How To Plan a Group Retreat
Tuscarora
“For where two or three gather together in my name, there am I among them.”
For churches and ministries across the globe, the tradition of retreat can be a great time to set themselves apart from the stress of everyday life, fellowship with each other, and hear the Lord's voice. This was modeled by Jesus as He retreated for prayer amidst teaching and healing.
And sure, that sounds like a great idea - but as any pastor or ministry leader knows most great ideas require a lot of work. At Tuscarora, we want everything about the retreat experience to be as easy as possible - so our staff is ready to help you with any questions you may have!
But for some, the task of organizing a church or group retreat might still seem too daunting. But did you know each retreat starts with four big decisions. With some advance planning, a successful retreat is well within your grasp.
WHY
There are a lot of reasons you might want to take time away - and none of them are bad! But you will probably find your time of retreat most rewarding if you decide upfront on your, "why."
You may simply want to deepen your relationship with God. Maybe you are looking to practice a spiritual discipline like spending time in scripture or prayer. Maybe you just need time away from church for a specific ministry to find a way to connect with each other. Maybe your church leadership is in need of a strategy planning meeting.
Whatever your need, deciding on your why first is a great way to make sure you leave your retreat with your goals met.
WHO
Who are you planning this retreat for? Is it all the members of your church? Your church members and their friends? What about just men, women, or families? Just adults, or are children going to be invited? What about JUST children (with supervision of course!)
There isn't a right answer. But each group has different needs. Answering this question will help you to decide what your potential attendees care about and how to make sure they register!
WHERE
We're biased. We hope you would decide on Tuscarora for your church or group retreat! That's our passion and our ministry.
Truthfully, you don't even need to travel very far to have the experience of retreat. Coffee and cake in someone's home can be special, as well as a meal shared in a church basement.
But there is nothing like visiting a Christian Conference Center for several days of retreat. The experience gives you the true mountain top experience. The size of your group, the type of programming you're interested in, and the age of your attendees will all determine which facilities you may want to consider. Is mobility or transportation a concern? What activities does the facilities offer? These are all questions you would want to ask as you shop around.
WHEN
Tuscarora is open all year round - but our winter groups definitely have a very different experience than our summer groups! In winter we hold coffee house style trivia events, serve LOTS of coffee, and see our guests head out into the snow for sledding and skiing. In summer, water recreation is a popular way to bond and build relationships. It's tough not to create life-long relationships when you're gripping a boat tube together.
Whatever you're thinking, don't get too stressed! Remember, the great thing about ministry is how much of the groundwork the Lord lays for us. As you plan your retreat - don't forget about Tuscarora!
If you are interested in hearing about Church and Group Retreats at Tuscarora, make sure to fill out an interest form!