Parenting Points
As our lives become increasingly busy, finding quality time to spend with family can become increasingly challenging. Family retreats offer a unique opportunity to step away from the chaos of daily routines, reconnect with one another, and grow in your faith together.
What Is a Family Retreat? A family retreat is some dedicated time away, ideally in a restful location, where families participate in enriching activities designed to foster connection, faith, and relaxation. Family retreats can vary from weekend getaways to week-long experiences. The primary goal is to create space for families to grow in their relationships with each other and deepen their faith. Summer could be a great season for your family to consider planning your own family retreat.
What Would a Family Retreat Look Like? For your family retreat, you want to focus on the relational – your relationship with your family and God. Minimizing technology and screens on a family retreat can create space for these relationships to deepen. Strategic activities like hiking, canoeing, or team-building exercises can help develop deeper family relationships. These shared experiences create lasting memories, help family members appreciate one another’s strengths, and support each other in growth. Connecting with God on a deeper level as a family can be done through intentional time away from regular life. Depending on the age of your kids, this will likely look different. Your family could gather around a firepit and go around the circle, sharing stories of how God is working in each of your lives. You could read and discuss a book of the Bible, have times of prayer and encouragement for each family member, or read through several selected stories from a children’s Bible. No matter what you choose, connecting with God is what sets a family retreat apart from an ordinary vacation.
What Could Be the Goals for a Family Retreat? Before heading to a retreat, it’s a good idea to discuss goals and expectations as a family. Encourage each member to share what they hope to gain from the experience—whether it’s deeper connections, spiritual growth, or simply some much-needed relaxation. Summer is a great time to consider scheduling a family retreat, which would be a transformative experience that can revitalize relationships and deepen faith. By stepping away from routines and embracing this intentional time together, families can emerge more connected, rejuvenated, and ready to face life’s challenges together, united as a family.
-Dr. Ben Birdsong
Director of European Expansion for First Priority Global Ministries
