Footsteps of Jesus: United Methodists gather to learn more about walking with the Lord

By Jessica Brodie

NORTH CHARLESTON—United Methodists across the state headed to the North Charleston Marriott Feb. 6-8 for the Adult Spiritual Life Retreat, many of them hungry for a word from Dr. Lois Tverberg, author of “Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus.”

The granddaughter of a Lutheran missionary, Tverberg left behind a Ph.D. in biology to research the Bible in its Middle Eastern setting. In addition to authoring several books on the topic, she also travels to speak and teach about what she has discovered on Jesus’s first-century world.

In addition to wisdom from Tverberg, the Adult Spiritual Life Retreat also featured a number of workshops—on holy listening, on prayer, on grief, on leaving a lasting legacy, on spiritual maturity and on retirement. Presenters included Tverberg along with Upper Room Ministry workshop leaders Whitney Simpson, William Randolph, Thomas Hawkins, Hess B. “Doc” Hall Jr. and Jack Hansen.

In between the sessions, attendees enjoyed snacks, viewed the movie “Hidden Figures” and had a Hulapalooza event in honor of Bishop Jonathan Holston.

“Our prayer for the week was that those who came took ideas and inspiration with them when they headed home so that they could share a little of the experience with their congregations,” said Ruth Hughes, Chair of Adult Ministries.

For more on adult ministry offerings from the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, click here.