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There are four general or broad catagories of retreats:

1. Church Leadership Retreats
2. Age-Group Retreats
3. Organizational Retreats
4. Special Emphasis Retreats

Church Leadership Retreats

Church staff retreats are generally scheduled with several objectives in mind. Of singular importance in this retreat is the desire and interest of the staff members to draw closer together in unity of spirit and mind and in bonds of fellowship. Also of great value is the time spent together in prayer, in evaluating the current year's work, and in broad program planning for the next two succeeding years.

Deacons' retreats are sometimes held for the purpose of deacon training; for prayer, study, and discussion of the biblical concept of the deacon, his qualifications, and his role in the church; for fellowship and inspiration; and for discussion and prayer about church needs and concerns.

The church council retreat.  The church council (church staff, heads of church organizations, chairman of deacons) may retreat together for fellowship and inspiration to worship, to study, to coordinate next year's calendar, and to do long-range planning.

One Church’s Testimony.  Following is the testimony of one church that scheduled by design and in appropriate relationship to one another all three types of retreats.

Advance for Christ seldom comes by accident. More often advance is made because leaders, chosen of God, plan for it, with this truth in mind one church has, for several years, conducted a staff and church council retreat preceded by a deacons' retreat. 

The pastor says that they have found these annual planning sessions to be one of the most helpful aspects of their church life. Here church leaders exercise vision and take time for adequate planning so that every program will have the best of attention and time.

This schedule is followed for these retreats:

Deacons' retreat - Friday and Saturday scheduled the first week in May

Staff retreat - Thursday and Friday, the second week in May

The church council retreat - Tuesday, the third week in May.

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The Deacons' Retreat

The annual deacons' retreat sets the pace and tone for the staff and church council retreats. On the Wednesday evening prior to the deacons' retreat, church members are asked to write down suggestions that would improve the program and ministry of their church. The suggestions made by the members are tabulated and placed in eight major categories. One feature of the retreat is a session entitled "What They Are Thinking." It is devoted to the discussion and consideration of the proposed suggestions.

This list of suggestions, a sample of which follows, is duplicated and made available to the deacons, the church staff, and the church council for further consideration:

• Build an activities building. 
• Promote an aggressive visitation program. 
• Have a visual aids worship on Wednesday evening during officers and teachers' -meeting. 
• Plan on having a dialogue with the pastor using a question and answer format following Sunday evening services. 
• Formulate plans for a three-year rotation system for active deacons. 
• Consider using the inactive deacons for greeting guests, for the Lord's Supper, and for pastoral visitation. 
• Provide a ministry to persons of special need - the mentally and physically handicapped. 
• Consider the use of the weekday Bible study curriculum produced by the Baptist Sunday School Board. 
• Plan for a Single Adults Sunday School.
• Begin a Senior Adult Ministry.

Plenty of time is allocated for meditation, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship during the deacons' retreat. The work of the deacon committees for the current year is evaluated, and tentative plans and assignments are made for the coming year.

The Church Staff Retreat

Prior to the staff retreat the minister of education secures copies of the Convention, state, and associational calendars, and sits down with the heads of the church program organizations, ­Sunday School, Training Union, Woman's Missionary Union, Brotherhood, and Church Music - to discuss tentative program plans for each organization during the coming year. Church calendar planning sheets purchased from the Lifeway Book Store are available for each person to jot down tentative dates.

The staff retreat is held immediately following the meeting with the heads of the organizations. It is a real retreat in that it is away from the church setting for the entire time.

Emphasis is given to relaxation and fellowship. The lake home of one of their church members is made available. The group enjoys being together, ­swimming, boating, and skiing in the afternoon, and gathering around the table for steaks at the evening meal.

Like the deacons' retreat, time is also provided in this setting for prayer and thoughtful meditation. Each staff member is given an opportunity to share ways in which he can contribute to improving the entire church program.

Four basic principles are kept in mind during the planning sessions: (1). Give the local church program priority; (2). plan a balanced church program; (3). promote only one major activity at a time; (4). adjust the calendar when necessary.

During the retreat, time is provided to review and discuss tentative program plans and activities for the coming year. Staff members present the areas of work over which they give direction. Calendar conflicts and needs for calendar adjustment are made.

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Church Council Retreat

All members of the church council receive invitations to attend the council retreat. Because of the wide diversification of the group in terms of work schedules and family concerns, this retreat is limited to an afternoon and evening.

This retreat is also scheduled at the lake cabin. There is recreation in the afternoon and a picnic for the evening meal, with families of council members being included.

Printed copies of the suggested calendar are given to each person for consideration. Blank spaces are left for additions and corrections. The agenda for this meeting includes:

• Scripture and prayer 
• Calendar of activities 
• Brainstorming session
• Recommendations 

Summary: The deacons, staff, and church council are sold on the value of these retreats. As they have tried to evaluate them, they have come to these conclusions:

• They help to unify efforts and channel energies in one direction. 
• They keep the members from getting into the proverbial "rut." 
• Planning together helps to avoid confusion and conflicts as the year progresses. 
• In the relaxed atmosphere of a retreat, they are able to complete the work. 
• Fellowship in play and work at these retreats creates rapport and makes for a closer working relationship when they get back to the church and "go to work."
• Many of the suggestions made at these retreats have now become realities in their church.
• They have begun a Sunday School department for single adults. Thirty-three were enrolled last year.
• A program for senior adults has been developed.
• To the pastor these retreats are indispensable.  They have made such a tremendous contribution to a well-rounded church program that he would now hesitate to begin a new church year without participating in them.  

Age-Group Retreats

When thinking of retreats in the age-group context, one generally thinks of youth, single adults, and senior adults, with the purpose of these retreats aimed at specific needs geared to age-level concerns within the particular age group.

Youth Retreats

Youth retreats have experienced phenomenal growth in popularity and utilization during recent years. Retreats for youth come in a variety of shapes and are conducted with many different purposes in mind, such as, fun and fellowship, inspiration and motivation, and spiritual growth; leader training for youth-led projects like day camping, mission VBS, witnessing, Youth Week, and special community ministries; ethical and moral problem solving, career planning and growth in Christian discipleship; special events like "out-of-school" break, national and seasonal holidays, and graduation.

Determine Needs.  Leaders must first determine what they would like to see happen in the lives of youth and then plan an experience to enable it to happen. To help do this, some excellent materials have been prepared.

Prayer: Language of the Spirit

Goal: To help youth broaden and deepen their experiences of prayer, discovering new ways to communicate with God.

Loneliness: Search for Presence

Goal: To help youth move through their feelings and moods of aloneness, learn how to cope creatively with loneliness, and learn how to help someone else cope, all with the leadership and presence of Christ.

Agape: Christian Life-Style

Goal: To help youth experience agape and begin to apply Christian love in their day-by-day experiences.

Koinonia: Unique Christian Bond

Goal: To help youth experience koinonia because of common purpose and common life source they share in Christ.

Living the Christ Life (Leadership Edition) is a 96-page book designed for youth camp or retreat leadership. The material is designed for a five-day camp, but it is highly adaptable for a weekend retreat. The book contains detailed worship services, Bible studies, small-group activities, recreation ideas, and special music and drama sections.

Living the Christ Life (Youth Edition) is a pocket-size, 48-page book for the youth themselves. It enables them to participate effectively in Bible study, worship, music, small groups, and other activities. 



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(Adapted from a book Entitled, a Guide to Church Recreation, by Frank Hart Smith, published by the Church Recreation Department of the Southern Baptist Convention, Broadman Press. This book is no longer in print. Used with permission.)