From August 22 to 24, the spiritual retreat of the churches of Hainaut (& co) took place. As with the first four editions, we were welcomed at the Protestant center of Amougies. An ideal place offering at the same time a meeting hall, a kitchen-refectory, sufficient rooms, a camping area, sports fields, and a large park conducive to walking and discovering nature. All that was missing were the participants…
About thirty people had already arrived on Friday evening; around fifty others joined for the Sabbath day. Among them, a passionate—and therefore captivating—speaker: Rivan Dos Santos, professor of history and archaeology at the Faculty of Theology in Collonges.
The spiritual theme of the weekend offered many opportunities for reflection and self-examination: “Balance and Unity – A Journey of Faith for Our Church Today.” And they certainly came! Drawing from biblical examples as well as personal anecdotes, Rivan showed us that the challenges faced by Abraham, Sarah, and the disciples have much to teach us. For us, living in a society and a church where diversity, traditions, cultures, and other religions offer as many opportunities as challenges, it is very difficult to find balance and the right middle ground. One aspect of the solution, developed by Rivan, is dialogue, discussions (but not about opinions – Rom. 14:6), humility, prayer, and love in order to remain “one.”
Besides these moments of meditation, we were also able to sing together, share meals, attend workshops, and enjoy times of relaxation… A blessed weekend, and we must not forget to thank all those who took part in the organization. The next meeting is already set for the penultimate weekend of August 2026