Children's Ministry Retreat

Lisha Westcott
Lisha Westcott graduated from Pacific Union College with credentials to teach Elementary School and Music. After having children, she felt she wanted to understand her role as a mother and teacher. God led her to study the book Education by summarizing each paragraph. What she discovered gave her a whole new picture of education.  The concept it was portraying was what she termed “discipleship education.”  This means that most learning happens when there is heart to heart and mind to mind communication. She has homeschooled for 24 years, taught in school settings for 5 years, and started a school for the new Amish Secenth-day Adventists in Ohio. She wants to offer perspectives on teaching children using the discipleship model for homeschoolers and classrooms.

Arnold & Sylvia Fischer
Arnold and Sylvia Fischer live in central Idaho. Arnold is a mechanic, and Sylvia has experience as a school teacher and homeschool mom, and is the author and publisher of the Creation Reading Course. They spent 7 years in Zambia, Africa, helping pioneer Riverside Farm Institute. They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Gary Blanchard
If grace means getting what you don’t deserve, then Pastor Gary Blanchard is its poster child! Gary has been married to his best friend Erica Blanchard for 27 years and has three adult children Gary Jr., Ben and Sierra. He has served in ministry for almost thirty years and in a wide range of ministries. He has been a Taskforce Worker, District Pastor, Bible Teacher, Academy Chaplain and Youth Director. For five years he served as the General Conference Youth Director and is currently serving as President of the Northern New England Conference. Gary considers being a husband and Father to be the greatest honor and responsibility a man can have! Gary is never happier than when he is prayer walking in the woods with his two dogs Sadie and Sampson. Gary also intensely enjoys reading the Bible, studying history and teasing his wife! Gary is learning daily to more fully trust in The Lord and has a real passion to see others saved and ready for the return of Jesus!