Be Connected
Our 2023 GLD Connection dates to mark on your calendar are:
April 21-23
GLD Pastor and Wife Retreat
Das Dutchman Essenhaus
Middlebury, IN
October 9-10
GLD Conference
Trinity International University
Deerfield, IL
April 21-23, 2023
The GLD Pastor and Wife Retreat will be at the Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana. This year the retreat is accessible by car. The days include Friday through Sunday (with the option to add Thursday) to give you and your husband a retreat from your ministry. The sessions weave meaningful worship, teaching, and interactive groups. Dr. Nicholas Perrin, President of TIU, will lead us into the retreat. Pastor Scott Distler, GLD pastor of Gaylord EFC in Northern MI, will share biblical and personal lessons from his book, The Cave: When Ministry Becomes Misery and God’s path toward hope and healing.
All costs are covered except your hotel room and travel. Before registering, please call the Essenhaus at 1.800.455.9471 and reserve your room ($139 per night and blocked under Great Lakes District for Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 with the option to add on Thursday, April 20). Deadline: March 23rd. 
October 9-10, 2023
We will gather for a special Pastors' Wives' luncheon at our Great Lakes District Annual Conference. I’ll lead interactive sessions from my new devotional rooted in Ezra and Haggai that focuses on God’s design for the uprooted times in our lives. More details coming late spring!
Be Encouraged
At our Pastors’ Wives’ affinity group last October, we had a great time interacting on topics such as soul care, marriage, family, working, difficult people, and the support needed as a pastor’s wife. In addition, the three pastors’ wives, who led the session, shared how their quarterly share and prayer call provides an encouragement lifeline.
 
Many of you are or have been in a PW group like this. But if you are like the PW, who contacted me this year, you may need a new connection of encouragement. If you do, please email/call me at the info below. Remember to “encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb. 10:25 NIV
Be Resourced
For resources at our 2022 October conference, we gave a list of 15+ titles on being a pastor’s wife. Also, one of our GLD Michigan PWs and licensed Christian counselor provided an excellent list of books on pertinent issues, such as marriage, communication, disciplining children, etc. 
Jan Thompson
GLD PW Coordinator
630-881-7050
Great Lakes District EFCA | 574.299.9711 | gld@gld-efca.org | www.gld-efca.org