman,
Tim Clutter, Ed Rosenberry
Back: Dave Green, Dean Bruce, Arnie Kauffman
(Darrell Prichard not pictured)
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Meet Your Administrative Council
Pastor Lawrence D. Metzler is the senior pastor at New Providence Church of God in New Providence, PA, Eastern Regional Conference.
Lawrence says, "I had the privilege of a Christian upbringing and was exposed to the Christian faith and the gospel at home and church. I accepted Christ as my Savior at age 10, but did not fully commit my life to the Lord until age 24. At that time, my commitment was serious and several years later I found myself preparing for full-time ministry. The journey through preparation was a constant affirmation of my call to ministry and in 1998 I began my service at New Providence Church. The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and I continue to seek His will and direction for life and ministry!"
Pastor Metzler and his wife, Penny, have three children, April (22), Lyndee (20) and Dustin (17).
He enjoys home renovation and construction and spending time with his family.
