Growing up I remember going to a nearby Bible Camp for fall church retreats where we built a closer community through great fellowship and intimate worship of our creator. Recently I've been on leadership teams that have gone to some wonderful "off-site" areas for retreats and vision casting/team-building.
Help out other churches by sharing your location in the comments below and include a brief summary of a place you'd recommend for a church or leadership team to hold a retreat (maybe share a web link to the space/place).
Here are a few places to get things rolling:
- CRCNA staff used Mater Dolorosa, a Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, Calif. back in October 2019 (read Network article)
- Thrive staff used Maranatha Bible & Missionary Conference in Muskegon, Mich. (May 2023)
- The Hermitage is a retreat community in southwest Michigan that specializes in personal silent retreats.
- The Christian Reformed Conference Grounds near Grand Haven, Mich. is a popular off-site area for retreats and conferences.
So has your church held an all-church or staff retreat recently? Where did you go?
Comments
I have been to a few retreats at Pearce Williams Centre in southern Ontario and always enjoy the natural beauty there.
I think Fair Havens is a popular place with CRC people in Ontario as well.
There was recently a Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations retreat at Rivendell Retreat Centre in BC.
This is just an encouragement to consider accessibility when choosing a retreat location. Here are some things to think about: How far apart would meetings and rooms be? Is there a clear, accessible path that doesn't require stairs or steep hills? Are there accessible hotel rooms for those who need it? Do meeting rooms have proper sound equipment so people who are hard of hearing can hear? Are there quiet spaces where someone with anxiety or autism could step away for awhile? Does the dining plan offer options for people with food allergies, diabetic diets, or who are gluten free? Feel free to comment with more accessibility ideas.
These retreat locations have been recommended by pastors and others for meetings, group and/or spiritual retreats. Some places require reservations months or years in advance, others have seasonal considerations.
Canada
Crieff Hills Retreat Centre in Puslinch, ON
DEV Hotel and Conference Center in Cornwall, ON (formerly the NAV Centre)
Five Oaks Centre in Paris, ON
Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal (formerly Villa St. Martin) They’ve moved to two new locations to the Wickham Centre in Montreal, QC and Villa Saint Martin in Pierrefonds, QC
Kingfisher Bay Retreat in North Kawartha, ON
King’s Fold Retreat & Renewal Centre in Cochrane, AB
Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls, ON
Mount Mary Immaculate Retreat Centre in Ancaster, ON
United States
BMI Oasis in Richland, MI
CONNRI Lodge and Conference Center in Ashford, CT
Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center in Colorado Springs, CO
Grotonwood Camp & Conference Center in Groton, MA
Haven River Inn in Comfort, TX
Hearthside Cabin Rentals in the Great Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN
Lake Huron Retreat Center in Burtchville, MI
Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids, MI
Sandy Cove Ministries in North East, MD
The Shack Christian Retreat & Conference Center in White Cloud, MI
University of Saint Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, IL
Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center in Toano, VA
YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO
Another option not mentioned is Gull Lake Ministries in Hickory Corners, MI
I learned of a beautiful ecumenical retreat center from one of our Thrive staff. Check out Laity Lodge located in the center of Texas Hill Country.
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