Retreats...

[Frecs]

Have you attended a religious retreat that impacted your life in a positive way? If so, was it a "women's only" or mixed? What type of retreat was it? Was there something in particular that made it live changing for you?

[miepie]

I just talked with Charles about this, how I loved to go on a retreat for married couples! Unfortunately they don't have those in the Netherlands........ and I probably wouldn't be able to do it physically...... but the idea is very nice!

Love you lots,
Mieke

[beckisted2004]

When I was a freshman in college our college group had a retreat. It was co-ed, but the most impactful parts of the retreat were women-only sessions or alone time that I had with the Lord there. I honestly don't even remember everything they did, but they had picked a bunch of people from the group to lead sessions on different topics (everything from body image to spiritual gifts). The worship, alone time with God, games, and meal times were set, but it was nice having options for the sessions. It was a really great way for God to meet us where each of us were at the time and the small groups made it a perfect environment for vulnerability, fellowship, and deep discussions. I learned so much in those sessions! It was a really impactful time for me.

Just recently, I went on a women-only retreat and I was hoping for a similar experience. It was a nice time to fellowship with some of the women in my church, but it didn't have the same impact. About 90% of the weekend was either singing or reading devotionals to the group. As much as I love both of those things, I really like some spiritual "meat" interspersed in between. I don't think I fully attribute that to the fact that it was a women's-only retreat, but that may have been a factor.

Oh, and last year my husband and I went to Family Life's "A Weekend to Remember" marriage retreat. It was amazing! Most lectures were given to the full group (hundreds of people), but there was one lecture that they separated the husbands and the wives. Both Daniel and I benefitted so much from everything they did! Their lectures included lots of Scripture and hilarious anecdotes that were so easy for us to relate to. During some of the breaks, they would give us an assignment to do either with our spouse or individually. The one that impacted the most was when we were supposed to separate and write each other a love letter (they even had topics to help you think about things you might include). It was the sweetest letter he's ever written me and I still read it often! They gave us little notebooks with outlines of the lectures and activities, which was a great idea. I use that little thing all the time to remind me of some of the things I learned. We would go back in a heartbeat!

[Dani H]

Oh, and last year my husband and I went to Family Life's "A Weekend to Remember" marriage retreat.

My husband and I went to one of those. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Like my pastor says, "if you're not actively working on your marriage, you're neglecting it and moving backward."

We went to one this year which wasn't technically a "retreat" because it was a couple of live stream broadcasts on a Friday night and Saturday morning but it still counts in my book. It wasn't hosted by Family Life. Can't remember the name of the couple but also very good.

Been on youth retreats back in the day (the best one ever was when we put bright red nail polish on our youth pastor's fingernails while he was sleeping, and then realized nobody brought polish remover. He had to scrape it off with a utility knife).

Went to a Marilyn Hickey "Holy Spirit Encounter" weekend conference once that was quite marvelous also.

[Frecs]

I have attended a few "singles retreats" with mixed results. None were by national/well known ministries...just denominational district/region retreats. I went to a workers retreat when I worked at Hillcrest Children's Home in Hotsprings Ark. It was actually pretty good even if the dudes from headquarters had no idea what a 'relief houseparent" was, what we did, or why we existed.

The best retreat I've experienced by far has been Cleansing Streams. That was life-changing.