Pastor Renewal Retreat
Pastor Renewal Retreat: Standing Strong in Challenging Times
with Don Wilton
Worship Leader, Mark Christian
April 6-8, 2026
Every minister of the Gospel needs to be encouraged and strengthened. Despite the challenges of serving the Lord Jesus and the reality of spiritual warfare, Paul points God’s servants to the “eternal encouragement” (2 Thessalonians 2:16, NIV) given by the grace of Jesus Christ. As you spend time in Scripture, you’ll be encouraged to re-discover your God-given purpose and fortify your commitment to follow Christ by ministering to those around you even when tough times come.
Don Wilton
DON WILTON served as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for almost three decades. He is the founder and president of The Encouraging Word broadcast ministry. He has previously been a faculty member for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Schools of Evangelism and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Don continues to teach on university and seminary campuses while also serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He is an author, and his book Saturdays with Billy details the 20 years he served as Billy Graham’s friend and pastor. His other works include When God Prayed; A Hope and A Future: Overcoming Discouragement; Praying for a Miracle; Defying the Odds: Standing Up When You Want to Give Up; Undefeated: God’s Strategy for Successful Living; and Forgiven: The Power of the Cross. Don has hosted Christian tours of the Holy Land for a total of 45 years. He and his wife, Karyn, have two sons, a daughter, and ten grandchildren. All of their children are involved in ministry.
Mark Christian
Mark Christian is the Lead and Worship Arts Pastor at First Baptist Charlotte in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. He has led worship and hosted at various events with the BGEA and at Will Graham Celebrations domestically and internationally. A modern worship artist and leader who has received award nominations, Mark won a Golden Award for his album, “Ozark Mountain Christmas.”