Our self-directed retreats are a time for rest, reflection, and recreation. Think of the experience as “continuing education of the heart.”

There are no classes and no schedules. As you listen and respond, God creates a personalized lesson plan in your heart. Through Scripture, fellowship, times of solitude and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, head knowledge becomes heart experience.

For each pastor and ministry couple, the process is unique, but the outcome is the same—you leave the retreat refreshed, renewed, and more deeply in love with the God you serve.

All retreats begin on Sunday evening and end on Friday morning. The noon meal—which is facilitated by our hosts and is the only required event of your day—is a time to build community, encourage one another, and share the things God is teaching you.

Each guest room supplies a generous library of books and materials to enrich your time with God. Some focus on spiritual disciplines, others inspire personal devotions and many simply provide encouragement.

While you will direct and organize your time as God leads, Pastors Retreat Network makes available to each pastor couple three distinct programs. We invite you to choose the program that best fits your needs and pursue it wholeheartedly during your time with us.

Sabbath Rest
Sabbath Rest combines time alone with God, time with spouse, time in nature and time in fellowship with others. From these components, guests design their own experience. Our Practicing Sabbath track invites you to practice five key components of Sabbath-keeping: laying down burdens, rest, healing, play and worship as you establish or renew healthy patterns of rest and work. Some of our guests use this program to synthesize the events and lessons of a longer sabbatical experience, or to “prime the pump” at the beginning of an extended Sabbath. God may lead participants into a prayer retreat, marriage renewal or reflection that yields a fresh vision for their personal spiritual journey.

Bethany Retreat
The Bethany Retreat is an experience for couples. An introduction to suggested readings, prayers, and activities enable partners to deepen the spiritual aspect of their marriage relationship. From these materials, couples follow the Holy Spirit to deeper relationship with God and each other. We strongly encourage a date night and other experiences that build positive memories.

Sinai Experience
The Sinai Experience is a self-directed experience for individuals or couples. A daily selection of readings, prayers and recreational activities enable participants to rest quietly in the presence of God. It is a deep, rich, life-changing encounter, described by one guest as "a honeymoon with God." It incorporates ways to interact with the Word and community time to share the journey. As with other programs, while there are suggestions for the entire day, guests are free to choose as many or as few as they desire and to go where God leads.