Every two years, ministers, ministry workers, and their families from across the Presbyterian Church of NSW (PCNSW) gather for Refresh, a retreat designed not as a conference, not as a training event, but as a deliberate act of pastoral care.

For many who attend, Refresh is a rare chance to rest, reconnect with God, and be surrounded by people who understand the weight and privilege of ministry life.

Few have seen the impact of Refresh more clearly than Rachel Norman, who has been involved with the camp since its earliest form in 1987. We asked her about how this community committed to caring for ministry families has changed over the years.

Why Refresh exists

Ministry is joyful, but it is also costly for ministers, spouses, and children. The pressures of Sunday rhythms, congregational expectations, emotional load, and frequent isolation can slowly erode health and resilience.

Refresh exists as one excellent resource to strengthen health and resilience in ministry.

“Healthy churches come from healthy leaders, and healthy leadership needs healthy families,” Rachel reflects. “That’s why caring for ministry families isn’t optional. It’s essential.”

Subsidised by the PCNSW, Refresh is intentionally accessible to every ministry household. Running midweek (Tuesday–Friday) ensures no one misses a Sunday, and churches are encouraged to treat it as professional care, not holiday leave.

Dave Phillips, PYNSW General Manager says, “It’s a tangible way for Sessions to show care for their minister – for many families, it’s a great boost to the sense of support they feel from their church.”

A place to rest, reconnect, and be known

At its core, Refresh is about creating space. Space for rest and refreshment. Space for relationships with others who understand the unique dynamics of ministry life. Space to reconnect with God through Bible teaching, prayer, and reflection. Space for fun, laughter and lightness that many ministry families rarely get to enjoy together.

Refresh is the only space for specifically those in paid pastoral ministry in PCNSW-ACT and their families, to gather in one place for a couple of days that is not a meeting or a court of the church.

Paul McKendrick, Associate Superintendent of Ministry and Mission shares, “It is a wonderful picture of the diversity of people serving Jesus across our state. Diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, ministry experience, country, coastal and city all together to encourage one another in our relationship with Jesus.”

For adults, the program includes teaching, workshops, discussion groups, and long stretches of downtime.

“Especially for those in rural or isolated contexts,” Rachel explains, “this is one of the few times they’re with people who truly ‘get it.’ You see the relief on their faces when they realise they don’t have to explain their lives.”

Thoughtful care for kids and teens

A defining feature of Refresh is the way it supports the whole family, including children and teenagers, who often feel both the joy and strain of their parents’ ministry.

The PYNSW team coordinates four age-specific programs across the week, toddlers (0–4 years), primary (Kindy–Year 6) and high school, each designed to help kids and youth grow in faith and friendship.

• Toddlers: The youngest children are cared for in a safe environment and enjoy a mix of Bible stories, craft, music, and play, giving them a positive, joyful experience of Christian community.
• Primary: In small groups based on their school year, these children work through a Bible program that involves teaching, small group discussion, craft and songs, as well as activities to help them build relationships with one another and with the leaders.
• High School: Led by experienced PYNSW leaders, many of whom are from ministry families themselves, so they’re able to relate to, and speak into the life experience of the high schoolers. Through Bible talks, small groups, worship, and shared activities, young people are encouraged to explore what it means to follow Jesus for themselves.
• Shared sessions: Each day also includes whole-family worship or creative sessions, reminding everyone that they are part of a wider gospel community that cares for them.

“I tell our leaders, don’t assume these kids are Christians,” Rachel says. “They might know all the right answers, I did, but that doesn’t mean they know Jesus personally. This has to be a safe space for them to ask questions, express doubts, and be real.”

Programs are deliberately relational. Many leaders are ministry kids themselves, offering empathy few others can.

“There’s something freeing about being with other kids who understand what it’s like to be a minister’s kid,” Rachel explains. “They don’t have to pretend. They can just be themselves.”

These split programmes for adults and children run for each morning of camp. After lunch is free time where families can connect with each other and enjoy resting (at something they are not organising!) in the beautiful grounds and bushland of Stanwell Tops. On one afternoon the Women’s Ministry Committee organise an afternoon tea for all the women. A space where women can talk, share and pray with each other.

Each day includes one or two moments where families gather together for worship, stories, or creative activities, a reminder that they are part of a wider gospel community that cares for them deeply.

A long legacy, a renewed purpose

Refresh grew out of a camp called Ministers’ Family Camp, which first began in the mid-1980s. As the needs of ministry households changed, so did the camp. The name “Refresh” reflects its broadened focus for all people in paid pastoral ministry in PCNSW-ACT and their families. They also love retirees serving in ministry to join too.

But the purpose has never changed.

“It’s still about caring for those who care for others,” Rachel says. “The whole heart of Refresh is to love and strengthen the people who are pouring themselves out week after week for the sake of the gospel.”

Paul shares, “Since we have changed to Refresh, at each camp we have looked at one of the five key areas for resilient ministry as identified by Burns, Guthrie and Chapman. Those being: Spiritual Formation, Self Care, Emotional and Cultural Intelligence, Marriage and Family, Leadership Poetry and Plumbing.”

For many, Refresh has become an anchor point in their ministry rhythm. It is a gentle, practical reminder that they are not alone, that the wider church sees them, values them, and is committed to their long-term health.

“This isn’t just another program,” she says. “It’s one of the ways the Presbyterian Church says, ‘We want you to thrive. Not just as ministers or leaders, but as people, as households loved by God.’”

Paul reflects, “As I look across the amazing people at Refresh, it gives me hope in the continual presence of PCNSW-ACT and God willing, growth of God’s kingdom, through PCNSW-ACT for God’s glory into the future.”

The next Refresh will be 20-23 April 2027 at Stanwell Tops looking at Marriage and Family. More details to come as the year progresses.