I know—it’s hard to imagine me, Stephanie, not talking for 48 hours. No music, no screens, no laughter, no schedule. Just me, God, and the sounds of creation. But I did it. I went on a silent retreat, and while I expected to hear from God about me, He had other plans.

I arrived on a sunny Friday and settled into a rocking chair on the lodge porch overlooking a green valley. Within 45 minutes, the sky changed dramatically, and that’s when the storm rolled in. Lightning cracked. Thunder rolled. Rain came in waves. It was beautiful and unsettling. And in that moment, God whispered something deep into my spirit: I am with you.

As I sat on the porch, at first glance, the trees in the valley looked like one big green blur. But as the storm whipped their branches, I began to see them – really see them. Each one was distinct: tall ones with bright crowns of green, short ones with leaves tucked deep around their trunks, and some towering, bare and bold. Even without my glasses, I could make out their uniqueness.

God spoke to me again.

Just like those trees, every ministry leader and volunteer at Bridgeway is uniquely designed. Sometimes, in my busy rhythm of planning and producing, I admit I see ministry leaders as one big “group.” But they are not. They are individuals – with backstories, passions, gifts, and storms of their own. They are not a blur; they are a living gallery of God’s craftsmanship. Romans 12:4-6 reminds us, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Your differences matter. Your ministries matter.

That night, I made my way back to my room, named “Matthew 1.” You may remember that’s the chapter where Joseph is told that Mary will bear a son and name Him Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). I had picked the room on the end for privacy, not for purpose. But God reminded me: You didn’t come here to be alone—you came to meet Me. And I was not alone. Emmanuel was with me.

Inside my room’s desk drawer were letters from past retreatants. Wise strangers. There must have been 50 notes in there with words like

  • “Ask the question beneath the question. Pray for what is underneath the thing you think you need.”
  • “Go deeper still, my child. Notice the contours of your discomfort. Be curious as to what lies beneath.”
  • “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.” —Mother Teresa

God was with me – speaking to me through these notes.

The next morning, I set out on a walk, expecting to find a labyrinth or a pond, but instead I found something better—a living picture of servant-hearted ministry.

An elderly woman, dressed in what looked like Old Testament robes, was gently sweeping leaves from a gravel road with a homemade broom of twigs. At first, I thought it was unnecessary – even a little silly. Nature trying to sweep nature. But then she looked up and smiled at me so warmly that it stopped me in my tracks. She didn’t explain what she was doing, and I didn’t ask. I bent down to help her gather the rest of the leaves. No words were exchanged. But God was with us in our shared purpose.

That moment mirrored what I see in ministry all the time—faithful people doing quiet, sacred work that may go unnoticed by others, but not by God. You don’t sweep leaves for applause. You do it because you know the value of presence, preparation, and purpose. You do it because it matters. Isn’t that what ministry partnership is? Different methods. Same mission. Sometimes silent, but always sacred.

Later, I came upon a tree with a massive trunk and three distinct offshoots. Immediately, I thought of Moses, whose arms were held up by Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:12). I thought of the Trinity. I thought of us.

At Bridgeway, we are rooted in one Truth – Jesus. And yet, we stretch up in different directions. Some of us lead Men’s Ministry, others champion Worship or Care or Student Ministries or Discipleship. Yet all of us – no matter how we branch out – are held up by each other. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22).

I went to this retreat thinking God might speak to me about my health, my family, or maybe some personal insight. But He chose instead to speak to me about you – the people I partner with in ministry.

He reminded me that

  • Every leader and volunteer is an advocate, a visionary, a laborer.
  • Every project you propose carries someone’s prayer and passion.
  • Even if I don’t understand the “why” behind a program or event, it matters to you, and therefore, it matters. Period.

I want to help. I want to champion your ministries. I want to help take your God-inspired ideas from concept to execution, because God is with you, too.

At first, I didn’t think I had anything valuable to leave behind in the drawer for the next person. But tucked in my Bible was a sheet I had kept from my WLDI days – a list of truths about who God says I am. Six years later, it became a gift for a stranger. On it, I wrote: “If you must fill your mind with something, fill it with God’s Word.”

I went into this retreat empty-handed. No schedule. No voice. No expectations. But I came back filled – filled with a deeper love for you, the leaders and volunteers I serve. And with a clear conviction:

God is with us. And what you do matters.

Thank you for letting me partner with you in ministry. I see you. I honor your calling. And I am here to help.

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24

Stephanie

Want to talk about your ministry or how I can help?
Email support@bridgeway.cc. Let’s grab time to connect! I’d love to listen.

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Learn about DaySpring Silent Retreat Center