Christian retreat centres offer respite, renewal and refreshment
Jesus went into the desert, Moses climbed Mount Sinai, Elijah fled to Horeb, my friend Heather drives to the lake. With young children, a disabled husband and a high-pressure job, Heather sometimes feels her connection to God is a rapidly fraying rope. Every summer she packs the car and heads to the lakeshore for a retreat that reinforces her relationship with Jesus, and sends her home better equipped to withstand life’s challenges.
Heather, and the thousands of Canadian Christians who attend spiritual retreats, are participating in a tradition that stretches back to biblical times. In the Gospel of Mark, after a long stint of healing, preaching and travelling, Christ tells the disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31).
The Early Church Fathers eagerly embraced that invitation, sequestering themselves in the desert for long stretches of contemplation and fasting. St. Francis of Assisi, and later St. Ignatius of Loyola, further developed this monastic practice, and today’s retreats owe a lot to these early influencers who emphasized the importance of simplicity and solitude.
Modern retreats may look a little different from the austere practices of the saints, but the underlying principles remain the same. Renewal, reconnection and restoration.
The sound of silence
The word retreat comes from the Latin retrahere meaning to withdraw. Deep in the forested foothills of the Rocky Mountains, guests at the 166-acre King’s Fold Renewal & Retreat Centre are encouraged to do just that.
"We don’t have TVs and if you get half a bar of cell phone reception, it’s a good day," says Terry Dykstra, staff member and a ten-year veteran of the retreat. Contrary to their tech-obsessed reputation, younger guests have an easier time unplugging, says Dykstra.
"Young people want to take a break from the busyness, but older people often come in with their laptop and say, ‘Great, a quiet place. Now I can get some work done.’ It takes them a full day before they realize they don’t have to feel ashamed that they’re doing nothing."
Specifically designed to facilitate solitude and contemplation, the King’s Fold property near Cochrane, Alta., includes two prayer walks, a tiny chapel tucked into the woods, walking trails and scenic sitting areas. There are also two designated quiet areas, a heated solarium and a cozy, well-stocked library. Overnight guests are deliberately capped at around 24 so everyone can find space to be alone.
The centre welcomes individuals, day visitors and groups, but also hosts around six retreats of its own. One of the most popular is its weeklong Ignatian Silent Retreat which, as Dykstra explains, is not for the fainthearted.
"A weeklong silent retreat is hard. We always make sure guests know what they are getting into because it’s tough. The benefit is that, by getting rid of distractions, you open up and allow yourself to hear God speaking to you."
Guests often come to King’s Fold carrying heavy burdens – marriage difficulties, health troubles, struggles with faith – and leave feeling lighter. "The moment people turn into our driveway, they say they can feel something in the air here. We have so many stories of how people have encountered God. We hear all the time about lives being changed."
Faith comes in all forms at the centre, which is Christian but nondenominational. Guests have run the gamut from Egyptian Orthodox priests to United Church women’s groups. For Dykstra that is part of the appeal. Despite the emphasis on solitude, King’s Fold is also a place of community and fellowship as guests unite with the same aim – to reconnect with God.
A family affair
At Muskoka Bible Centre (MBC) in the heart of Ontario’s cottage country, retreats are a family affair. In keeping with the centre’s mission of equipping families to live out their faith, there are a wide range of retreat programs available, including women’s and men’s retreats, youth weekends, couple getaways, retreats for grieving families and those for parents of disabled children.
In operation for almost a century, MBC’s retreats have grown not just in attendance, but also in their approach to families’ changing dynamics and needs. Shelagh Raymer, program director for MBC retreats, explains. "We’ve looked at the family, their pain points and how we, as a retreat centre, can support them. Not that we can fix everything in a weekend, but we can certainly offer a reprieve, support and solid teaching."
In total MBC has 16 retreats on its roster. Some, like the program for grieving parents, are kept deliberately small, but others, such as the women’s retreat, are large events attracting around 200 participants.
Most take place over the weekend and all are hosted on MBC’s lush lakefront property, which serves as a solace in itself. "It’s so beautiful. Sometimes you pinch yourself and think, Do I really work here?" says Raymer. "When you need to get away, sitting in what God has created is very settling for the soul."
Every retreat is different, but most include workshops, music and leisure activities. There is a clear emphasis on biblical teaching, but Raymer says she’s very deliberate in making sure the weekend feels like a retreat rather than a conference.
"Our dream is to have the retreats driven not by the teacher, but by the experience. You can go read a book by the water, go kayaking or on the walking trails. We give people options. There’s no judgment."
MBC welcomes a lot of repeat guests from all over Ontario. For many it becomes a family tradition. "We have generations coming here," says Raymer. "One woman comes with her daughters and granddaughters, and we have men who bring their sons." In the youth retreat, open to young people aged 20 to 30, there is often some unintended matchmaking, bringing the family theme full circle.
Caring for carers
In addition to its retreat programs, MBC keeps cabins on the grounds for visiting pastors and church leaders who need respite. Offered for free, the cottages are in high demand from ministers feeling the strain of service.
Pastoral burnout isn’t just a problem in Canadian churches. It’s also affecting mission fields throughout the world as international evangelists face a myriad of challenges. According to a study from the World Evangelical Alliance, 70% of missionaries leave the field for preventable reasons. These include family pressures, financial constraints, culture shock, mental health issues and other obstacles.
Dermot Westcott is well acquainted with the trials of missionary life, having served in Honduras with his wife Viola. In their second year of ministry, the couple was urged by friends to attend a retreat and found it extremely encouraging.
Driven by a vision of a sanctuary catering specifically to the needs of fellow missionaries, Westcott returned to his native Newfoundland and, in 2009, established Ministry to Missionaries, an annual retreat held in Gros Morne National Park.
Missionaries come from all over the world, travelling from mission fields in Brazil, South Africa and the Philippines to attend Ministry to Missionaries, which offers them an all-expenses-paid refuge amid the stunning landscapes of Newfoundland’s West Coast.
"We provide a safe place where people can enjoy fellowship with other believers with whom they have common experiences," says Westcott. "They can rest, recharge and hopefully, above all, be in a place with the Lord where they can ask, ‘Where am I in my calling? Do I need to change anything?’ "
Ministry to Missionaries follows an unusual business model. Places are offered to missionaries for free, but the organization doesn’t fundraise or advertize. Instead, the team relies on word of mouth, dedicated volunteers, partner agencies and donors.
Westcott says every decision is guided by God, especially the guest list. "The Lord reaches out to those He wants here. Sometimes there are last-minute cancellations, sometimes there are last-minute applications, but those that need to be here, get here."
Attendees are offered a busy schedule of seminars, activities such as kayaking and hiking, and debriefing sessions, which involve sharing their stories in a safe and supportive environment. Every activity is voluntary, so participants can do as much, or as little, as they like.
"We jam pack the agenda. Every day there is something on the go, but we try to stress that they should not feel obligated to do anything. If they want to stay in their room, lock the door and have room service for the whole five days, that’s their choice," says Westcott. Most guests appreciate the opportunity to explore the Newfoundland scenery, he says, and "totally unload" with others who understand the unique struggles of missionary calling.
In time, Westcott hopes to build a facility and expand the retreat to all who serve in pastoral leadership. But now he’s in the throes of planning this year’s conference, which will take place in August, and trusting God will bring whoever needs spiritual refreshment.
"We take it one step at a time and pray about everything, knowing that the Lord is in control."
A quiet place
There’s no one-size-fits-all response to Jesus’ command in Mark 6:31. That invitation to come away to a quiet place can be applied today in many ways, whether meditating in the mountains, listening to Bible teachings by the lakeshore, or finding fellowship along the rugged coastline of Western Newfoundland.
The common thread is pausing to catch the still, small voice of God or, as a quote attributed to St. Ignatius puts it, "Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you."