retreats: what to expect
What can I expect at a Parakaleo retreat?
Plan on exploring current issues you’re facing with others who are on a similar journey. Investigate how your story of origin impacts your relational style, your chosen idolatries, and your church and family. And plan on doing this in a fun relaxing format.
We use real-life planting scenarios ranging from boundary ambiguity to conflicts as we unpack deeper heart issues in our small group table consults. And we dedicate serious time to celebrating and playing!
You will also get a taste of our 4Cs: COACHING, CARING, CONNECTING, AND CELEBRATING
Our retreats are designed for 12-18 women from the field of church planting.
In order to get the most out of a retreat, we ask each participant to complete some prep work prior to the trip.
Lodging, training, and special guest* appearances is our gift to you!
$400 is what we need from you to cover food, materials, and incidentals.
A $100 to $200 suggested donation from your church/donors would help us keep these retreats at a cost effective price for you and future attendee’s.
*Guest appearances have included counselors, salon experts, art therapists, chefs etc.
What can I expect from the sessions?
Each session includes some teaching, creative interaction, dynamic reflection, and/or small group time.
Are you coming squashed, splattered, chewed, chunked and spewed?
Then you get a choice. Do you need time learning tools for the rigors of the church planting life, time in private worship, more time with others in an informal setting, or time just to sleep? We recommend attending all sessions as we’ve planned the above into our retreat, however, this time is for you and you have the freedom to decide what you need. We do ask, however, that you attend the opening session to see what’s being offered and our schedule for that particular retreat.
If you’re coming as a potential network leader then we ask you to attend all the sessions.
What’s the Fine Print?
Depending on you and the needs of each group, we reserve the right to adapt these plans, add new ones, party, watch movies, paint our toenails, pray more, walk the beach when there is one, etc.
Want to know more details about the actual topics covered?
Gospel Understanding
- The Gospel defined: To awaken the senses to the beauty, centrality, and enormity of the Gospel
- Exploring views of scripture and how these views impact living life in the here and now
- Investigating our Verdict in Christ: To expose doubt and unbelief related to the freedom that is ours in Christ and to consider how we look to obedience and duties for acceptance
- To arm ourselves for the battle for our hearts in a life of ministry
Gospel Story/Our Story
- To identify how your life story reflects God’s cosmic story- And you get to use words, art, & all sorts of creative stuff in you happen to like that.
- How abandonment, betrayal, and feelings of powerlessness impact us
- Explore the definitions of faith, hope, and love. It just might not be what you thought.
Idolatry
- How our childhood story influences our attraction to idols
- The fruit of our idols and their impact on others
- Finding Freedom
Identity/Calling
- Discover what you use to define yourself
- Investigate who God made you to be and it’s expression in your current life season
- Explore your call
Community
- Biblical goal of community and what’s stopping it
- Entering Conflict. YIKES…we’re actually going to do it!
- Addressing boundary ambiguity in Ministry
The Art of Coming Alongside Women in Church Planting- For Network Leaders
- How to ensure gospel DNA in your group
- How to train women in their local contexts of church planting
- How to ensure gospel DNA in your group
- How to coach women in church planting
- How to train women in their local contexts of church planting
