What is a Church Retreat? What Does a Good Retreat Center Offer? |
Posted: October 25, 2016 |
A church retreat provides a great opportunity for Christians to spend some time AWAY from normal activities and to focus on getting reacquainted with God and each other. During a retreat, you and your fellow churchgoers have all the time you need to pray, contemplate, and bond. All too often people get so caught up in day-to-day activities that they forget or neglect the things that matter the most. When planning a church retreat, one of the first things you need to do is decide on a center. How will your church be able to make an itinerary and budget if you don’t even know exactly where you are going?
Example of a Retreat Center The ideal center should be located in a quiet, peaceful setting surrounded by beautiful scenery. Mountain and hill sanctuaries are always popular with church goers. The center should be able to provide enough accommodation for as many nights as you need. Whether the entire church is going on the retreat or only a few members, everyone should have comfortable accommodations. Retreat centers not only offer lodging, but activities as well. If you have a particular theme in mind, you’ll want to take your group to a facility that offers the right type of activities. Are there any outdoor activities your church will be interested in? Sports? Swimming? Hiking? There should also be a relaxing indoor environment for those who would prefer the conveniences of “home” for the duration of the retreat. Just in case of bad weather, a retreat center should have plenty of indoor recreational activities. For the youth, some centers offer camp opportunities, such as day camp for younger kids and special programs for teens. For prayer meetings and special events, there should be a conference room large enough to fit everyone in your group. The staff at the center should help you organize the meetings and make sure that every session and presentation runs smoothly.
Core Principles Some retreat centers are Christian-oriented, and some are not. Meet with the staff beforehand, or at least inquire about them over the phone or email to ensure that they share your values. Most centers will have a section on their websites describing their beliefs and principles. With the right conversation, resources, activities, and sense of community, your church members can get the spiritual direction they need to lead a more fulfilling life. When you have a church retreat location in mind, it’s time to identify your goals. What is the purpose of the retreat? What does everyone hope to achieve? Even if you’re only planning an overnight retreat, a lot can happen in that one night.
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