Wilderness is a five-day youth minister retreat designed to rest the soul and rejuvenate the spirit. Wilderness is October 3-7, 2022 at Spring Canyon Conference Center in Buena Vista, CO.
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• 5 days in the Rocky Mountains • Discussing things that matter most in life and ministry • Rest, solitude and listening to God • Wilderness is a retreat for youth ministers and youth workers. It’s about digging into the heart of why you do what you do. It's about passion more than programming. It’s about following God’s call on your life and finding the strength to follow His lead.
5 days in the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountains near Buena Vista, Colorado (about two and a half hours from Denver International Airport). The location is a pristine wilderness with Aspen groves, mountain streams and meadows, and peaks of 12,000 to 14,000 feet. • Time away from the office, phone, Internet and emails, committee meetings, deadlines and pressures of daily responsibilities. • Time to be alone in the wilderness, seeking God and His desire for your life and ministry. • Rest in the solitude of the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, including opportunities for hiking, fishing or simply discovering a quiet place to think and talk with God. • Interactive discussions with others in ministry on issues that matter most. • Mountain River Fishing – Bring your own gear and buy a license on your way up. • Log cabins complete with bathrooms and bedding.
More important than the setting is the dynamic we want to create in small group relationships. Each participant will be assigned to a group of 6-7 other youth ministers with one mentor/facilitator. Your small group will spend time each day working through some important life issues. The mentor’s role will be to lead discussions (not lectures and seminars) about things that matter most.
Mentors/Facilitators – All of our mentors meet the following criteria: • Active in ministry • Have a heart for youth ministry • Mentors/Facilitators will also follow up with each member of their small group in the following year to touch base, encourage and add another layer of accountability to the lives and ministries of those who have attended a week of Wilderness. Spiritual Disciplines – You will be given the opportunity to experience and put into practice many of the following spiritual disciplines: • Prioritizing • Journaling • Prayer • Solitude • Silence • Meditation • Worship • Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit • DISCLAIMER: WILDERNESS is not meant to serve as a counseling center.
Things to consider when packing: You will likely be hiking, so bring a good pair of comfy shoes or hiking boots. It can get cold at night so bring some warm clothes. Since we will be at an increased elevation, you will sunburn quicker and get dehydrated faster, so bring a water bottle!
Download the Packing List
Please plan on arriving somewhere between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. Please plan on leaving on day 5 no later than 3 p.m. For questions contact Caleb DeRoin or call (417) 781-2273.
Spring CanyonAgain, thanks for what you do – we appreciate it and look forward to our time together in Colorado Springs, CO. If you have any questions please email caleb.deroin@ciy.com or call (417) 781-2273.
