I was invited
Somebody thought of you.
A friend, a spouse, a pastor, someone two rows back — they had you in mind and they sent you here. Below is everything they might not have known how to explain.
The short version
The Journey is an experience where ordinary people learn more about our extraordinary God.
It's a set-aside stretch of time — 36 to 72 hours — for spiritual renewal and for deepening your relationship with Christ. You are welcome here regardless of where you currently stand.
Skeptical? Good. Most people arrive that way. One participant put it plainly on the way out: “I thought this would be like every other retreat. Boy, was I wrong.”
What to expect
The weekend
unfolds in three.
The Welcome
You arrive to a room that's already been prepared for you. Coffee, food, introductions, and enough unhurried time to stop bracing. Nobody puts you on the spot. Nobody makes you share.
The Sharing
Real people — clergy and non-clergy, neighbors and strangers — give honest accounts of how God has moved in their lives. Not polished. Not staged. The kind of stories people usually only tell late at night.
The Renewal
The weekend closes with reflection, prayer, and worship. Most people describe leaving spiritually stronger than they came — and lighter than they expected.
Why go
What you'll
actually walk
away with.
- Genuine peace, away from the pressure of the life you'll return to on Sunday night.
- A clearer picture of how God moves, how He loves, and how relentlessly He pursues.
- A community that doesn't dissolve when the weekend does.
- Practical ways to live out your faith with renewed purpose — starting Monday.
Preparation
Pack light.
Leave more behind.
Bring
- Comfortable, casual clothing
- Your Bible
- An open heart and a curious mind
All meals are provided. Note any dietary needs on your application and we'll take care of it.
Leave behind
- Work stress and laptops
- Distractions and tight schedules
- Preconceptions about faith
Whatever you're carrying that you'd rather not name — bring that. It's the one thing the weekend is for.
Straight answers
The questions
everybody has.
No. A prior commitment to Christ is beneficial, but it is not a requirement. People arrive certain, curious, and completely unsure — and all three are welcome. You will not be cornered, pressured, or asked to perform anything you don't believe.
Approximately $80, covering meals and lodging for the weekend. Scholarships are available and handled discreetly. If cost is the reason you're hesitating, tell us — that reason will be removed.
Between 36 and 72 hours, depending on which Journey you attend. Precise start and end times come with your event details so you can plan around work and family.
Teen Journeys are for ages 14 to 18. Adult Journeys are for ages 19 and older. The two are held separately, and each weekend is shaped around the people who will be in the room.
Not at all. No theological knowledge is required or assumed. The Journey is presented by everyday people speaking plainly, not by scholars speaking over your head.
None. Encountering Jesus is non-denominational and is not a church. Our board comes from a range of Christian traditions, and participants have come from thirteen different congregations. Nobody is trying to move you anywhere.
Then you're exactly the person this weekend was built for. Bring it. And if you'd like people praying for you before you ever set foot in the room, send us a prayer request — it stays strictly confidential.
Ready?
Say yes to
the invitation.
Find the next weekend, or send us a note and we'll walk you through it.