Our gathering may be well summed up by one sister who said, "I want to Honor Father God for what He has done among us and melting all our hearts together in one unity as a family. I am thankful for all the open-heart sharing, which I truly treasure and is far beyond my expectation and imagination. To God be the glory!"

What a joy and honor it was to be able to allow the hearts of 18 church and ministry leaders to be knit in love for one another. For three days we gathered without agenda except to share our hearts and corporately seek God's destiny for our city. The group was intimate and small so we were able to bond in a very deep way. Although each of us is responsible for local congregations or ministries, we came together as sons and daughters of God (and as a family) and talked about ourselves as people, our families, our dreams, and we were not allowed to talk about our work or ministry!

We became transparent, and we opened ourselves up to be vulnerable. We were not afraid of judgment because we felt safe with each other, as each of us was being honest about personal things. By opening up to one another and showing tender care for one another, we walked out the truth that "if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7)."

One brother wrote: “Thank you for investing the time into being together these past few days. God has done amazing things amongst us. Most of all He is just pleased that we came together attempting and practicing to be family. I thank you so much for not judging me and standing together as family. I want to celebrate this great joy with you all. Glory to our heavenly Father whose love surpasses our knowledge and continues to amaze us with how much more He loves than we can comprehend.”

The vision of God reigning in Hong Kong is a common vision that drew us together. We know that our congregations and ministries are part of His plan and humbly we confess that, while we may have a part of this vision, we need each other to fulfill the entire plans of God. That is why we called the gathering “Seeking God’s Destiny for Hong Kong Retreat.” As we pursue to fulfill his calling and purpose for us as people, communities, and city that, no matter what trial or challenge, whether famine or fatness, we will not miss the mark.

A sister who ministers in the marketplace noted, "I began to see that a lot of pre-conceived ideas about one another fell off, and I began to see others as God shows. A lot of new solid relationships were built from this as walls between some of us were torn down with a fresh perspective of one another. We could be honest, in particular, marketplace Christians, about ourselves and how we look at Hong Kong and the world and how we also have a special perspective to give. I found this affirming and know it is right in the sight of God."

One couple said, “We have been transformed by your love and honesty! Today, we brought this culture [of trust and love] back to our company and everything changed! Thank you Father and thank you everyone!”

We will continue to inquire of the Lord of His ways and purposes that we might be able to see God's destiny fulfilled in each other, in our city, and in our generation. As we start trusting each other, we pray that we will be guarded so this trust remains. Thank you for your prayer of faith.

As a parting word, one sister commented, “There's nothing more powerful than this Love that we carry. Let us continue to love each other and to love those who are lost in the world, and WE WILL SEE His Kingdom come and His will be done HERE TODAY on earth as it is in heaven.”