Does your ministry team/leadership team plan a time each year or every other year to get away together?  If not, you should!  Here are some reasons why you should plan a staff retreat:

1. Perspective.  Sometimes you need to step away from your place of ministry to recharge and remind yourself of your God-given purpose.  Perhaps you are contemplating a shift in your ministry focus or walking through a difficult season as a team.  Retreat to a place where you can be surrounded by God’s creation and pray for His guidance.

2. Connection.  Spending quality time together is a great way to foster connection.  Take time to do a fun activity like an escape room or group hike or bowling.  Playing a board game together is also a great way to get your team laughing and connecting over some friendly competition.
3. Focused Meeting Time.  Brainstorming, training, and group discussions are often more productive when you are removed from the everyday distractions of your normal environment.
4. Pour into your People.  Investing in your team is important. Take the time to remind them that you appreciate them and their contributions to your team.  You might plan a teambuilding activity where everyone shares their favorite thing about one another, or you could treat your team to a special catered meal or surprise them with a meaningful gift.  Think of your team members and what would make them feel valued and tailor your plan around that.
5. Create Memories.  After the retreat is over, the memories that you made together will live on.  Remember that time when…  This is an essential part of building rapport within your team.  Sometimes the things that leave the biggest impression are the small moments or silly stories that weren’t planned for, but the retreat created the space for them to happen. 

There is value in taking time away together as a ministry team.  It can allow space for focused discussions, relationship-building, and shared experiences.  If you would like to explore the possibility of hosting a staff retreat at Ridgecrest, please call our Sales Team at 866.768.9048, or click here to complete an RFP.  The Blue Ridge Mountains are the perfect place to immerse yourself in God’s creation, and we are here to serve you with purposeful hospitality.