Retreat(s)!

It is Men’s Retreat season for me. Our Evergreen Bible Church Men’s Retreat is May 29-31 at Black Lake Bible Camp, and that is one of the big events I get to lead each year at Evergreen. I always love planning those events. I love being able to help men gather for a weekend of connection with the Lord and with other men. We always have a speaker share from the word, opportunities for worship, small group gatherings, and then plenty of fun and games, as well. As a fun little “extra” this year, upon arrival men will be greeted with a plate of fresh grilled bacon and there will be a cooler full of cold sodas and other drinks as our “Welcome to Camp”.

I was invited to participate in another Men’s Retreat that is a little further away, at the end of September. Rock Nest Ranch is hosting a Men’s Retreat the weekend of Sept 25-27. A church near Rock Nest is putting it on, and they are working to invite churches to participate from all along Highway 16, anywhere between Prince Rupert and Prince George. My RNR teammates, Daniel, Geneva, and Vance, will all likely still be in the states doing some visitation with supporters, so they asked me to consider coming to help host that retreat.

I do plan to go, but I am hoping to take some men with me. We would drive, and the trip would take about a week. We would leave probably Sept 22 or 23, and then be home by Sept 29. I’m looking for a car-full of men who would like to join me in going to this Men’s Retreat in September. I don’t know the cost yet, but I don’t think the cost should be super high.

Want to travel with me to the Men’s Retreat at Rock Nest in September? Let me know soon if you’d be interested in considering it!

Continued Staffing Need

Many have asked if there has been any change with regard to our staffing shortage at Rock Nest for this summer, but so far there has not been. Daniel and Geneva Koster did make a contact with a church in Williams Lake, BC, and they will be sharing about Rock Nest at that church this coming weekend. Please pray that the Lord might draw a few folks to come help, whether for one week or for longer. If we end up with a smaller staff, it is not the end of the world, but it would likely mean that we have to limit the number of campers who can attend, particularly for Jr Camp 1. Of course, we never hope to have to turn campers away, but a smaller camp does create some really great opportunities for connection and gospel-conversations with the campers that we are able to accommodate.

RNR Prayer Letters

Something new I am doing is that I will be helping to write the Rock Nest Ranch Prayer Letters. I won’t be the only one writing, but I will help “quarterback” the process, so that we are updating those connected with Rock Nest regularly. These letters will be different from our personal prayer letters, in that the content will be less about us, and more about what is happening at Rock Nest Ranch. All five of us on the Rock Nest Team (Daniel, Geneva, Vance, Leanne, and Ryan) will have chances to share, and we will have updates on the latest happenings around camp. I’d love for you to sign up to receive those letters, as well! You can sign up to be on the Rock Nest letters here.

(Pic at the top is from Cinco de Mayo. Our girls are getting old enough to stay home on their own, so Leanne and I walked to a nearby taco truck for a little date night, then walked our neighborhood for a while.)

Prayer Needs

• We continue to pray that the Lord would provide the staff we need for this summer at Rock Nest Ranch. Daniel and Geneva Koster have a chance to share at a church in Williams Lake this weekend, so pray that some will hear and respond to the opportunity.
• Pray for success in the busy ministry month of May at Evergreen. Some of the “extras” on my plate this month are a Life Group Leader Training, a class for new attenders that we call Discover Evergreen, a weekend of baptism this weekend, a training session for the EBC and Sunset Bible mission teams that are coming to Rock Nest, preparation and for our Training Day ministry equipping event that is scheduled for Oct 31 (if I wait to prepare until mid-August, I will be way behind!), and our annual Men’s Retreat May 29-31. Pray that the Lord might lead me as I complete the work that is “on my desk” at Evergreen before heading north to RNR.
• Pray for wisdom in creating some devotional materials to be used at camp. We are intending to put together a 30 Day Gospel Devotional, with help from our RNR teammates. Pray that it would be a helpful guide for the Rock Nest staff to grow in clarity on the things that Paul called the matters of 1st importance in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Conclusion

Thank you for praying for us! Please do consider signing up for the Rock Nest Ranch Prayer Letter, in addition to our prayer letter. You can find sign up at here.

Ryan and Leanne Donovan

Rock Nest Summer Schedule 2026

• Summer Staff Arrival Date – June 24
• Summer Staff Orientation – June 25-28
• Teen Camp (13-15 years old) – June 29-July 5
• Junior Camp 1 (9-12 years old) – July 8-13
• Junior Camp 2 (9-12 years old) – July 16-21
• Family Camp – July 24-27
• UIM All Staff Conference in Nebraska – Aug 4-8 (Happens every 5 years)

Sign up for the Rock Nest Prayer Letters by following the QR Code above!