“As our culture shifts further away from God, we need Holy Spirit power to stand firm and keep courageously preaching.”

Allen Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Pray Ottawa is gearing up for their 2022 pastors’ and leaders’ prayer summit. The Summit offers the area’s ministry and church leaders a chance to escape from the stress of ministry, to spend two days connecting with the Lord in a relaxing spiritual oasis.

“Expect a very restful, refreshing time, with extended time for worship,” says Steve Buss, who is facilitating this year’s summit with his wife Patti. “If you want to take a nap during free time, no problem. Or go for a walk. Or spend quality time building relationships with other Ottawa-area pastors.”

Steve and Patti served as missionaries, pastors, and teachers, before leading the One Hope Network in Eugene, Oregon.

The Summit runs from October 17 to 19, at Camp IAWAH.

This is not a prayer conference, says Steve. It is not about trying to gain knowledge. The Summit aims to engage participants directly and personally with God.

It features three “movements”, beginning by looking inwards and upwards.

“You’ll be surrounded by people facing similar challenges who can relate at a deep level.”

“We’ll identify where God is getting our attention, and clarify what areas might need more attention,” Patti explains. “The next movement is horizontal, where participants will practise listening to each other, while the third movement looks outward together, at our city, asking God to teach us afresh.”

Patti stresses that the Summit is a place where participants can “take off their leader hats”.

“They’re off-duty. No one needs them to pastor. Everyone gets to just experience being God’s sons and daughters, to be recipients. You’ll be surrounded by people facing similar challenges who can relate at a deep level.”

After the pressures of leadership during the COVID restrictions, Patti says it helps pastors and ministry leaders to have the chance to get out of the city for a couple days.

“It takes leaders time to settle, unplug, and disengage from emails, texts, and demands. Many Christian leaders don’t create daily space for reflection, contemplation, or solitude. Boundaries need to be reset, and sometimes leaders need permission to do so. That’s what happens at a prayer summit.”

“Times are changing.”

Steve and Patti will help participants tend to their own spiritual lives through worship and contemplative practices like Lectio Divina, a listening-prayer practice. Scripture will provide a foundation for everything.

Anne McGregor is a senior manager in geriatrics and palliative care with Embrace Ministries. She is really looking forward to the Summit.

“I attended the One Way Prayer Summit immediately before the pandemic, and have attended several others. They’re great! They really encourage me by building intimacy with our Lord.”

“Times are changing,” McGregor adds. “The social norms in Canada are shifting in ways we hardly recognize. Christ followers are increasingly misunderstood and side-lined, at best. Yet we are still called to be salt and light, and we need each other to be courageous and wise.”

David Hood, pastor of Southeast City Church, agrees.

“As our culture shifts further away from God, we need Holy Spirit power to stand firm and keep courageously, fearlessly preaching and reaching out, loving, and serving without losing heart. We need prayer, and we need to pray with people who are in it with us—who share our heart. I need to know I’m not alone.”

“We won’t see our city changed by the Gospel if churches are not praying and working together for it,” Hood says. “Prayer is the most essential part.”