Reporting Out
Reporting OutWe ended our year well with higher attendance on our last few weekends.
We had a double-booking on our Houston retreat and discovered it on Thursday of the retreat. Andy Spell, Chris Cash, and the rest of the staff did a great job pivoting. Andy and Chris called 17 camps to check availability. God came through and provided a camp and the retreat was a success! 22 new Redwoods faced the fire and found their gold.
Upcoming Trainings
Early in 2025, we plan to offer a Retreat Leader training. Stay tuned.
The carpet training calendar will be set soon.
January 17-18 2025 - Wellspring Alliance Church, 1766 Blanchard Rd. Wheaton, IL 60189
Friday 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM through Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with Lisa Modrzejewski, Bill Snyder & Matt Hayes. Registration deadline: January 3
Upcoming Retreats
Be in prayer for our January retreats. These are some of the most challenging to fill as the 2 weeks of holiday time makes it difficult to connect with our normal circles.
- January 10-12, Initial – Maryland
- January 24-26, Initial – Spanish Speaking – Houston
- January 24-26, Initial – Colorado
- January 31 – February 2, Initial – Brownwood, TX
- January 31 – February 2, Sexuality – Chicago
Groups
You may be taking a break from groups during your holiday season.
The first of the year is good time to start new groups if you have not held one in a while.
Be intentional about gathering men together. Reach out to Dan Ripple if you have questions about groups and/or group leading.
Finally
Enjoy your Christmas and New Year season. Spend some time reflecting on your year. Use this to set goals for yourself for 2025.
Merry Christmas!!
- Byron Myers
Reporting Out
November 2024
Grateful for a great year. We are beginning to notice a trend back toward men attending retreats again.
Keep up the good work.
Honoring Our Community Leaders
What a blessing it is to have such a large number of volunteers leading our communities. These men spend extra time keeping up with changes, gathering men, recruiting for retreats, managing groups, and so much more.
This organization has not survived the ups and downs without these men.
Please join me in honoring the leaders in our communities. Reach to your community leaders and give them some encouragement.
Mid-week Retreat Targeting Pastors/Ministry Leaders
After a few years on hold, we finally offered a mid-week retreat for Pastors in the Houston area at the end of October. 8 men attended with 17 staff (plus 4 local Redwoods who helped us on Monday night). As always, God showed up in big ways for these men. I know some of them personally and they are on fire.
Hopefully, we can offer a mid-week once a year or so in the future to allow us to target Pastors and Ministry leaders.
Upcoming Trainings
Early in 2025, we plan to offer a Retreat Leader training. Stay tuned.
Introduction to Facilitation: January 17-18, 2025 | Wellspring Alliance Church, Wheaton IL
Led by: Lisa Modrzejewski, Bill Snyder, Matt Hayes
The rest of the carpet training calendar will be set by December.
Tips and Tricks
If it helps, break up what we offer into chunks for men. Listen to what is going on in their lives and offer that our ministry can support them in that area.
We offer an opportunity for awareness; a chance to be real; a step into personal responsibility; a path to true integrity; a challenge to step up; healing for past wounds; radical grace balanced with radical truth; a way to bless and be blessed.
I think you get the picture. We have so much to offer, any man can benefit.
Upcoming Retreats
Please be praying for our last retreat in 2024: Houston, Initial – December 6-8
Staffing applications for 2025 are already on the website with more to come online soon. Get signed up to staff.
Groups
There is good data revealing that Exploration Groups have been a great avenue for men to attend retreats. I want to encourage you to consider offering an Exploration Group in your community or church. Whether or not a man who attends a retreat, he will be a better man by attending your group.
I ask that you also be intentional in setting up your post-retreat groups early and let us know so we can post your group for registration. Before the 1st staff meeting would be best.
One last thing on groups. We are piloting cutting back our group length from 15 weeks to 9. More info to come.
Finally
I hope you and your family enjoy the Thanksgiving season. We truly do have a lot to be thankful for.
- Byron Myers
Reporting Out
October 2024
Oh, how quickly a year goes by.
As we come to the close of a heavy retreat season, let us be grateful for this gift of a work that God has granted us with.
Although we have not filled to retreats to capacity, we have been able to offer this healing work to many new Redwoods.
And we live in a time of great uncertainty in our country. Keep living as authentic men in such a way that those around are changed and ask, “What is it about you?”
Mid-Week Retreat Targeting Pastors/Ministry Leaders
…STILL NOT TOO LATE…It has been some time since we offered a retreat that starts on Monday and ends on Wednesday targeting Pastors and Ministry leaders so they do not miss their big work day of Sunday. But this retreat is not limited to just Pastors/Ministry leaders. Anyone can attend. This may be a great opportunity for retirees or others. If you have been inviting Pastors, this is a great retreat for them. Share this link for them to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/uc85tpkh
Tips and Tricks
A good answer to questions about our retreats is one of feeling grace rather than simply defining grace. We offer true grace.
Upcoming Retreats
Please be in prayer and consider joining us for these upcoming retreats.
- October 18-20 Chicago – Initial
- October 18-20 Brownwood, TX – Initial
- October 25-27 Connecticut – Initial
- October 28-30 (Mid-week) Houston, TX – Initial
- November 15-17 Wyoming – Initial
- January 31-February 2 St. Charles, IL - Sexuality Second-Level Weekend
Upcoming Trainings
Consider joining us for
- Introduction to Facilitation - Friday November 22 from 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET and Saturday November 23 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET - Elkridge, MD (led by Byron Myers): Click here to register
Finally
Be sure to read the special section on Judson Poling’s 200th retreat. What a way to celebrate such a milestone amongst the our Kenyan brothers who know how to celebrate!
- Byron Myers