How to Have a Marriage Retreat

Here’s what we have found both in speaking and observing other groups that makes a successful retreat, even if you don’t invite the TYNDALLS:

1. The best planning occurs when two couples take the leadership, two couples with different abilities but similar vision. Clergy, counselors and others do better at speaking and arranging topics. Couple leaders plan the best retreats!

2. Use the retreat as a springboard to an ongoing ministry such as a class, small group, or to impact other activities in your community that focus on marriages (weddings, anniversaries, births, graduations, and even deaths).

3. Retreats best help a so-so or growing marriage by setting aside time for couples to be together and to gain a few skills.Troubled marriages on the verge of divorce may require counseling or intervention not normally a part of a retreat. At the same time, no couple has 100% skill in keeping the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pipelines of marriage open. A retreat simply provides an opportunity to see what a healthier marriage can look like.

Invite other couples whose marriages are “real” but who care enough to work on their marriages or to influence the marriages around them or encourage others at the retreat.

Aim for a good retreat by offering to give two “takeaway skills” and give away a few marriage books.

Aim for a better retreat by giving away (better) restaurant coupons, and a night at a posh hotel (lots of places will gladly help promote peace in their place by giveaways to anyone promoting marriage!).

Aim for the best retreat by all the above and making the retreat two nights away.

(To you church folk types…) This also sets the example for the church to prioritize marriage! Consider having a worship service to involve the pastor as a way of ending the retreat. Now if you choose to lead a retreat, check out great resources, books, etc. on places like smartmarriages.com or marriagealive.org. One church that has done excellent retreats because they have ongoing leadership is the Mariners Church at marinerschurch.org.

Email us at tom@greatmates.org if you need further help or have questions.



Author: Tom Tyndall
Category: Marriage
Published: 02.21.09

About Great Mates


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Great Mates encourages marriage enrichment and renewal through workshops, retreats, and ongoing mentoring in your local church or gathering. We promote healthy marriages through 28 years of learning in our own relationship and decades of pastoral and family therapy experience.

Speaking

If you would like to learn more about Great Mates or are interested in having Tom and Betty Tyndall speak at your church or civic organization, please contact Tom at tom@greatmates.org