Biblical Families

Retreats

2010 Retreat Schedule!:

Our goal is to give an opportunity to fellowship and build relationships, somewhere, about every 3 months. We are very excited about the events this year, and expect that the March and July retreats will be our biggest yet. We've heard your requests about planning ahead, so for the first time we are announcing the schedule for the next full year. Regional retreats may be announced at anytime still.

Still coming:

Alert! Read about possible July date change here: http://biblicalfamilies.org/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1541

July 2nd-4th, 2010: East Coast Primary retreat, western North Carolina Drivable from Michigan to Maine to Florida to Louisiana to Chicago, this may be the largest retreat of the year. A great campground location is reserved, should make this a wonderful Family event also. Details available first week of May, but mark your calendars now. Write us now for details: retreats@biblicalfamilies.org

Oct 1st-3rd, 2010: West Coast Primary retreat, Sacramento, CA area Details will be available in July.

The Internet is a great tool for finding like-minded, plural friendly, Christian believers, and sharing thoughts and information.  But when it comes to building real relationships, and receiving encouragement, and learning what those people are like, it is severely limited.  There is no substitute for looking into someone’s eyes while you talk to them, and greeting each other with a hug.  We believe that face-to-face get-togethers (retreats) are vital to building the bonds that will enable the Christian plural marriage movement to grow, and grow strong.   Fear has caused too many of us to be “loners” – it’s time to set aside fear, and reach out!

These retreats are a great way to meet like-minded Christians, and receive support for you or your family. Don't miss the chance to attend at least one retreat this year!   Our retreats are very interactive – there won’t be classroom-style “teaching”, just sharing from those who have lived in, or spent time studying the Word about, plural families, and the Biblical foundations for such families.  Everyone who comes will have something to offer, and certainly something to gain.

There is NO cost for attending a retreat – an offering will be taken to help cover any meeting-room or other expenses.  If it’s a financial stretch to travel to a retreat, you are not expected to participate any further then your travel expenses.  We want you to come and be blessed!

Send us your input on these events: staff@biblicalfamilies.org

YOU are why we have these retreats - so let us know what works for you. We can't accommodate everybody of course, but if we hear the same thing from multiple people, that's important. We wish we could come to your house, but that won't happen yet. :-) So if meeting other "normal" plural-minded families and Christians is important to you, you'll have to make an effort too. Just ask any of the over 100 persons who attended retreats this year if it was worth it. I think the retreats are even more important for the ladies, than the men - guys, do it for them.

2010 retreats:

GA/SC border: Jan 1-3rd, 2010
37 adults and 38 children gathered over the holiday weekend to set yet another record for our retreats. t was cold outside, but the fellowship could not have been warmer. It was a great time of fellowshipping, including sharing meals together, in a beautiful location. We prayed for many individuals and families, and shared a common experience many have had of being given the 'left foot of fellowship' by local church bodies, many just for their belief in plural marriage. See just a few pictures here.

March 26th-28th, 2010: Mid-west Primary retreat, Springfield, MO We had many Mid-west members attend, and had a good time of fellowship.

2009 retreats:

NC mountains: March 27th-29th, 2009
We had a great time in the NC mountains! Author Tom Shipley of Man and Woman in Biblical Law joined us, and we challenged each other, and friendships were formed that will continue on. It rained half the time, but we met and ate together in the same room (a great thing for continuing the fellowship), and our spirits were not dampened. Enjoy a few pictures from the retreat here.

Orlando, FL: May 22nd-25th, 2009 (Memorial Day)
28 adults and almost as many children participated in the largest yet Biblical Families retreat. We had awesome time of fellowship, learning, sharing, building each other up, praying, and playing. The retreat officially ended Sunday afternoon, but Monday came and very few people had gone home!, and we kept on eating together and sharing until late Monday. At least 8 different states were represented. See a few retreat pictures here.

West Coast Retreat, Las Vegas, NV, October 9-11th, 2009
16 adults survived crisis, and sickness, and "The Strip" to grow together and share, and encourage each other.

2008 Retreats:

2008 saw Biblical Families get off the ground with 4 retreats: 2 in Orlando, one each in Oregon and Dallas. Over 100 persons attended a retreat (including children) in 2008, and we expect that that number will grow significantly in 2009.

East Coast, Orlando, FL area retreat, May 23rd-25th
The first "official" Biblical Families retreat is in the history books! We had 44 in attendance, representing 9 different households, and 6 states. Everyone was blessed and made new friends. Pastor Randy brought some timely and on-target messages on family unity and vision. Kids had a blast, and some people threatened to never go home! See some Orlando retreat pictures here. Read about or post retreat experiences here.

West Coast, Salem, OR area retreat, June 20th-22nd
This retreat was smaller, about 19 in attendence, total, but it was an important time of meeting new friends and forming relationships in the patriarchal movement - particularly between BiblicalFamilies and the "christianpolygamy2@yahoo" group.

Central US, Dallas, TX area retreat, October 10th-12th
A great time of fellowship and meeting new friends, and encouraging each other. Pastor Randy shared on "Polygyny is not for babies" and "What is the Biblical Way". Read some post-retreat comments here.

Here are some pictures from the October 2007 Charlotte "foundational" retreat: 2007 Retreat Pictures

Sign up for the Biblical Families newsletter here, or for the discussion forums, to be sure you get all future retreat updates.

Please send confirmation of attendance, and any questions or suggestions to: nathan@BiblicalFamilies.org.

We look forward to meeting you soon!