War Retreat Soul Care, Pastor Sons Guitar Hobby

When the IMB’s Mike Domke looked at a network of 60 Ukrainian pastors and missionaries, he knew that’s exactly what they needed — to rest and rejuvenate by doing nothing. The needed a retreat.

Since the war began, the word “rest” has not been in their vocabulary. Most opened their homes and churches to the displaced. They shuffled many to the borders to safety.

This network of ministers cared for the physical and spiritual needs within the country of Ukraine. The ministers and their families put feet to generous financial gifts. Food packets were provided for close to 95,000 families while more than 69,000 hot meals were prepared for those seeking temporary shelter from the combat zones. This group shared the gospel with 42,000 people; close to 1,000 of those made professions of faith.
The War Retreat was the first time many had an opportunity to slow down and process.
Domke said the goal of this retreat was to allow people to talk through the trauma and hardships. Ministers often end up hearing others’ problems but rarely have someone to share their own burdens.

It was safe to talk about the pain of loss and voice their nightmares. This was a place to cry, pray and praise God … a place to celebrate lives transformed by the gospel and people baptized.
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Pastor Greg Gilbreath of Madison Baptist Church has always enjoyed both playing and repairing his own guitars.

Two of his sons — Sam and Ben — also enjoy playing the guitar while his third son, Nic, is a woodworker. Sam Gilbreath is minister of youth and plays in the worship band at Meridian Baptist Church in Jackson while Ben is a folk musician.

After learning about Instruments of Joy from Scott Shepherd, worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, Gilbreath and his sons decided to provide a guitar for the Nashville-based organization that provides musical instruments to equip musicians who live in poverty-stricken communities who cannot afford instruments.

Since its founding, Instruments of Joy has provided more than 750 instruments in over 70 countries by working with partners, such as the TBMB, who have established relationships in many of those countries.

Gilbreath and his sons purchased a blank guitar body and the electronics for the guitar. He shared what they were doing with Madison Baptist and Madison-Chester Baptist Association and both entities provided additional funds. After the guitar was complete they had enough funds to send “extras” with the guitar, including a hard shell case, an amplifier, extra strings and more.

The Gilbreaths guitar ended up in the hands of Edieberto, the worship leader at Central Baptist Church in Peru.

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