When District Superintendent (DS) Dr. Devon Smith first proposed an “Encouragement Adventure” for the Tri-State District Board of Administration (DBA), the idea was simple: visit churches across the district, hear their stories, and spend intentional time praying for pastors and their families. What began as a request to see more of the churches the DBA serves has quickly become an annual tradition, one that is strengthening both churches and leaders throughout the district.
The heart behind the adventure
Church leadership can often feel lonely. Pastors and their families quietly carry the weight of ministry, facing challenges that others may never see. The Encouragement Adventure was born from a desire to remind these pastors that they are not alone, but seen, known and prayed for.
“Sometimes just showing up, listening and praying communicates more than any program or plan ever could,” one DBA member reflected. Another added, “I love that we have the ability to show our pastors how much we care through the gift of presence.”
The adventure is not about inspection or evaluation. Instead, it is about presence. DBA members come as learners, listeners, and sisters and brothers in Christ, eager to celebrate what God is doing in each church.
A walk through stories and spaces
Every stop is different. Some churches tell stories of humble beginnings, small gatherings in homes or rented facilities that have grown into thriving communities of faith. Others share about relocations, building projects or creative ways they have adapted older spaces to meet new ministry needs.
Along the way, there are lighthearted moments too. Sometimes refreshments are shared or DBA members find themselves playing games in a youth room. For many churches, having a chance to “show and tell” about their facilities and ministries is a gift in itself. As one pastor explained, “Just being able to walk someone through our story and pray together was an encouragement that I will carry with me.”
Prayers that linger
The heartbeat of every visit is prayer. After hearing the church’s story, the DBA circles around the pastor and his or her family to pray. If the church is in transition, the board prays for lay leaders and members who are carrying added responsibilities.
One DBA member described how these moments of prayer continue long after the trip ends:
“I love praying for our pastors and hearing those requests so that when we are in prayer later, we can picture the building, the pastor and their family. I still pray for one church whose pastor asked us to pray for a house to sell so the church could extend its property. I can still see that place in my mind every time I lift them up in prayer.”
Prayer is not a formality on these trips; it is the very heartbeat of the Encouragement Adventure.
A blessing beyond the meetings
While the district does cover some hotel expenses for these trips, most meals are generously provided by the churches or individuals. Pastors take pride in hosting and often gather members to provide a meal. This hospitality is more than food, it is fellowship.
The cost is small compared to the blessings received. Pastors walk away encouraged and DBA members walk away inspired. “Our visits encourage our pastors and give them an opportunity to get to know the DBA and to cast vision and share stories of how the Holy Spirit is working in and through the church,” DS Smith explained. “Additionally, it gives the DBA a chance to tour the property and consider the context and location of the church. That way, if we ever have to make a tough decision, we are not making it in a vacuum.”
Growing together as a team
The Encouragement Adventure is not just a gift to pastors, it is also shaping the DBA itself. Members describe these road trips as opportunities to connect in ways that regular meetings cannot.
“One of the things I truly enjoy is getting to know fellow board members on a deeper level,” one DBA member shared. “Road trips together create those opportunities … What a blessing it is!”
Others spoke of the benefit of onboarding new DBA members through these visits. Seeing churches firsthand provides a scope of the district’s ministry that cannot be captured on paper. “In person is just better,” one lay member put it.
DS Smith added, “Not only does the visit encourage our pastors, but also the laity who are very grateful for the opportunity to meet and talk to the district leadership team.”
Why it matters
One of the district leadership’s challenges is keeping connection strong across such a wide geographical area. The Tri-State District spans Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, each with unique communities, cultures and needs. It would be easy for pastors to feel isolated.
But when the DBA shows up — some traveling over 400 miles to be there — to walk their buildings, listen to their stories and lay hands on them in prayer, pastors know they are part of something bigger. “Sometimes just 20 minutes of prayer and presence reminds them they are loved and not forgotten,” one DBA member said.
Looking ahead
As the Encouragement Adventure has become an annual tradition each September, it has shaped the district leadership’s culture. Instead of only gathering in boardrooms or around budgets, the DBA now gathers in sanctuaries, fellowship halls and youth rooms. They are learning to lead with presence before policy and prayer before planning.
“Our DBA team has grown closer together as a result of these trips,” DS Smith reflected. “We believe that by investing time, travel and prayer into our pastors, we are sowing seeds of encouragement that will continue to bear fruit for years to come.”
A final reflection
What began as a simple idea has blossomed into something powerful. Each tour is a reminder that the church is not just buildings or programs, but people, pastors, families, leaders and congregations
As the Tri-State District looks to the future, the hope is that this tradition will continue to inspire not only the DBA, but every pastor and leader across the district. For in the end, encouragement is not just an event, it is a way of life, a ministry and a gift that strengthens the entire body of Christ.
Terri Busch is a graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a communications professional and northwest Oklahoma pastor’s wife. She has a heart for encouragement and loves using words to inspire and uplift others, always striving to honor God in all she does.
