We, the MSD team, shut down our office in Frutigen for a day and met up with our friends at CLZ Spiez for the MSD retreat. We can look back on an encouraging day with gratitude. I would like to give you a brief insight into what we were able to experience together on that day. Three things in particular stuck with me:

Firstly: the team. Once again, I felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the MSD team. We are not “just” colleagues, but above all friends. The warm, authentic, and cordial atmosphere makes a day like this here in Spiez particularly enjoyable. With this team, discussing vision, deadlines, and strategies during the retreat is not a tedious chore, but a joy and a privilege. We are different, with different talents, views, and interests. But what unites us is the desire to connect people with God. It is a great gift to be part of the MSD team.

Secondly: our friends. We deliberately chose not to hold the retreat in our own homes, but at the home of our friends at CLZ Spiez. In God’s kingdom, we are not “loners,” but are allowed to walk together. In this “walking together,” we can learn from each other. I was encouraged to hear from Markus and Joel Bettler, the pastors of CLZ, on this day. They shared their vision, strategy, and challenges with us. The exchange was enriching and inspiring. An important insight was that the external forms—that is, “how” we build the kingdom of God—are less important than the vision that drives us. Why do we do what we do? – a valuable question for the retreat – and perhaps for you too?

Thirdly: humor is an important and healthy part of a team. I really appreciate the relaxed, family atmosphere at MSD. At this year’s retreat, this was expressed through a somewhat unusual lunch. All employees were asked to bring a tin can of their choice – without a label. In return, everyone was allowed to explain why they had chosen that particular can. Between funny and profound stories, a colorful bouquet of narratives emerged before we ventured into the somewhat challenging task of planning the menu. In the end, we sat close together and enjoyed a meal that was as diverse as our team.

We can look back on our retreat with gratitude and encouragement. It was not a waste of time – on the contrary. We were encouraged anew and were able to focus on what is essential: our God, who unites us. Our vision remains to connect people with this God as well.

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