QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Here are answers to the questions men most often ask before attending a LIFEQUEST retreat.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What actually happens? What’s the weekend like?
What should I expect?
You’ll arrive with other men from around the area… men from different places, backgrounds, churches, different lives. You won’t be asked to stand up and introduce yourself. There won’t be any camp-games or scavenger hunts. This isn’t an “adventure sport” weekend or a team-building weekend or a “physical” quest. It is a spiritual journey.
We won’t all know each other. Some will come in groups – some will come alone. You will encounter God, individually, personally.
There will be sessions of teaching and the speaking team will use movie clips and share stories — and there will be time to spend with God. Time to listen. There will also be some free time for some optional activities.
You’ll have opportunities to interact with other men, at your own pace and depth. The atmosphere will be safe, authentic, and relaxed — perfect for a man and his God.
A glimpse of the men, the grounds, the sessions, the food, and the space between. Tap or click any image to enlarge it.
What are the facilities like?
You will stay in comfortable, dorm-like cabins. Most rooms accommodate between 2–6 men. Most beds are bunk-style. Each cabin has its own bathroom and shower.
If you are unable to sleep on a “top bunk” be sure to contact us prior to the event so we may reserve a bed for you. We recommend you bring a PAD or AIR MATTRESS if you can.
See the Registration & Info page for more details.
Is this an adventure or team-building weekend?
We offer two LIFEQUEST weekend retreats: LIFEQUEST | EXPERIENCE and LIFEQUEST | WILD AT HEART. These are not “adventure” weekends or “team building” events… they are an invitation to dive deeper into God’s Larger Story and into your story… because in order for a man to find true Life, he must follow God into the deeper places that we too often neglect.
There will be lots of opportunities to connect with other men, but no pressure.
BEFORE YOU COME
Registration, what to bring, preparation, and practical questions.
How do I register for a weekend gathering?
Click the REGISTER link. You’ll see instructions there.
What should I bring to the retreat?
See the What to Bring page for what to bring and other retreat details.
I’ve attended a past event — is it worth coming back?
Absolutely. LIFEQUEST isn’t a one-and-done experience because growth isn’t a one-and-done process. You’re still being formed. Your life changes, new things surface, and God continues His work in you.
Coming back can be part of that process: another chance to slow down, listen, reorient, and respond to what God is doing now.
CLICK HERE to see what we’ve experienced.
Should fathers and sons attend together?
Sometimes, but we encourage first-time attenders to come on their own. LIFEQUEST is not a father/son retreat. The weekend is designed to give each man space to meet with God personally, reflect on his own story, and process what surfaces along the way.
Some of the material can be deeply personal, including our relationships with our fathers, especially during the WILD AT HEART retreat. Because of that, we’ve found that first-time attenders often benefit from having the freedom to wrestle honestly with God without also thinking about how a father or son may be experiencing the same material.
As with all things, pray about it and follow where God leads.
ABOUT LIFEQUEST
Who are these guys? What is LIFEQUEST?
What do men say about LIFEQUEST?
Read what others experienced when attending LIFEQUEST retreats.
Is LIFEQUEST affiliated with a specific church or denomination?
No. LIFEQUEST isn’t affiliated with or run by any particular church or denomination. Our team comes from different Christian churches and traditions, united by a shared faith in Jesus, a commitment to Scripture, and a shared value in brotherhood.
We’re not building a church or recruiting members. In fact, part of what makes LIFEQUEST different is creating an environment that feels less like church and more like real life. We want to strip away some of the religious trappings and give men room to honestly engage with God, wherever they are in their journey.
When the retreat ends, we encourage men to return to their churches and communities with renewed hearts and deeper connections with other men.
Is this a “freedom” or “deliverance” ministry?
No. LIFEQUEST is not an intensive prayer or addiction program. We value these ministries and bless their efforts, but LIFEQUEST Ministries in its various events provides a different environment and content.
We talk through a lot of different topics in a unique way — space for men to step back, seek God, recover their true heart, and gain clarity — seeking to restore a sense of purpose, recover strength, and resupply for the journey ahead.
WHICH RETREAT?
EXPERIENCE or WILD AT HEART? Here’s the difference.
What’s the difference between LIFEQUEST | EXPERIENCE and LIFEQUEST | WILD AT HEART?
Both the LIFEQUEST | EXPERIENCE and the LIFEQUEST | WILD AT HEART retreats are similar in heart — but each has its own unique focus and content.
Both provide a space for men to be men, learn about what it means to be a man, and deal with the issues men face. It’s all set in a non-religious atmosphere and creatively focuses our attention on the Father, allowing Him to help us recover and live from a restored heart.
The LIFEQUEST | WILD AT HEART weekend is modeled after the Wild at Heart retreats hosted in Colorado by John Eldredge and the Wild at Heart team. We tailor our content and format as closely as we can to those retreats. We discuss many of the same topics and use many of the same movie clips. We want you to experience something of what we experienced in Colorado.
In the LIFEQUEST | EXPERIENCE retreat, the content is mined from the broader Wild at Heart library of books and other sources. It also typically provides more intentionally conversational opportunities, sitting with experienced trail-guides and others to invite the Fathering of God. We create an environment that invites small groups of men to unplug, pause, and engage with the Father and each other.
What do you mean by “Wild at Heart”?
We’ve named this LIFEQUEST | WILD AT HEART retreat after the Wild at Heart retreats in Colorado. We are not officially affiliated with the Wild at Heart team, but we look to them as mentors and build our sessions to mirror their content as much as we’re able.
We used to call this weekend a “bootcamp” because it requires something of a man, deep and personal work — exploring the masculine journey and time to meet with God… to get your heart back… to train and grow stronger… to get back what God meant when He made you.
We need times like these. We are in a sacred romance set in the midst of a fierce battle… a battle for your heart.
Resist busyness and chaos. Resist doubt. Resist the temptation to allow relational and financial pressures to stop you from coming. Resist feeling disqualified. Resist the temptation to discount the importance of this event in your life.
It will be worth it. Go to the PREPARE FOR IT page for more tools to help you ready yourself for the battle for your heart.
WHAT WE TEACH
The messages, books, and resources that shape our retreats.
What is the session content based upon?
The retreat is based primarily on the following books and things we’ve gained, learned, and experienced in our personal walks with God over the years.
If you’ve read any of these books and found them helpful, you’ll feel at home here. If you haven’t read any of these you’re still very welcome. We suggest you pick up a copy of EPIC and see if that resonates with you. That will give you a taste of the content and will be helpful, along with prayer, as you choose to invite God into your decision to attend.
Scroll through the covers. Tap or click any book to enlarge it.
STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
We’ll do our best to answer your questions and provide the information you need. CONTACT US.