Groups seeking a slice of heaven should look no further than a faith-based retreat.
What could be better than a weekend getaway enjoying the beauty of nature and the company of a spiritual community? A few days away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is critical for restoring one’s mental and physical health and replenishing one’s energy, which is what makes retreats such valuable experiences. Faith-based retreats offer the additional benefit of making guests feel more connected with God and more in touch with their spirituality.
For a little spiritual R-and-R, groups can head to these faith-based retreats across the country.
Epworth by the Sea
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Set on nearly 100 acres beside the historic Frederica River and the Marshes of Glynn Overlook Park on St. Simons Island, Epworth by the Sea is a conference and retreat center that combines the beauty of the Georgia coast with an active spiritual community. Bought by the Methodist Church in 1949, the property has a long history, first as a cotton plantation, then a lumber mill and today as a popular retreat. It welcomes many types of faith-based and nonprofit groups, from Christian youth groups to Jewish groups. During some years, the retreat draws as many as 700 different organizations to its waterfront Georgia campus.
“We’re on the river, surrounded by live oak trees with Spanish moss, so it’s really idyllic and peaceful,” said Joel Willis, president and CEO at Epworth by the Sea. “We have a prayer tower that plays hymns every hour, and I think people like to come because of the atmosphere here.”
The retreat requires a 10-person minimum but can host groups as large as 900. It has 235 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space for groups to use. Meals are served cafeteria-style in three dining rooms.
While at the Epworth by the Sea, guests can enjoy plenty of physical exercise at the retreat’s tennis courts, basketball pavilion, pickleball courts and the swimming pool, which is open seasonally. A ropes course is available for team building. Participants can walk or cycle around the property or fish at the piers on the river.
While not officially offered by the retreat center, many groups head to other parts of the island for dolphin tours. There’s also a historic chapel built in the 1880s — the oldest on the island — which offers 30-minute worship services every Sunday.
White House Jesuit Retreat
St. Louis
White House Jesuit Retreat was created 103 years ago for the same purpose it serves today: to give individuals the space to reconnect with God and their sense of spirituality. The retreat center is located on the banks of the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis. The Jesuit Order is based on the spiritual teachings and exercises of St. Ignatius, teachings that are reflected throughout the retreat.
“We’ve had people that come here 75 times, but they come back year after year because it helps their spirituality, it gives them a boost,” said Bill Schmitt, executive director at the retreat center. “It’s a renewing of your association and your relationship with Christ and God.”
White House hosts a three-day retreat every weekend of the year, from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon, in addition to some private retreats during the week. The campus capacity is 90 people, so groups of 90 or fewer can book space during any weekend with enough available accommodations. The center typically hosts retreats for as many as 4,500 people of many different faiths each year. There is no fixed charge for these retreats, only a requested free-will donation from the retreatants.
The three-day retreats differ from many others because they are silent, which allows maximum time for rest and reflection. Following the first evening meal, the center requests that attendees only speak in designated places at certain times. Guests each get a simply furnished bedroom and their own bathroom. There are 10 scheduled talks in the chapel based on the Jesuit tenets, time for one-on-one conferences with a priest and daily mass and benediction services. Guests are served three meals a day. In between these scheduled activities, they are free to walk the grounds on the Ignatius Walking Trail, a wooded walking trail with views of the property and the surrounding bluffs.
Blue Mountain Christian Retreat and Conference Center
New Ringgold, Pennsylvania
Christian groups will find sanctuary and fellowship in the mountains of East Pennsylvania at Blue Mountain Christian Retreat and Conference Center. Founded in 1974 by a husband-and-wife team who immigrated from Switzerland, the center was opened to spread the Gospel, provide sanctuary from the chaos of the world and let retreatants enjoy the company of other followers of Christ. This labor of love began as a single building for up to 35 guests and has grown into a large campus that can accommodate up to 400 with a variety of lodging, from apartments to dorms.
The center can host large and small Christian groups for retreats, including church groups, youth groups and even Christian corporate groups. Its 375-acre campus offers a serene environment for guests to enjoy nature and reconnect with God. But there’s also a wide variety of outdoor activities for a more active retreat, from ultimate Frisbee to hiking trails and swimming. Retreatants can watch movies under the stars or enjoy s’mores around a campfire. There’s also a gymnasium, basketball courts, a tennis court, volleyball court and baseball and soccer fields. For rainy days or cooler weather, guests can play ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard or board games. Meals are served buffet-style, and groups can request additional snacks and beverages.
The on-site chapel is a great place for quiet reflection and prayer, as well as regular worship services throughout the week. The center is known for hosting lectures and services from prominent guest speakers, such as Christian authors, scholars, pastors and thought leaders.
Sunrise Ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, has been a place of learning and restoration since its founding in 1945. The ranch sits on 400 acres in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, about 70 miles north of Denver. The ranch is a place of residence for about 70 people who compose its community. It also frequently welcomes teachers and spiritual leaders to host workshops and classes. It features plenty of accommodations for guests and welcomes groups as small as 10 or as large as 120 for retreats.
“From the beginning, it’s been an intentional, spiritual community,” said David Karchere, spiritual director at the ranch. “People come to learn, renew and transform.”
Group programming for retreats is highly customizable, whether they’re seeking courses on spiritual attunement or personal growth workshops. The ranch has meeting rooms for groups to use for their own activities. In addition to spiritual programming, guests can hike through the scenic valley surrounding the main campus, where they may glimpse some of the abundant wildlife, such as elk, fox, deer and many species of birds. The retreat also offers a swimming pool, sauna and hot tub, as well as massages. Worship services are offered on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
The ranch is known for its high-quality, farm-to-table food that promotes physical wellness and accommodates a range of diets. Grass-fed beef and seasonal produce are sourced directly from the ranch, and every meal is scratch made with local ingredients.
Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center
Sumas, Washington
About two hours north of Seattle, near the Canadian-Washington border, groups will find a peaceful getaway that combines the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with a cozy faith community. Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center in Sumas, Washington, is located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and was purchased in 1974 by the Bargen family. They felt called to build a retreat center, and they opened the Chalet Lodge and began hosting groups for retreats in 1982.
Since then, three more lodges have been added, bringing the total number of lodge rooms to 58. Rooms are spacious, motel-style accommodations that can sleep between two and four people and come with their own private bathroom and Wi-Fi. Each lodge has a meeting room groups can use for their own programming, if desired. Additional cabins on the property offer five more sleeping rooms. The property is also known for its delicious cuisine, prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and served family-style.
Cedar Springs is renowned for its striking landscaping and its surrounding nature. It has eight acres of gardens and hiking trails. With several ponds and water features, the center offers guests plenty of peaceful waterfront views. In the warmer seasons, the grounds explode with the blooms of thousands of multicolored flowers and trees. The layout of the gardens provides nooks for retreatants to enjoy the property’s beauty and connect with nature. During the cooler seasons, groups can cozy up around a firepit or hike through the surrounding forest to take in the mountain scenery.
