How
to Plan a Retreat
Have
you found yourself on the planning committee for a ministry retreat
and you don’t know where to start? Maybe your church wants to have a
marriage retreat or a planning retreat for the youth counselors, or
a mother/daughter getaway? When the ladies in our church decided to
have a retreat, I quickly volunteered to set the wheels in motion. I
have been on the receiving end with attending wonderful getaways,
and knew this was a way I could give back to others. Now in the
planning stage for our fourth retreat, I’ve gleaned some ideas for
successful gatherings.
7
Suggestions for Planning Your Own Special Time
1.
Pray. Bathe the process in prayer. Ask the Lord to lead every step.
The Lord is the only One who can enable a harvest to be
gleaned.
2. Process information. Look for materials that are
conducive to small group study for your retreat’s theme. This sets
the stage for corporate worship as well as small group
introspection. The first year, we used Bruce Wilkinson’s "Secrets of
the Vine." It was perfect for creating community.
3. Ponder the
length of your retreat. Will two days accomplish what you want to
do, or do you need three? We chose two, Friday and Saturday, to keep
from pulling our women out of all the roles they fill at Sunday
morning church.
4. Pick your location. Do you want a camp setting
or hotel splurging? Although we liked feeling pampered at the resort
we were at last year, the leadership team chose to return to the
retreat center of the prior two years. We missed the atmosphere of
the camp chapel for our worship times!
5. Plan for fun. Women
need opportunities to let go of responsibilities back home. Schedule
table games, swimming, campfires or free time. Build in time to
unwind and to build rapport with each other.
6. Present the
information to your women. Posters, brochures and announcements
build the anticipation. Add the 5 w’s and an h to make sure they
have the facts needed to take time off of work and get families
settled at home.
7. Prepare your volunteers. Don’t be a Lone
Ranger in the details. Delegate specific activities to others and
let them take ownership in the event. This also multiplies the
creative ideas that happen when you brainstorm
together!
Retreats are a great way to get to know other
people. They help us to move beyond shallow relationships to be
support systems in our walk with the Lord. We all benefit from
getting away from home to study God’s Word. Truths stick out and
implant themselves deeper. Retreats also provide refreshment from
the routine, renewal for the rigors of daily life, and rededication
to God’s purposes. What could be better?!
Retreat
Resources
Step
outside of your comfort zone when you plan. What topics are relevant
to your group? Look online for ideas and to learn from others’
experiences. Here are some sites to get you
started.
http://www.righttotheheart.com/women/index2.htm
http://www.womensministry.net/
http://www.ctainc.com/store/Retreats_Special_Occasions?Args=
“Arise,
My darling, My beautiful one, and come with Me.” Song of Songs 2:10
|
Proverbs
25:11
A
word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold
in settings
of silver.
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Sally
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979 Southwestern Dr
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14701
sallyswords@alltel.net
(716)488-1254
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