Nationally touring artist, author, and activator of joy Joe Davis will guide pastoral leaders through his signature method of communal practices that integrate journaling, mindful movement, and creativity. Joe’s work is rooted in the belief that joy is not merely an emotion but a spiritual practice—one that sustains us in challenging seasons and reconnects us to the sacredness of our own stories.
For many pastors, the ongoing demands of ministry leave little room to tend your inner life. This retreat offers space to exhale, reconnect with your body and spirit, and rediscover the playful, restorative dimensions of creativity. Through reflective writing, embodied exercises, and shared moments of imaginative expression, participants will explore how joy and meaning emerge when we engage more deeply with ourselves and one another.
While the retreat centers your personal well-being, these practices may also spark ideas for nurturing belonging, connection, and resilience within the congregations you serve. By immersing yourself in these rhythms, you may find renewed pathways for cultivating environments where authenticity and joy can flourish.
You will leave with a personalized wellness calendar, an accountability system to sustain your growth, and a renewed sense of wholeness and inner liberation.
View key details below and click here for a flyer with details. Register here.
When? Sunday – Wednesday, April 26-29, 2026
Where? Cedar Valley, West Bend, Wisconsin
What should I expect? This event can be what you need it to be. From a selection of workshops and options to spend time in community or in solitude, you will leave this time in Wisconsin with a better grasp on your personal wellness journey.
Who will guide us?
Joe Davis is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility. He is the founder and director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, an artist collective teaching holistic health and wellness practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater, film, and dance. Joe holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology of the Arts and also heads a multimedia production company, a soul funk band, and a racial justice education program. His work has been featured on BET, MPR, CNN, VH1, and the Twin Cities CW. Based in Minneapolis, he tours internationally to join schools, faith spaces, nonprofits, businesses, and correctional facilities to practice envisioning and embodying a world of collective liberation and human flourishing. To connect, book, or learn more, visit JoeDavisPoetry.com.
How much does it cost?
The registration fee includes lodging and meals.
- Participants from the OPSF region: Double occupancy is $200. Single occupancy is $350.
- Participants from outside the OPSF region: Double occupancy is $250. Single occupancy is $400.
- Are you a PLR participant or alum? For full PLR participants, this event was included in your PLR registration cost.
- For PLR alums — double occupancy is $100, single occupancy is $250.
- Are you serving a Micro Church or find the cost prohibitive? Contact OPSF’s Director of Programs, the Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas, at programs@opsf-omaha.org for scholarship information.
Questions? Contact Tricia Dillon Thomas at programs@opsf-omaha.org.