8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat

I have two things today that I think you'll like:

1. Info on how you can sign-up below to access to the recording of the teleconference I did a couple weeks ago called, "7 Important Elements For A Solo-Retreat". This is a edited version, so you'll hear just the important information and not our conversation before.

2. A blog post called "8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat". I have a blog post with 8 quick reasons why I think you should try putting on your own summer retreat - especially if you never have!

Here it is...

"8 Reasons To Put On Your Own Summer Retreat"
When I was a youth pastor we put on a yearly summer retreat that was extremely popular with the students and was a very key event in the development of our youth group.

Here are 8 reasons why you should put on your own summer retreat:

1. You can control the schedule. How early the days start, how late they go. How much time is set aside for fun, for worship, etc. You can decide what you and your group does and what they don't do.

2. You can control the theme and the sermon topics. You can use this time for an extended focus on a topic you feel your group needs to have addressed. This allows your students to hear sermons that are designed (by you), for them individually and as a group.

3. You can control when it is. You can make the retreat be when it is the best time of the year based on your schedule, what you have planned for your group and what the student's families have scheduled.

4. You can control where it is. You can have it as close or far away from where you are as possible. You can even choose an area you've always wanted to go!

5. You can decide how long it is. You can decide if you want it to be 2 1/2 days like a typical retreat or a longer 3 1/2 day retreat. This way you can decide what you and your group can handle.

6. You can control what food is served. You don't have to put up with bad camp/retreat food. You can choose food that is good, designed around your andyour groups tastes and that is economical.

7. You can use it to help your group grow closer to each other without the distraction of other students/groups. You can use this time to help your group bond together. You can use it to help you and your leaders grow closer to your students.

8. It's fun and satisfying to see the end results of putting on something like this yourself. It's hard to explain the feeling of satisfaction you'll feel after a retreat that you put on. You'll be tired. But not an exhausted tired. It's a sit down and smile and sigh - when you think of all the cool stuff that happened- kind of satisfied. It's the "you worked hard, but it was so worth it" kind of tired. :)

If you would like to hear the recording of the teleconference I did a couple weeks ago called, "7 Important Elements For A Solo-Retreat", then sign-up below.

IMPORTANT:

1. Being on this list means you'll receive regular emails with more free tips so that you can pull off a summer retreat on your own. I think you're going to really like the info we send you. Some will be in audio format and other parts in text format, so you'll be able to listen to some info and read to learn other tips. If you don't want to receive emails with regular tips, then don't sign-up or unsubscribe after you hear the recording! :)

2. You'll also receive updates on the upcoming "Instant Summer Retreat" teleconference. This teleconference will help you learn how we specifically used the 7 elements to create really fun summer retreats that the students loved and that had great impact in their lives and on our group.
In the updates, you'll learn how we're going to make putting on your own summer retreat as "instant" as possible.

3. Plus this list will be different in the fact that you'll get to interact and give your feedback on a special "Instant Summer Retreat" blog we've set up. This will allow you to have influence and shape some of what the teleconference covers and is all about!

Name:
Email:

2 Types Of Retreats Every Group Needs To Do...

I believe that every group needs to do 2 types of retreats. Many focus mainly on one of these types, but miss the importance and the benefit of the other type of retreats.

Let's look at the 2 types of groups:

1. Solo-Group Retreats
The purpose of these types of retreats is to grow your group closer to each other. These retreats allow you and your students to get to know each other without the distractions of other students, since your group is the only one participating.

This is very important. Jesus took the disciples alone - without others - so that he could teach them specifically what they needed to know and be with them relationally. When you're a part of only "Multi-Group Retreats", then you don't have this opportunity. You're stuck on someone else's agenda and you have a whole bunch of other students for your to interact with (and distract them from building relationship with each other).

To build the relationships of your students with each other is so key to having a lasting student ministry. If they aren't "tight" with each other, then they won't last as a group if/when you ever leave.

Also, this opportunity to get your group away and teach them specifically about things - in an extended format/setting - is so important to help them grow spiritually.

This again is key for having a lasting student ministry, cause this allows you to build things in them that can help them to "last" in the faith after the graduate or move on!

*These type of retreats take more effort, because you as a leader are putting it on, but they are MORE than worth it!

2. Multi-Group Retreats
The purpose of these retreats is to grow your group spiritually by being around other students who believe the same as they do.

The benefits of these types of retreats is all about the strength and power of peer pressure -- positive peer pressure!

When they see other students worshipping, it encourages them to worship. When they meet other students who are "cool" (in their eyes), or like them, - who love Jesus - then it boosts their faith.

This also gives your students the opportunity to hear other leaders teach and speak into their lives in a way that you don't (or can't because of your closeness to them).

The great thing about these retreats is that usually they are put on by others organizations and you don't have as much work you have to put into them to pull them off. They also can usually do things (or have guests) you couldn't afford to do, because they have many groups all paying into it.

How I Used To Do These Two Types Of Retreats
When I was youth pastoring at my last group we would do a summer retreat that was a "solo group retreat" and then we would do a winter retreat that was a "multi-group retreat."

The summer retreat was completely in-house and put on by me. The students loved it and it grew in popularity year after year.

The winter retreat was put on by a friend who oversaw the whole thing and invited the groups to come. This was also popular with our group.

By having BOTH of these two types of retreats I was able to see the benefits that both provide. If we would've only had one of these types we would've still had fun, but missed out on benefits of the other type.

I would encourage you, if you don't already, to make sure your group does both of these types of groups. Both will help you to build a lasting student ministry!

The Power Of "Retreating"...

Some of the funnest memories of youth pastoring was when we went our our yearly summer & winter retreats.


What made the memories cool was the combination of fun, growing closer together as a group, getting to know the students in new ways, and seeing them grow spiritually.

Two examples of this I just experienced...

1. My nephew just got back from a Winter Retreat and he said something like, "That was the best experience I've ever had with God."

2. His youth pastor, who I'm friends with on Facebook, posted picks on the retreat and titled them, "The Best Winter Retreat EVER!"

There's something special about getting away from all the distractions of life and focusing on fun and God.

It causes students to grow in ways they couldn't from a regular Sunday or Mid-week meeting.

It allows you to interact with them in ways you couldn't in your normal settings.


I know there is the whole "after retreat let down" where students kind of feel like they "lose" what happened. Youth pastor's sometimes even feel like they're going through a little depression afterwards.

But I think a well planned out "retreat" can really have a lasting, positive effect in these ways:

• On your students
• On your group as a whole
• On your grow numerically and spiritually
• On you as a youth pastor/leader.

Because of this, me and my friend Ben (who used to co-youth pastor together) are going to share our past experience putting on retreats that can help you as youth pastors/leaders. (We have a combined experience of over 30 years youth pastoring. Man that sounds old! Remember we started when we were in our late teens/early 20's!)

Here's what we'll be doing...

• I'll be putting together some more "retreat" ideas to post here.
• We'll host a FREE teleconference call that will help you get the most out of your retreats.

Also....

In the past I've received an email from someone thanking me for this ebook and telling me to keep "the great products coming".

It was nice to hear that they liked the ebook enough that they wanted me to come up with MORE!

*Well, in the coming weeks, I'm going to reveal to you guys the next "product" I have for you. It'll be something that help you to almost "instantly" put together a powerful summer retreat.

In the meantime...

***What are your comments, opinions or questions about this topic of "The Power Of Retreating"?*** POST them in the comments.

Cup 'O Affirmation

One of the things we used to do on our Winter Retreats that really had a cool impact on the adults and the students was something we called...

Cup 'O Affirmation

What It Is:
Everyone is given a cup (big red plastic ones) to write their name on with pen. (Or a newer, modern - more expensive option would be an Etch-it cup.) This cup will be used to collect affirmations that others write about each person.

How It Works:
On the last night of Winter Retreat and into the next morning people are told to write something that they like/appreciate about each person, fold it up and go put it in their cup. They do this for all of the students and adults who are there. We usually do this with everyone sitting around the room and some music playing in the background. When you're all done each person ends up with a cup full of positive things about themselves to read.

Extra Advice:

• Make sure to give a lot of time for this. It takes a good amount of time even with a smaller sized group!
• Make sure to have enough cups, pens (to write and ones to write on cups), and paper (people can tear strips off binder or printer paper) so that you don't run out.
• The cool thing about doing it on a retreat is there's a different intimacy level that people have and feel for each other at the end of a good retreat that you just don't get from every day interactions.

The Impact:
It's hard to really get across how powerful this exercise is at the end of a retreat. The only thing I can compare it too is sitting around getting your yearbook signed by all your friends at school. But it's more than that. It really allows people to grow closer and edify each other like nothing else we ever did. The things that people write are so cool that many students (and ADULTS) keep the cups for a long time after wards!

I'd encourage you to try it on your Winter Retreat or any retreat! It's simple but powerful!

Ol' School Fundraiser To Help Your Students Raise Funds For Winter Retreat Or Any Event...

When I was youth pastoring we needed a way to help students come up with a significant amount of money in order for them to be able to afford going on Winter Retreat with us.

We thought of different fund raisers we could do and they all seemed good but none of them seemed to be able to raise the larger individual amounts we needed.

Until finally we came across ol' school fund raiser idea called...

"The Rock-A-Thon"

No, it's not the ancient practice of stoning people with a money raising twist.

No, it's not an i-Pod music marathon. :)

It's students rocking in rocking chairs to raise funds!

Before you click away, you might want to see how it worked and why the students loved doing it...(We even had students come to it who didn't even need to raise money. They came just to hang out!)

How It Works:

• Each student rocks in a rocking chair for 12 hours.
• They raise funds by getting people sponsoring them __ an hour.

Our Twist To Make It More Fun:

• We did it from 8pm-8am (or 9pm-9am) in the youth room.
• We had video game systems set up, watched movies, and had board games (Monopoly, Risk, etc.) set up.
• We had a ton of junk food, soda, pizza, etc. to keep them fueled and going.
• We had a 5-minute "bathroom break" once every hour to use the restroom and stand up and stretch.

How To Run It Effectively

Before the event:

• Plan in on a Friday night, so you can sleep and "recover" before Sunday!
• Get some adult leaders to help you that night. You need them to help hang with the students, help prep food & beverages, keep students awake, safe, etc.
  
• Design and print up little sponsor booklets.
  Have a place for the student's name, the supporters info (name, addres &/or phone #) and amount they are sponsoring them per hour. Have these choices: "$.50 an hour ($6)", "$1 an hour ($12)", "$2 an hour ($24)", "$3 an hour ($36)", "__ an hour" (allows people to fill in their own amount) and "____ for whole time" (allows people to commit just a flat amount). We made about 3-4 "strips" of these supporter pages per 8.5 X 11 paper. We also made a part at the end of the strip that they could tear off and give to the sponsor with their name and the amount they sponsored the student on it.
• Promote it in your church's bulletin. Get it announced from the pulpit too - if you can. Promote it at least a month or so in advance.
• What to promote - Tell people that you're looking for rocking chairs to borrow. (*Students are required to bring their own rocking chairs, but we always tried to help them find some.) Tell them students will be coming around on Sundays to look/ask for people to sponsor them.
  

During the event:

• You need to constantly yell, "Keep rocking" - especially at the beginning. As the night goes on the students will get used to it and do it more automatically.
• As it gets later you'll probably have to go around and tap students to help them stay awake. Remind them that it's to help them go to "retreat" to motivate them to stay awake. (*We used to bust out with Nachos around 4am to give them an extra energy boost!)
• Have at least 4-5 movies you can play to give the students something to keep them entertained.
• Give them a count-down at the end of the "bathroom break." Something like, "Alright get ready you need to be back in your seat in... 10... 9...8..."
  

After the event:

• Have enough adults and/or students to help you clean up, so you can go home not too long after it ends, so you can sleep!
• Give the church an update on the event on the following Sunday. Mention to the church that the students will be coming to collect their support funds.
  
• The students need to go and collect the money from their sponsors. (*It's best to give them that job as their responsibility to do this. You don't want to have to collect the money for a whole bunch of your students!)
  

ALTERNATE TIME:
After doing it for all night for years, I got tired of staying up all night and tired at yelling and trying to keep a few tired students awake so they could have money to go. (Some didn't seem to care around 5:30am! :)) Instead of doing it all night I started doing it on a Saturday from 9am-9pm. That way I just had to keep students rocking - not awake!

*After saying that I'd encourage you to at least try it as an all-nighter the 1st time. It makes it more exciting and challenging to the students.

The students ALWAYS loved this fund raiser. They loved it cause it was fun, easy to do, and raised them a good amount of money. Like I said, we even had students come to it who didn't even need to raise money. They came just to hang out!

My Ebook Is Now Being Sold By Youth Specialties....

It was little over 7 months ago when I first released my ebook for student leaders called, "How To Build A Lasting Student Ministry".

It has been a cool ride...

• I have now sold hundreds of copies so far. I am proud to say that I have not had one person ask for a refund yet!
• I had a chance to write an article for Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox.

The cool thing is that today I get to announce that my ebook is now being sold by Youth Specialties (as an ebook, not a physical book)!

It just went live on their YSUnderground.com site. You can check it here.

The redesigned the cover and the layout of the ebook, but it's still the same great content!

If you're a youth pastor who is a part of a church plant that's 3 years old or younger and you want a copy of my ebook, then let me know. I'll give you it for only $6.

Why Do So Many Students Lose Their Faith In College?

This article will help give you some insight into how you can make the affect of your ministry lasting in your students lives.

"Keeping The Faith"