For couples who would like a fresh start

Last year, the Lord blessed us all richly during this small and intense weekend retreat at the beautiful property of Fairhaven Ministries on Roan Mountain. The Family Ministry Team therefore decided to repeat the same program and content to give another group of couples the same opportunity for restoration and growth.

This is the ideal opportunity for couples who are ready for a weekend of intense investment in the one relationship that most closely mirrors our relationship with Christ - their covenant! You’ll spend a lot of time as a couple working actively towards a better marriage, with opportunity to have couples time, community time, and time in nature.

PLEASE NOTE:
If you are unable to attend the full weekend, we will ask you not to register, but instead, to join the marriage-focused Wednesday night studies that run through-out the year, or to book out the same weekend on your schedule to join us next year.

Dates and times?
Check-in at Fairhaven Ministries starts at 3 pm on Friday September 23, for those who want to explore the hiking trail, the catch-and-release fishing pond, and the general peace and beauty at Fairhaven.

The program will start at 6.00 on Friday evening with dinner, and the first session at 7. The program runs for all of Saturday and concludes at 11 am on Sunday morning. 

What is the theme and focus?

The weekend is called, "Back to the Bonfire" because your relationship can be said to take place in a marriage garden that has several unique moments and places, such as a well to draw water from, briars one can get stuck in, a bench for casual conversations, garden chess for our tough conversations, and a garden gate, where we may end up when we’re contemplating exiting our marriage, but at the heart of your marriage garden is a bonfire for warmth and making memories - the place of real connection, intimacy, and celebration. The weekend gives us a map to return to that place, no matter our current challenges and the threats there may be to our marriage.

During this special intensive weekend, you will receive practical and personal help from the family ministry team, to find your way back from the harder places, like miscommunication and difficult conflict, to a full understanding of the marriage covenant and to several resources to fight for your marriage.

What to expect

You will be encouraged, nurtured, counseled, guided, loved, pampered, challenged, fed, listened to, and given personal attention on this weekend. You will aslos have tome to connect with each other and with other couples.

The retreat center aims to bring you closer to each other and to God. There is no wifi and very limited cell phone reception. A landline is available for emergency calls. Be prepared to have a focused and dedicated time for your marriage. Read more about the center here: https://fairhavenministries.net/

Cabins are clean and comfortable but not luxurious. Each cabin has one queen room downstairs and a loft with 2 twin beds upstairs, a lounge and dining area, and a well-equipped kitchenette, where you can fix your favorite snacks or coffee. All your meals will be prepared for you, though. Each cabin has a porch and chairs for relaxing time. The early Fall colors should already be beautiful when we’re there!

All meals from dinner on Friday to breakfast on Sunday are included.

We have already started praying for you and for this retreat to be a joyful, hopeful, and blessed time of meeting with Jesus, who can turn the water of your marriage into wine.

With excitement and anticipation,

Louis and Hettie Brittz, Jereme and Karen Grisenti, Geoffrey and Megan Strickler, Russell and Cindy Jessee (praying but not joining us this time), Mark and Tiffany Smelser, Jonathan and Randa Blackley, David and Charla Tankersley, and Kelly Barker (your admin connection!)