|
There is something essential about going to wilder places. Jesus knew that and went to a wilder place to meet his inner challenges and to prepare himself for the coming challenge and adventure of his life, a ministry of courage, compassion, and service.
What is CrossRoads?
It is a weekend retreat for progressive Christian men.
This new retreat is….
Experiential: No sermons or classes. We facilitate group discussion, personal reflections, prayers, and activities.
Communal: Men join together in a spirit of honesty, acceptance, and genuine support. Men truly listen to each other and make brotherhood real. Experienced retreat guides provide a strong and supportive atmosphere.
Respectful of Earth: We see the Sacred in God’s Creation and seek its power and wisdom. We conduct all our business in a way so as to respect the land and to leave it as we have found it or better.
Open Hearted: We welcome all types of men and reject rigid notions of what a man must be or do. We welcome all parts of each man, even the difficult or neglected parts of each man that may have been shamed or discouraged by family or society.
Open Minded: We respect many ways of coming to the Sacred even as we claim ours as the Christ Way. We utilize ancient ways of praying and engaging the Creator Spirit that all our ancestors used. We are into Christianity Plus: other traditions do not threaten, but enhance our Christ Way.
Faithfully Progressive: Our work is guided and inspired by Scripture and the Gospel story of forgiveness, healing, liberation, and new life. We take the Bible seriously, not literally. We’re not into dogma or doctrine. We’re into connecting with Spirit.
Service Directed: We consider all that we do a form of prayer to God and in service to something bigger than ourselves; community, family, society. We believe each man is called to help create God’s more just, joyful, and sustainable world in their unique way.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness...
Matthew 4:1 |
Staff
CrossRoads is guided by Rev. Todd Smiedendorf, and staff. You can view complete biographies of our staff here. To adequately support this powerful journey, we build strong retreat “containers” by keeping participant
to staff ratios low, usually two to one. We are not aware of any other similar programs (outside of MLA)
that provide the same level of professional and volunteer staffing. The program also provides a
comprehensive training notebook that includes pre-training preparation and post-training integration.
Hearty, healthy meals are also provided. |
Who should come?
Any man 18 or older who identifies as Christian (at least a little) and who is:
- struggling in relationships
- living without passion or purpose
- in the midst of a life change
- in recovery from addiction
- wanting to recharge men’s ministry
While occasional exercises involve an opportunity for vigorous physical activity, this is not primarily a physical challenge or test.. This is an inner journey and we ask each man to take responsibility for his own limitations and choices.
When is it?
Friday, March 19th, 4pm; ending Sunday, March 21st, 4pm
Where is it?
Peyton Place Ranch, near Lake Charles, Louisiana.
What To Bring
A suggested gear list, along with logistical details, will be sent to all registrants at least a month prior to the event. Hearty,
wholesome, home-cooked meals are provided daily.
Costs
We offer a sliding scale registration ranging from $275-450. We ask that you pay what you can afford
and help with scholarships. We know that this program is worth the full $450, but we want to assure that
everyone who wishes to attend is not held back due to financial consideration.
A minimum non-refundable deposit of $75 is required to hold your reservation and assure you of a spot
in this gathering. Meals are included. Space is limited to 20 participants.
If you wish to set up a payment plan or inquire about a scholar- ship, please arrange with the MLA office
prior to the event.
Click HERE to download the MLA Scholarship Application Form.
| Deposit: (non-refundable) reserves your participation |
| |
$75 |
| |
| Registration Fee |
$150-250 |
| |
|
| Early Bird Discount |
$25 |
| Pay in full before Feb 19 |
$200-250 |
| |
| Cancellation: |
| before February 19 |
full refund (minus deposit) |
| February 19 to March 5 |
75% refund (minus deposit) |
| after March 5 | no refund |
Registration
Register on-line for this program using our secure online payment service:
CrossRoads in the Wilderness
Louisiana
March 19-21, 2010 |
|
Or you can print, fill-out, and mail your registration using the form below. Please
include your deposit or registration fee by check made payable to
"Men's Leadership Alliance".
Further Information
Download the fact sheet for this program
For more information or other inquiries please .
|
