At the conclusion of the 40-day Lenten season, Apostolos Missions (AM) HQ staff attended the 3-day New York Easter Retreat of 2024, from March 29th to the 31st. Staff members reflected on their beautiful experience they shared with the graceful community:
” From attending this year’s Easter retreat, I regained hope and I saw the light again. Before the retreat, I was in a very dark season in my faith, so I affirmed in my heart that I wanted my faith to be restored. By God’s grace, I can testify that I truly experienced the resurrection. I am really thankful for the messages because my heart felt in despair for so long but through the preaching of the word it was finally revived. Hallelujah! Also, during communion, I experienced the Lord’s love deeply for me. It finally became personal and I was brought to tears because I was overwhelmed by the His sacrifice for me. I couldn’t understand why would he choose to die for a sinner like me? But I was reminded that “it is because of love.” At this moment, for the first time I accepted that and I felt that I and the Lord became one.”
“It was a great honor to not only attend but to participate in the special 3-day event, through serving in one of the roles I was able to experience the love of God more deeply this Easter. Recently, I felt like God has been calling me to not only be a spectator in church, that is just enjoying the services from afar, but to now participate in serving myself. I have much more respect for the precious members and pastors who work to prepare the platform for church service. While listening to one of the Bible lectures by Pastor Timothy which focused on John 17 during the extraordinary event, what came to me deeply was that God can work powerfully in me, giving me the tools I need to serve better as I advance on my path of faith in the church.”