To any concerned Brother or Sister in Christ:
I am writing this letter today to share with any Christian who has questions or concerns about Tres Dias.
I am a life-long Southern Baptist. I am as conservative theologically as any Southern Baptist you would meet. I served as a pastor for six years, before serving as a missionary in Venezuela for 12 years with the International Mission Board, SBC. I currently serve as Director of Missions for the Bledsoe Baptist Association (an organization of 42 SBC churches) inGallatin,TNsince 1995.
In 1997 I was invited to attend a Tres Dias Weekend by some good friends from First Baptist Hendersonville, Tennessee. Because I knew they loved me and cared about my ministry, I was open to attending.
It was a wonderful weekend. When I describe my weekend to others I use these words: “It was an amazing encounter with God where I was placed in an atmosphere of unconditional love and servanthood. Ordinary people loved me and served me just because they loved Jesus. It was a special demonstration of God’s love, goodness, and grace.”
What is Tres Dias? It is a three-day renewal weekend that is lay led, but also has the involvement of 3 to 4 pastors on each weekend. It’s an opportunity to take three days and listen to God. The whole point is to strengthen Christian leaders for greater service in their churches, jobs, families, and communities. On a weekend participants hear other laymen and laywomen (on a Women’s Weekend) share talks that include personal testimony and teaching on topics like study, the Body of Christ in action, how to make a difference where you live, the church, and others. Pastors speak on Grace and how to live a life of grace and complete dependence on God. The pastors provide what I call the theological framework of the weekend. Of course, great music and food abound as well as prayer and sharing in small groups.
What Tres Dias is not. It is not a substitute for the church, nor is it in competition with the church. It is not a secret society. It is not part of any conspiracy toward “one world church” back under the Roman Catholic umbrella. It is not something to be feared. For more information please go to www.tresdias.org
A few years ago, Baptist Press released an article critical of Tres Dias. It circulated in some Baptist papers and in SBC Life. The article, while well-written by a professional, well-intentioned, Christian journalist, did not give what I consider to be a true picture of Tres Dias. Unfortunately, much of the article was based on the opinions of one person who did not have a good experience at a weekend. Other opinions given in the article were by people with only “third hand” experience of Tres Dias. That is, they know primarily what others have told them.
In this letter, it is not my purpose to challenge rumors you may have heard about Tres Dias, Emmaus Walk, or other renewal weekends. All I would ask is that, before making up your mind or believing what you may have heard, you would talk to someone like me who has first-hand experience in Tres Dias. I would consider it a joy to share with you personally about Tres Dias and exactly what you could expect on a weekend.
By the way, I have sent several of my pastors on weekends. They all have had excellent experiences. God spoke to them and brought personal renewal to them. Some experienced healing of damaged emotions. Others received renewed vision for their ministries. All experienced great affirmation and love. All have encouraged others from their churches to attend.
As I close, please let me address one rumor. You may have heard that there are “secrets” in Tres Dias or that it is a “secret society.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. There are no secrets in Tres Dias, there are only a few special surprises, serendipity moments, if you will, that serve to make God’s unconditional love and grace even more real and personal to the participants. We encourage those who attend to go back
to their churches and be the most faithful, hard working, pastor serving and supporting church members they can be. We encourage participants who leave the weekend to share openly about the lay-led talks, worship times, and devotionals. Most important to remember: it is the atmosphere of prayer, unconditional love, and demonstrated servanthood that makes a TD Weekend special; not the occasional surprises.
I personally found that Tres Dias exalts the church, honors the pastor, and promotes evangelism and discipleship. It unconditionally challenges every Christian to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, His church, the pastor, and others. What could be wrong with that?
Is Tres Dias perfect or to be a substitute for the Church? Absolutely not. But I confess honestly, as a life-long Southern Baptist, that I was blessed by attending. I have been blessed, additionally, by serving on many weekends. I have seen many people set free from past hurts and personal pain through God’s unconditional love and forgiveness that years of counseling had not been able to do.
Is Tres Dias for everyone? Probably not. It is for growing Christians who have a desire to serve and walk closely with God. A well-meaning person should never send a friend with great problems on a weekend, hoping they will “get fixed.” It’s not for everyone just as every man doesn’t enjoy Promise Keepers. A mega-church is not for everyone either; many prefer a smaller fellowship.
Tres Dias has personally blessed me. I pray that you will be open and become informed before you make up your mind. Additionally, Gene Mims, past Vice President of LifeWay and current pastor ofJudsonBaptistChurch,Nashvillehas attended and still works on weekends. Bob Franklin, formerly of NAMB and current DOM of Macon Baptist Association,MaconGAattended and had a great experience with the Lord, too. Please feel free to contact me.
May God bless you and give you peace. John 15:5, 7-8, 13
In His Amazing Grace,
Mike Pennington
Well Said!