September 15-17, 2025
We’re excited to invite men serving as a local church pastor to The Shepherd’s Retreat, a special time of rest, renewal, and fellowship exclusively for pastors and ministry leaders who want to continue developing. Join us at Sanctuary Hills in Blaine, TN, for a transformative retreat designed to refresh your spirit, strengthen your calling, and provide a peaceful space to connect with God and other pastors. Pastor Mike Stone of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, GA, will lead sessions on Expository Preaching and Spiritual Leadership.
REATREAT EXPERIENCE
Ministry to ministers is ministry to the multitudes. When pastors are encouraged in their relationship with God, their wives benefit, their families flourish, and their churches thrive.
This retreat is a sacred invitation to step away from the daily demands of ministry and experience deep rest in God’s presence. Nestled in the beauty of Sanctuary Hills, you’ll enjoy unhurried time to reconnect with God, engage with other leaders who understand the call to preach the Word and lead God’s people, and be poured into by seasoned leaders in every setting.
Expository Preaching: The retreat will center on the practice of preaching that explains and applies a passage of scripture in its original context.
Spiritual Leadership: It will also focus on developing the qualities and skills necessary to lead effectively in a spiritual or ministry context.
Dedicated Space for Reflection: The retreat provides an environment intentionally designed for personal thought and contemplation.
Vision Renewal: Help pastors refresh and clarify their personal and ministry vision.
You’ll leave refreshed, restored, and reminded of the high calling God has placed on your life—ready to return with renewed strength and clarity.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
Monday - September 15
4:00 pm - Check into Cottage
7:00 pm - Dinner in The Lodge
Tuesday - September 16
Breakfast in the Cottage
9:00 am - Session 1
Break
10:30 - Session 2
11:30 am - Lunch in The Lodge
12:30 pm - Q/A Session
Free Time
6:00 pm - Dinner in The Lodge
Wednesday - September 17
9:00 am - Breakfast in The Lodge
Session 3
Break
Session 4
Check Out & Depart at 11:30
Additional Nights Available through Friday - $150.00 per night.
Counseling Appointments Available through Wednesday.
Schedules are subject to change.
REATREAT LEADER
Pastor Mike Stone of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear, GA
Pastor Mike originally came to EBC in October of 1996 as minister of music and became pastor in June 2002. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University.
As a committed and convictional Southern Baptist, Pastor Mike has served in many capacities in our local Baptist association as well as our state and national conventions.
He served the Georgia Baptist Convention as preaching conference president, chairman of the Executive Committee, and convention president. He has also served at the national level on the Resolutions Committee and is the past chairman of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.