Inspiring Faith and Hope at Odessa Men’s Annual Retreat

ODESSA, TEX. – The Odessa Seventh-day Adventist Church Men’s Ministries has a special tradition. Every September, the men load up their vehicles and gather at the home of Tim Edgmon, Men’s Ministries director, located on Possum Kingdom Lake, in west Texas. 

Last year, the lakeside retreat took place on Sept. 9-11, 2022, and men from the Odessa church and neighboring church districts, Midland and San Angelo, met again to strengthen their walk with God, and with each other, as brothers in Christ. 

Members like David Gonzalez, who has attended the retreat every year since its inception seven years ago, says it is the highlight of his year.

“It is a weekend full of fellowship. I enjoy listening to my brothers tell their life stories and getting to know each other better,” said Gonzalez. 

This year, the men gathered with a new sense of gratitude and offered praise to God for allowing Tim Edgmon to be present. In December 2021, Edgmon suffered a severe spinal cord injury. He spent the first part of 2022 in the hospital, then in a rehabilitation center, and has been working hard towards a full recovery ever since. 

Edgmon’s brother-in-law, Bob Roberts, was the guest speaker at the retreat and the highlight was Edgmon giving his testimony of the night of his fall down a long steep driveway and the journey that ensued. 

“It was so slick, the ambulance hiked and crawled up to where I was and dragged the [stretcher], put me on it and slid me back down. You couldn’t get any traction at all,” Edgmon said. “God was looking out for me throughout that whole situation, I promise you!” 

Edgmon’s journey of healing has been a tough one. However, his positive attitude, and reliance on Jesus, continues to inspire his fellow brothers and it is what gets him through the dark moments.

The Odessa Men’s Ministry Retreat has always been special to the men of the church, and it now has an even greater and more meaningful significance to them, and to Tim. They were truly blessed by the 2022 retreat and look forward to spending many more retreats together. 

By Conchetta and Scott Huffman