Marital intensives are programs designed for
couples in crisis who need healing and restoration. Intensives may be used to
supplement traditional marital therapy, or as a viable alternative.
Restoration
through Retreating by
Shawn Stoever, Ph.D.
In this day and time, few things exert as strong
an influence on us as the pace of life. With cell phones and email, we are constantly
accessible; and therefore, constantly bombarded by the immediate needs and demands
of others. On top of that, add the plethora of devices that make it possible
to do everything we do at a faster pace than ever before. The result: we live
in a very busy, hectic world.
The Retreat Ministry team is comprised of two groups: (1) retreat
facilities that provide marriage and family programs as part of their experience,
and (2) marriage ministries that consistently use retreat facilities for their
programming.
Our belief is that marriage and family enrichment programs and interventions
are best carried out in sequestered settings where recipients are free from the
distractions. With the pace of life moving faster than ever, couples and families
are finding it more and more difficult to connect with each other in a deep,
meaningful way. Retreat settings provide the solution to the “gotta hurry” culture
we are living in. By pulling away from all the distractions, couples and families
can slow down and experience each other and the Lord in a fresh way.
Retreat settings by themselves are not enough. Not just any “bed and
breakfast” can provide couples with the transformational experience needed
to reconnect them with each other and their God. In addition to the setting,
relevant programming is also needed to maximize the time away. The combination
of biblically-based programming delivered in a retreat setting paves the way
for couples and families to experience real transformation.
