The final week of the 24th Arrow Leadership Class convenes on Keats Island this Sunday.  We’ll spend the week together – with a focus on finance, human resource and executive leadership.  I’m looking forward to seeing the twenty-four members of the class, rebuilding relationships and connecting again.  A special focus for me will be my cluster group – which includes Michael Messenger (World Vision Canada),  Andy Atkins (Emmanuel International), Les Peters (Impact Ministries – Guatemala), and Bruce Adema (Christian Reformed Church of North America). 

Another personal favorite is Dathan Brown, who is Pastor of Student Ministries at Frist Ev. Church of Fullerton.  Dathan and I have a friendship that goes back for more than a decade.

We’ve built a strong connection over the last year and a half.  Since we began, the economy has suffered a crushing crisis.  Many of our leaders are facing transition on one level or another. 

Many of the leader spouses will join us on the Island for the second half of the week.  Sadly, because of the family reunion that surrounds a wedding next weekend (Tyler and Jessica), and because of Carolyn’s work schedule at Biola, she will  not be joining us.  I’ll miss her a great deal.

On the way up, I spent the afternoon, evening and night with the Haechton’s in Blaine.  On the Saturday morning after Arrow, I’ll be boarding an Allegiant jet at Bellingham with Stacy, Wesley and Micah bound for LAX and Tyler’s wedding.  We had a terrific visit… Stacy took good care of us all – Jared and I talked seminary, theology and advanced degrees… and in between, I quizzed him on what it’s like to be a police officer (Sergeant) here in the Nothernmost corner of the contiguous United States of America.  He shared several dicey stories with me in exchange for a solemn promise to keep them all to myself.  Ha!

Wesley

MORE PHOTOS FROM BLAINE | MAP of KEATS and Barnabas Conference Center