Dear friends of Father/Son Camp East and
the ALERT Academy:
Plans are coming together for a couples
retreat on the beautiful farm property of Jim and Barb Butler in Waynesburg, PA. Please note the following details:
We have set aside two weekends for this
retreat: April 29th-May 1 and May 6-8th, 2022. While the second weekend falls on Mothers Day,
several have expressed special interest in attending at that time as a special time away with their
spouse. You might want to consider that as well. However, please remember the importance of
being there the entire weekend and attending all the sessions. Coming late or
having to leave early will cause you to miss key aspects presented in the
sessions, and thus miss the full benefit of the material or the intentional
time away with your wife. If you don’t feel you can make every session, it
would be better to wait for a time in the
future when you can. Our first meal together will be Friday night at
6:30 p.m. and we will conclude with a special meal on Sunday at noon.
The cost for the weekend is $95 per
couple. This includes your housing, meals, and a workbook. It does not include the textbook
“Sacred Marriage” which you can purchase from a
number of sources—either new or used. I would highly recommend you
purchase a copy ahead of time and begin
to read it with your spouse to kind of “get into the flow.” We
will be referring to the book on occasion and possibly give out a reading assignment during one of our
breaks.
Registration is truly limited. Unlike
other events, we do need to set a size limit because of housing (if you wish to stay at the farm vs.
a hotel), as well as being able to make the group size such that it enhances interaction. If you are
seriously interested in attending one of those two weekends, be proactive and register now! Call
Marv immediately to reserve a spot.
Since this weekend is an outgrowth of our
camp ministries, please understand that this is more of a “camping” type of experience regarding
housing. We offer limited indoor housing: the options are a shared three bedroom house with two baths, an RV
(you won’t need to share that), and our staff
apartment setup for a couple. Once those slots are filled, there are
hotel accommodations in Waynesburg if you
prefer a little more luxury and/or privacy for you and your bride. Hotel accommodations are at your own expense. You
are also welcome to bring your own RV (we have hookups) or you can be really hard core and camp. If you do
register, we will give you instructions
regarding what you need to bring for these accommodations.
The material is a video series by Gary
Thomas entitled “Sacred Marriage.” It is a very
approachable style of teaching that creates a comfortable way for
husbands and wives to dialogue and share
their hearts with each other. There will be group discussions and ample time for both
of you to go through discussion
questions on your own. The property is beautiful, with hiking trails, covered areas to sit and visit, an outdoor
pavilion with a fireplace, and the list goes on. We can also add some outdoor
recreational activities if you so choose. We want this to be a special and relaxing getaway for you both.
Please call either myself or Jim Butler if
you have more questions, but send all registrations to me at your earliest convenience.
May God bless you as you consider
attending this “maiden voyage” of couples retreats at the Butler farm. We would love your input as we
seek to make this annual event meaningful and, Lord willing, life changing. We
have a special burden for families and relationships, and want to use the farm
for His honor and glory. Please bathe your decision in prayer, and contact us
at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
