The first time that you try something new can be a nerve-wracking experience.  Maybe you’re not sure what is expected of you or what to be prepared for.  And what happens if you don’t have the knowledge or tools that you need?  If that new thing that you’re trying is planning a retreat for your church or ministry, you’re in luck!  At Ridgecrest, we work with first-time retreat planners on a daily basis, and we have some tips to help you get started.  Let’s start at the beginning of the retreat-planning process and talk about what to do before you even think about picking a venue or a date. 

Start with prayer.

Before you start rolling with your ideas for this retreat, don’t forget to pray and reflect on God’s plans for this retreat.  Pray for a tender heart and a willing ear to hear what He has in store. 

Determine your audience.  Who are you trying to reach?  When is your audience most likely to be available for a retreat?  If you are planning a men’s, women’s, couples, college, or youth event, a weekend retreat will likely work best.  If you are planning a retreat for pastors or homeschool families, a weekday event might be the best option.  Is this a churchwide congregational retreat?  Consider a summer weekday event when schools are out and parents usually have to take vacation time anyway.   

Consider your purpose.

What are you trying to accomplish?  Is this an event where fellowship is the priority?  Or, maybe this is a training event for volunteer leaders at the church?  Maybe this is a retreat focused on sharing the gospel with students?  If you had to pick one thing that you want your attendees to experience during this retreat, what would it be?   

Choose a theme.

Choosing a theme for your retreat sounds intimidating, but it can be as simple as a word or concept or Bible verse that you want to focus on during your event. Go with something that is relevant to your audience and that will resonate with them even after the retreat is over.   

Set your budget.

Now that you have an audience, purpose, and theme in mind, think about the budget constraints and expectations of your retreat audience.  Will the church or ministry be subsidizing the retreat costs, or will the full financial responsibility be on the individuals attending the event?  Are you planning a marriage retreat where a nice, comfortable, deluxe room is important?  Or is this a youth retreat where affordability is a priority and bunk bed rooms are your best option?   

Evaluate the scale.

Is this event just for the people at your church, or are you opening this up to other churches/attendees?  Do you need a retreat center that will accommodate 50 guests or 500 guests?  Do you have the budget/need for a high profile speaker and worship leader?  Or would a local pastor and worship team be a better fit for your event? 

Now that you have your retreat foundation fully developed, it’s time to move on to the next step: choosing a retreat venue.  Stay tuned for part two in this first-time retreat planner series for more tips on planning your next event!