By Nicola Porto
Collaboration Project Director of Engagement

2020 has not been what we had expected to say the very least, but there is hope. Over the past few months, the Collaboration Project staff have felt called to pursue hope in the midst of discouragement. The very pursuit of collaboration is an act of hope. This year, collaboration provided an opportunity to connect with and serve the African American Council of Churches (AACC).

To mark and celebrate Juneteenth, the AACC hosted a Giveaway which served several hundred families and distributed nearly 90,000 lbs of food, as well as Bibles and other donations. In preparation for this event, Collaboration Project worked closely with Dr. Rev. Marcus Allen and the AACC to organize volunteers. The AACC Juneteenth Giveaway was a beautiful picture of the Church uniting to serve others and celebrate our community.

In the days of joy that followed the event, honest dialogue was shared from the AACC Pastors, faith leaders that are leading their congregations and the community. The bottom line from this conversation was, pastors are tired and at risk of burnout.

“Most of us have been going nonstop from March to now, working in our community and within our churches to assist families. We have not had much personal family time with our immediate family.  Most of us frequently work about 60 hours a week. Meetings and phone calls lasting into the late evening.” shared Bishop Godfrey A. Stubbs, End Time Ministries International Ministries

While this is true of pastors in general, it is doubly true of Black, Latino, and other pastors of color. The reasons for this are complex, but can be summarized in that their leadership bears the weight of both shepherding a congregation and leading within the context of systemic racial inequality. On top of that, many of these skilled leaders are bi-vocational and rarely find time for rest and soul-level renewal.

Through conversations with Bishop Stubbs, ideas were shared regarding how to best serve this group of pastors and provide respite. It quickly became clear that offering pastors time away from work and with one another was something greatly desired by these brothers and sisters in Christ.

As a result, several retreats have been planned to serve the AACC Pastors. These retreats will provide time away for the AACC Pastors and their spouses to experience rest and renewal along with other couples with the council. 

To make these retreats possible, many Madison-area churches, individuals, and local businesses stepped up to support these efforts with the desire to honor the AACC Pastors’ ongoing leadership in both the church and the broader community.

We are incredibly grateful to all those serving within the African American Council of Churches. We are eager for the Lord to bless our brothers and sisters in Christ through these retreats and we give thanks for the partnership from the broader Dane County Church to the glory of God and the good of all.

There are still opportunities to support these efforts:

Pray

• For these retreats to provide respite in these hard times.

• For an experience of rest and renewal for Pastors and their spouses.

  Give

• Help us fully fund the retreats by making a specific retreat donation.

• Collect in-kind donations for Rest and Renewal Pastor Gift Baskets (e.g. self-care goods, candles, treats, gift cards, etc.).

  
  For more information or to give, please email Nicola: nicola@collaborationproject.us

We invite you to partner with us in telling stories that highlight how God is working in and through the local church by supporting Collaboration Project today.