About

Wilderness is…

• 5 days in the Rocky Mountains
• Discussing things that matter most in life and ministry
• Rest, solitude, slowing, listening to God
• Depth of Brotherhood

At Wilderness you won’t find crowded convention halls, seminars on everything you haven’t plugged into your program, or a bunch of booths with people trying to get you on their database so they can send you all their junk mail.

Wilderness is a retreat for youth ministers and youth workers. It’s about digging into the heart of why you do what you do. Its about passion more than programming. It’s about following God’s call on your life and finding the strength to follow His lead.

At Wilderness, you will experience:

• 5 days in the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountains near Colorado Springs, Colorado (just about an hour from the airport). Bear Trap Ranch is located at an elevation of 9,100 feet (http://www.intervarsity.org/beartrap/). It has a pristine wilderness, aspen groves, pine forests, mountain streams and meadows, and it’s surrounded by peaks of 12,000 to 14,000 feet.
• Time away from the office, phone, internet and emails, committee meetings, deadlines, and pressures
• Time to be alone in the wilderness–seeking God and His desire for your life and ministry
• Rest in the solitude of the wilderness while hiking, fishing, or simply discovering a quiet place to think and talk with God
• Interactive discussions with others in ministry on issues that matter most
• Individual attention: Limited to 60 participants
• Plenty of hiking trails for the tenderfoot as well as for the adventurous boulder hoppers looking for a challenge. There are several overlooks with different difficulties no matter your age, fitness level, or experience.
• Mountain River Fishing – Bring your own gear and buy a license in Colorado Springs on your way up, or online. There will be plenty of time for fly fishermen or the rod and reel guys to chase after the elusive trout.
• Log cabins complete with bathrooms and bedding
• Great food with special meals like the Wrangler’s Breakfast (you don’t want to miss this).

The Dynamic

More important than the setting is the dynamic we want to create in small group relationships. Each participant will be assigned to a group of 6-7 other youth ministers with one mentor/facilitator. Your small group will spend time each day working through some important life issues. The mentor’s role will be to lead discussions (not lectures and seminars) about things that matter most.

The Discussions

Mentor/Facilitators – All of our mentors meet the following criteria:

• Active in ministry
• Have a heart for youth ministry
• Understand the importance of one marriage for life
• Have life and ministry experience of 6 to 10 years greater than any member of their small group

Mentor/Facilitators will also follow up with each member of their small group in the following year to touch base, encourage, and add another layer of accountability to their life and ministry.

Spiritual Disciplines – You will be given the opportunity to experience and put into practice many of the following spiritual disciplines:

• Slowing
• Journaling
• Prayer
• Solitude
• Silence
• Meditation
• Worship
• Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit

DISCLAIMER: WILDERNESS is not meant to serve as a counseling center.