Two-Night Retreats

Our women’s retreats have always lasted basically two full days, spanning from late Friday afternoon through Sunday at noon.  That gives the women two nights spent at the retreat.  Having come from a background where retreats were Friday night only, ending late afternoon on Saturday, I can clearly see the benefits of a two-night retreat.

A one-night retreat where you arrive on Friday night and leave on Saturday afternoon doesn’t leave a lot of time to fit in teachings, fellowship, meals and times of worship and commitment. Friday night, the ladies are just unwinding from what was probably a busy week, and the spiritual warfare they faced in just getting to the retreat.  Often, it takes a while to relax into “retreat mode” and focus on the Lord.  At a two-night retreat, by Saturday evening they have (hopefully) had a good night’s sleep, have been hearing God’s word taught and had time for prayer and fellowship.  Their hearts have been prepared, and as the retreat goes into its second day and night, the ladies are ready to respond to the Word that God has been impressing to their hearts through the teachings and quiet times.  Saturday night and Sunday morning can be fruitful times of commitment and recommitment.  I can’t help but think that the extra time spent at the retreat can be of great spiritual benefit.

Admittedly, a two-night retreat can cause some hardship for the church, if a majority of the church’s women are at the retreat on Sunday morning.  For some smaller churches, a two-night retreat can be a challenge–but not impossible.  We will discuss this in Part II.