Sixty men from 12 congregations in the Central District of Costa Rica gathered for the retreat Corro a los brazos de mi Padre (I Run to My Father’s Arms), held at the facilities of the Church of the Nazarene in San Rafael de Coronado, in late November 2025. The retreat focused on inner healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation with Christ.
The Varones a Imagen de Dios (VID) (Men in God’s Image) ministry—a Nazarene ministry dedicated to ministering to and spiritually supporting men—organized the retreat. Under the leadership of Wilberth Picado Gaitán, district VID director, the gathering created space for personal and spiritual restoration, reminding each participant that God not only forgives—he also transforms and renews.
Four plenary sessions were held throughout the day, designed to lovingly challenge, bring hope, and lead men to practical steps before the Lord:
- Enfrentando al espejo (Facing the Mirror) — Felipe Flores
- Venciendo desde adentro (Overcoming from Within) — Wilberth Picado
- Testimonio de Vida (Life Testimony) — Manuel Calderón
- Corro a los brazos de mi Padre (I Run to My Father’s Arms) — Carlos de la Cruz
In addition, times of personal reflection and ministry helped many identify internal burdens, seek forgiveness, and walk toward freedom in Christ.
A team made up of Aaron Fernández (lead vocals and guitar); John Picado (electric guitar and backing vocals); Mainor González (keyboard); David Serrano (bass); and Donovan Zúñiga (drums) together supported the worship sessions.
The retreat created an atmosphere of trust and openness, where men could speak honestly and receive ministry without fear or prejudice. Ronald González, a participant, shared: “I left full of God… I felt something come off of me… it was anger… But now I live in the freedom of Christ, believing that he is in control of everything.”
Pastor Ricardo León highlighted the spiritual impact of the day: “The experience of participating in a retreat is invaluable… the ministry moments and the preaching of the Holy Word were wonderful… this tool is vital for the growth of the Lord’s work.”
For his part, Warner Durán emphasized the importance of fellowship formed among the men: “Listening to the men’s conversations, without prejudice, created an atmosphere of trust… seeing what the Holy Spirit did… was a blessing.”
In the same spirit, several participants agreed that the sessions helped them to identify deep wounds, surrender personal battles to God, and leave with renewed commitment to walk in integrity. For many, the gathering became a meaningful “pause along the way” to reorder priorities, strengthen devotional life, and take concrete steps toward restoration at home.
The retreat, the first of its kind, will be held every two years. Meanwhile, in 2026, the VID ministry will continue hosting services and zone-based gatherings, especially considering the churches in the district that have not yet had the opportunity to participate.