The Retreat. Dijorn Moss
The Retreat
Dijorn Moss
Dedication
To my father:
who never accepted anything
less than my very best.
To my mother:
who always reminded me to enjoy life
because you only live it once.
To my wife and muse, Trinea:
you remind me that without love,
everything we do would be in vain.
And in loving memory of Reggie Dottson:
a great man who will never be forgotten.
Acknowledgments
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for blessing me to write this story. It has been a remarkable journey both mentally and spiritually. To my Uncle Richard and my Aunt Denise, you guys were instrumental in my spiritual growth. Thank you for always being willing to go the extra mile for family. I thank God for my awesome team of readers: Wanda Camp-bell, Mark Porrovecchio, and Dawn Gibson. You guys have pushed me to deliver my best work, and as a result, I am a much better writer. To my mentors: Scott Sublett, Ethel Walker, and Floyd Salas, God gave me the gift and you guys gave me the instructions on how to use it. And I cannot forget my editor, Joylynn Jossel. Thank you again for this opportunity to write for Urban Christian. Thank you for always seeing ways in which my writing can become better. To my uncles Jeryle and Julius, you guys are the epitome of conquerors. Sistahs in Conversations book club, you ladies are amazing, and I am grateful for all of your hard work. To my grandmother, Ruth Jonice, you continue to personify strength. To my grandparents in Miami, Nana and Grandpa Moss, I love you guys. I consider myself blessed to have two great stepparents in David and Elainna; thank you guys for all of your love and support. To City of Refuge, Bible Way Christian Center, and Alondra Church of Christ, thank you for being great church homes, both past and present. To the men who labor tirelessly for the will of God, I see you. Your efforts are not in vain and this book is for you guys. Finally, to you, the reader, thank you for taking this journey with me. I love you, and may God bless you!
What are people saying about The Retreat?
“The Retreat is a realistic and comical look into the hearts of men. Dijorn Moss masterfully dispels the myth that men don’t have issues and guides them to a breakthrough.”
—Wanda B. Campbell, author of Illusions
“The Retreat is an interesting, entertaining and intriguing story. I am so glad to read a refreshing story like The Retreat literally because of its welcoming change by a man’s point of view. You wrote a believable tale using captivating, everyday men.”
—Shelia E. Lipsey, author of My Son’s Wife
“Soul stirring! Finally, a story about men by a man. Dijorn Moss has developed memorable characters facing tough situations whose journeys all lead them to God’s truth. He has easily earned his place as one of Christian fiction’s best storytellers.”
—Rhonda McKnight, author of Secrets and Lies
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Epilogue
Reader’s Group Guide Questions
Urban Christian His Glory Book Club!
Prologue
No matter how much the congregation of Greater Anointing Christian Center danced and shouted, when Bishop Dawkins approached the pulpit in his traditional black robe, everyone within the 2,500-seat sanctuary pushed the noise level higher. Standing there, taking the celebration in, it seemed as if there wasn’t a pulpit big enough to balance his six-and-a-half-foot frame.
A former college basketball player, Bishop Dawkins leaned in with his left elbow on the pulpit as he held a microphone in his hand. His right hand scratched his white beard as his hazel eyes peered out into the vastness of the crowd. The choir positioned behind Pastor Dawkins took their seats. The musicians to the right of him started to phase out their play.
“It’s marvelous that in spite of all that we go through in our lives, we can come together and show God that He is still number one in our lives,” Pastor Dawkins said.
The congregation responded with a shower of “Amen’s.” It was a largely, and frustratingly, feminine chorus. Low male membership was a common problem in most pre-dominantly African American churches. Men found all kinds of excuses for not being present in church on Sunday mornings. Football, baseball, and now even—God forbid—mixed martial arts.
They did not mind if their wives and girlfriends attended church, so long as they did not boast about their male pastors too much. Men are very territorial and competitive by nature; that is why Bishop Dawkins took pride in the fact that, though low, the male membership was still higher at Greater Anointing than at other churches in the area.
His flock was the result of his approach. His teachings were sound, scripturally based, and community focused. He demanded accountability, especially from men. As a middle-aged, single pastor, he was mindful of his interactions with the women in the congregation, avoiding any hint of impropriety that would tar him with the whisper of “womanizer” or “hypocrite.”
“As you know, around this time of the year, the men of Greater Anointing get together for our annual Men’s Retreat,” Pastor Dawkins’s raspy voice bellowed.
The men in the congregation started to clap and shout praises to God. The first weekend in October brought forth the rebirth of the sanctified male. With one hand on the razor-thin Bible pages, Bishop Dawkins took a look back at the few men in the choir.
“Our theme for this year is ‘Stand Up and Be Accounted For,’” Bishop Dawkins