Planning for Effectiveness

Whether it's for a youth group, singles, women, or the church leadership, there's usually a retreat coming up on church calendars. According to John Pearson of Christian Camping International, effective retreats require several essential ingredients.

1. Every retreat needs a purpose. Write down retreat objectives, keeping in mind the group's purpose. Then, compare the activity schedule with the objectives to be sure planning is not getting off the track.

2. Good promotion begins by setting realistic attendance goals. An overinflated goal will smack of failure if unreached. Retreat brochures and posters should be specific about the retreat purpose highlight the registration deadline and late fee, and include a detailed program and time schedule.

3. Quality leadership is essential. A retreat coordinator will help retreat personnel by calling them together for orientation and any necessary training, providing each leader with a written job description, and asking each ...