The Southwest Focus Retreat got underway late Monday afternoon (January 25) as pastors from Grace Brethren congregations from around the southwest as well as from across the U.S. and Canada gathered at Rancho Capistrano, a retreat center near San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
The sessions are led by Tom Hocking, pastor of the Bellflower Brethren Church in California and current moderator of the Fellowship of grace Brethren Churches. As with other Focus Retreats held in the fall, the evening concluded with a time of solitude, when retreat participants were encouraged to spend 12 hours alone with God, beginning at 8 p.m.