Inhale, Exhale: Theoasis Offered 'Time to Breathe'

Doing ministry has always been hard, but in this current day and age, it can be exhausting. Sometimes you just need some time to breathe.

That’s why, from October 13-15, 2026, almost a hundred pastors, deacons, youth leaders, lay leaders, church staff members, and other ministry leaders in both Pacifica and Southwest California synods returned one last time to the high desert of La Quinta, California, for Theoasis.

It was a time of recuperative collaboration, as several guest speakers offered insights into self-care, refreshment, and encouragement to continue carrying out the gospel mission wherever the Lord might lead.

But first, there was an acknowledgment of the reality of ministry today from Regina Q. Banks, California Executive Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy, who delivered the sermon during opening worship.

“If you are exhausted or discouraged or not doing well in this particular time, it is understandable,” Banks said. “But something happens when another human being sees something life-affirming in you and names it. And something just enough from just the right place that allows us to keep going is a blessing.”

Henry Rojas, a writer and spiritual director and one of the pair of guest speakers invited to this year’s Theoasis, affirmed that idea and took it even further.

“Your mere existence is of great worth,” Rojas said, delivering a message that spoke to the hearts of the ministry professionals in attendance. “What you do is the fulfillment of the desire of your heart that coincides with God's will. You are more valuable to God than your occupation.”

Molly Knutson-Keller, an ELCA pastor, life coach, Enneagram coach, and somatic practitioner, spoke eloquently about identity and the authentic self, helping the attendees diagnose the places where they might need healing and providing tools to help bring that about.

“There are so many things that can pull us away from ourselves,” Knutson-Keller said. “How do we stay with ourselves when the people around us are difficult?”

The answer, among other things, is to remember a key truth that can be a balm to the often alienating vocational minister.

“We are not alone,” Knutson-Keller said. “We belong to one another.”

In addition to encouraging words from speakers, there was also a worship service led by Rev. Manuel Retamoza, pastor of Border Church, who demonstrated the exact worship liturgy they use on Sunday afternoons at the border.

“The wall is huge,” Rev. Retamoza said, “but the altar of Jesus is bigger.”

The attendees also heard from Southwest California Synod Bishop Brenda Bos, who presided over the opening worship, and Pacifica Synod Bishop David Nagler, who held a Q&A session to close out the event.

This will be the final Theoasis in La Quinta, as the synods announced that, after over 40 years in the desert, next year’s event will be held in Idyllwild, California. Though the location change is not intended to reflect the larger cultural changes among the church, it’s still appropriate, as Bishop Nagler sees it.

“We have to figure out what faithfulness looks like ‘now,’ and that 'now' changes daily,” he said. “We have more and more colleagues struggling to do the work they're called to do. I want our churches to be a place where people can say, 'I have this divine wacky idea,' and we can say to them, 'Go forth and be wacky.'"