The Corporate Spiritual Retreat

Last October I attended my second Christ in Youth Wilderness retreat. It’s a five-day long gathering, mostly of youth ministers, up in the Rocky Mountains overlooking Colorado Springs at a beautiful place called Bear Trap Ranch.

The days are scheduled, but somewhat loosely, allowing participants to map their own retreat for the most part. In the mornings we breakfasted, gathered for a short period of corporate devotion, and then given until lunch to work on some guided devotional time. For the 2019 session, our text was the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). We were encouraged to find a quiet spot out in the wilderness as we did this. There was also plenty of discretionary time before lunch.

After lunch was free time, in which participants had opportunities to hike, fish, sightsee, read, nap, play games, etc., until dinner. When dinner was done, we moved to a time of corporate worship, which consisted of praise and proclamation. Immediately after this, we got into our assigned small groups. Small groups were assigned according to age and years of ministry experience. In the small groups, we’d discuss our life and ministry situations, the devotional questions we were given that morning, and anything that stirred us regarding that evening’s message. By then it was 10 pm or so, and usually time to hit the sack.

Corporate spiritual retreats vary in size and shape. But there are at least four elements they have in common with one another that prove valuable to those of us seeking to make space for God in our lives.

WORLDLY DISCONNECTION

One has to ask, what is one “retreating” from? Simply put, we are retreating from the everyday burdens, concerns, anxieties, distractions, and pleasures the world offers. At Bear Trap Ranch, one needs to travel about a mile away just to get cell service, and even then it’s spotty. The ability to get away from all that the world affords is invaluable in drawing closer to God. Jesus himself made it a habit of going to lonely places for opportunities to better commune with the Father.

IMMERSION IN CREATION

Due to their isolated nature, most retreat locations offer an opportunity to spend a good deal of time in God’s creation. This is an important part of the spiritual life that often gets overlooked in the hurly-burly of modern urban life. While Scripture is God’s special revelation to his people, creation is his general revelation to all people. Spending time in nature and grasping just a little bit of its amazing complexity and design help us to recapture our wonder and awe of the One who made it all.

GUIDED SELF-REFLECTION

Peter Scazzaro says, "The degree to which you recognize and engage your own shadow is the degree to which you can free others to face theirs" (The Emotionally Healthy Leader). The times of solitude that are provided (ironically) at a corporate spiritual retreat are priceless opportunities for us to spend time with ourselves, allowing the mirror of Scripture to show us what we are really like, and to help us identify areas in our lives that are not yet yielded up to Jesus. We can only lead people as far as we ourselves have gone. Solitude and self-reflection are great tools for personal growth.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

For me, the best part of a corporate spiritual retreat is the “corporate” aspect of it. Spending a week with like-minded lovers of Jesus in pursuit of a deeper relationship with him is a little foretaste of heaven for me. We share our victories, our struggles, our praises, and our failures with one another. Because of our common specialized vocation at Wilderness, combined with CIY’s intentional grouping of participants, there is often great resonance with one another in most facets of our lives. The support, encouragement, correction, and challenges we receive from one another are amazing ways for God to speak to our hearts and help fashion them more after his.

I’ve heard a lot of reasons why people don’t attend corporate spiritual retreats. “I’m not an outdoors guy!” Neither am I. “It’s too expensive!” Beg, borrow, and plead if you have to. How much is your walk with Jesus worth to you? And a five day retreat like Wilderness is very reasonable in price. “I wouldn’t know anyone there!” Bring a buddy. Or come to Wilderness and look me up. I’ll be your friend.

You know my take on the spiritual disciplines. Not everything is suited for every person. But you owe it to yourself, to God, and to those you are investing in to at least give the corporate spiritual retreat a try. If it’s not for you, at least you’ll know. But I’m betting the experience will bless your life and the lives of those around you.

Grace and peace.