8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat

I have two things today that I think you'll like:

1. Info on how you can sign-up below to access to the recording of the teleconference I did a couple weeks ago called, "7 Important Elements For A Solo-Retreat". This is a edited version, so you'll hear just the important information and not our conversation before.

2. A blog post called "8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat". I have a blog post with 8 quick reasons why I think you should try putting on your own summer retreat - especially if you never have!

Here it is...

"8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat"
When I was a youth pastor we put on a yearly summer retreat that was extremely popular with the students and was a very key event in the development of our youth group.

Here are 8 reasons why you should put on your own summer retreat:

1. You can control the schedule. How early the days start, how late they go. How much time is set aside for fun, for worship, etc. You can decide what you and your group does and what they don't do.

2. You can control the theme and the sermon topics. You can use this time for an extended focus on a topic you feel your group needs to have addressed. This allows your students to hear sermons that are designed (by you), for them individually and as a group.

3. You can control when it is. You can make the retreat be when it is the best time of the year based on your schedule, what you have planned for your group and what the student's families have scheduled.

4. You can control where it is. You can have it as close or far away from where you are as possible. You can even choose an area you've always wanted to go!

5. You can decide how long it is. You can decide if you want it to be 2 1/2 days like a typical retreat or a longer 3 1/2 day retreat. This way you can decide what you and your group can handle.

6. You can control what food is served. You don't have to put up with bad camp/retreat food. You can choose food that is good, designed around your andyour groups tastes and that is economical.

7. You can use it to help your group grow closer to each other without the distraction of other students/groups. You can use this time to help your group bond together. You can use it to help you and your leaders grow closer to your students.

8. It's fun and satisfying to see the end results of putting on something like this yourself. It's hard to explain the feeling of satisfaction you'll feel after a retreat that you put on. You'll be tired. But not an exhausted tired. It's a sit down and smile and sigh - when you think of all the cool stuff that happened- kind of satisfied. It's the "you worked hard, but it was so worth it" kind of tired. :)

If you would like to hear the recording of the teleconference I did a couple weeks ago called, "7 Important Elements For A Solo-Retreat", then sign-up below.

IMPORTANT:

1. Being on this list means you'll receive regular emails with more free tips so that you can pull off a summer retreat on your own. I think you're going to really like the info we send you. Some will be in audio format and other parts in text format, so you'll be able to listen to some info and read to learn other tips. If you don't want to receive emails with regular tips, then don't sign-up or unsubscribe after you hear the recording! :)

2. You'll also receive updates on the upcoming "Instant Summer Retreat" teleconference. This teleconference will help you learn how we specifically used the 7 elements to create really fun summer retreats that the students loved and that had great impact in their lives and on our group.
In the updates, you'll learn how we're going to make putting on your own summer retreat as "instant" as possible.

3. Plus this list will be different in the fact that you'll get to interact and give your feedback on a special "Instant Summer Retreat" blog we've set up. This will allow you to have influence and shape some of what the teleconference covers and is all about!

Name:
Email:

2 Types Of Retreats Every Group Needs To Do...

I believe that every group needs to do 2 types of retreats. Many focus mainly on one of these types, but miss the importance and the benefit of the other type of retreats.

Let's look at the 2 types of groups:

1. Solo-Group Retreats
The purpose of these types of retreats is to grow your group closer to each other. These retreats allow you and your students to get to know each other without the distractions of other students, since your group is the only one participating.

This is very important. Jesus took the disciples alone - without others - so that he could teach them specifically what they needed to know and be with them relationally. When you're a part of only "Multi-Group Retreats", then you don't have this opportunity. You're stuck on someone else's agenda and you have a whole bunch of other students for your to interact with (and distract them from building relationship with each other).

To build the relationships of your students with each other is so key to having a lasting student ministry. If they aren't "tight" with each other, then they won't last as a group if/when you ever leave.

Also, this opportunity to get your group away and teach them specifically about things - in an extended format/setting - is so important to help them grow spiritually.

This again is key for having a lasting student ministry, cause this allows you to build things in them that can help them to "last" in the faith after the graduate or move on!

*These type of retreats take more effort, because you as a leader are putting it on, but they are MORE than worth it!

2. Multi-Group Retreats
The purpose of these retreats is to grow your group spiritually by being around other students who believe the same as they do.

The benefits of these types of retreats is all about the strength and power of peer pressure -- positive peer pressure!

When they see other students worshipping, it encourages them to worship. When they meet other students who are "cool" (in their eyes), or like them, - who love Jesus - then it boosts their faith.

This also gives your students the opportunity to hear other leaders teach and speak into their lives in a way that you don't (or can't because of your closeness to them).

The great thing about these retreats is that usually they are put on by others organizations and you don't have as much work you have to put into them to pull them off. They also can usually do things (or have guests) you couldn't afford to do, because they have many groups all paying into it.

How I Used To Do These Two Types Of Retreats
When I was youth pastoring at my last group we would do a summer retreat that was a "solo group retreat" and then we would do a winter retreat that was a "multi-group retreat."

The summer retreat was completely in-house and put on by me. The students loved it and it grew in popularity year after year.

The winter retreat was put on by a friend who oversaw the whole thing and invited the groups to come. This was also popular with our group.

By having BOTH of these two types of retreats I was able to see the benefits that both provide. If we would've only had one of these types we would've still had fun, but missed out on benefits of the other type.

I would encourage you, if you don't already, to make sure your group does both of these types of groups. Both will help you to build a lasting student ministry!

The Power Of "Retreating"...

Some of the funnest memories of youth pastoring was when we went our our yearly summer & winter retreats.


What made the memories cool was the combination of fun, growing closer together as a group, getting to know the students in new ways, and seeing them grow spiritually.

Two examples of this I just experienced...

1. My nephew just got back from a Winter Retreat and he said something like, "That was the best experience I've ever had with God."

2. His youth pastor, who I'm friends with on Facebook, posted picks on the retreat and titled them, "The Best Winter Retreat EVER!"

There's something special about getting away from all the distractions of life and focusing on fun and God.

It causes students to grow in ways they couldn't from a regular Sunday or Mid-week meeting.

It allows you to interact with them in ways you couldn't in your normal settings.


I know there is the whole "after retreat let down" where students kind of feel like they "lose" what happened. Youth pastor's sometimes even feel like they're going through a little depression afterwards.

But I think a well planned out "retreat" can really have a lasting, positive effect in these ways:

• On your students
• On your group as a whole
• On your grow numerically and spiritually
• On you as a youth pastor/leader.

Because of this, me and my friend Ben (who used to co-youth pastor together) are going to share our past experience putting on retreats that can help you as youth pastors/leaders. (We have a combined experience of over 30 years youth pastoring. Man that sounds old! Remember we started when we were in our late teens/early 20's!)

Here's what we'll be doing...

• I'll be putting together some more "retreat" ideas to post here.
• We'll host a FREE teleconference call that will help you get the most out of your retreats.

Also....

In the past I've received an email from someone thanking me for this ebook and telling me to keep "the great products coming".

It was nice to hear that they liked the ebook enough that they wanted me to come up with MORE!

*Well, in the coming weeks, I'm going to reveal to you guys the next "product" I have for you. It'll be something that help you to almost "instantly" put together a powerful summer retreat.

In the meantime...

***What are your comments, opinions or questions about this topic of "The Power Of Retreating"?*** POST them in the comments.