Review: Renew, Restore, Refresh Retreat Kit

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Renew, refresh, restore.

As those words wash over my soul, I imagine what it would be like to trade the busyness of life for a rest-filled women’s ministry retreat.

After this particularly challenging year, an opportunity to press pause and reset sounds like a gift from God.

I suspect your women and your team harbor longings to renew, restore, and refresh too.

Unfortunately, while our women return home refreshed, the retreat planning team often returns home feeling exhausted.

What if there was a way to lessen the work for the planning team so they could enjoy renewal and refreshment too?

One way to lighten the load for your retreat planning team is to use a retreat planning kit.

Today, I’m excited to give you a peek inside the Renew, Restore, Refresh Retreat Kit from CTA, Inc.

Aptly titled, this retreat promises real relaxation, authentic spiritual renewal.

The anchor verse for the retreat is Ephesians 4:23, “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

The Renew, Restore, Refresh Retreat focuses “on the thorough, deep-down renewal of heart and spirit that only our Lord himself can provide.”

The primary purpose of the retreat is “to encourage participants in Jesus’ love, deepen relationships with one another, and provide a respite from the busyness of life.”

The opening pages of the Renew, Restore, Refresh Leader’s Retreat Planning Guide provides step-by-step instructions for planning and organizing your retreat.

The Leader’s Retreat Planning Guide is packed with details, ideas, and instructions including:

• Welcome packet list
• Sample welcome letter
• Six icebreaker game suggestions
• Five discussion sections
• Optional “Finding Refreshment in Jesus’ Presence” activity
• Sample schedules
• And more!

Every detail has been carefully thought through, saving your team time and energy!

The retreat format is devotional and discussion-driven with a key Scripture verse.

Here are the five discussion sections:

• Session 1 – Return – Joel 2:13
• Session 2 – Restore – Psalm 23:1-3
• Session 3 – Renew – Ephesians 4:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Session 4 – Refresh – Matthew 11:28-29
• Session 5 – Remember – 1 Chronicles 16:8-34

You might assume the Renew, Restore, Refresh Retreat includes lots of spa-type activities, but it does not.

“While many people think about renewal in terms of externals, nearly everyone will agree that true restoration takes more than an afternoon at the spa. Pampering, massages, pedicures, facials, and even a new wardrobe will take us only so far. They are fun certainly. And each can provide a welcome pick-me-up, especially in times of stress (and distress). But true, authentic renewal is not an outward thing.” (leaders guide)

Renew, Restore, Refresh Leader’s Retreat Planning Guide, page 4

The retreat’s focus is eternal – though you can certainly sprinkle in a few practical stress-buster activities such as make-and-take eye pillows, as suggested in the retreat planning guide.

In addition to purchasing the Leader’s Retreat Planning Guide, you’ll want every attendee to have a copy of the Participant’s Workbook.

The Participant’s Workbook includes:

• Devotional readings and discussion questions (reflect, refresh, respond) for each session
• A relax & rejoice activity for each session
• A coloring page
• At-home sessions and activities to continue the experience

If your women are used to a speaker-focused retreat, they’ll enjoy the change and opportunity to engage in small groups with directed times of discussion.  

If your retreat budget allows, CTA, Inc. also offers a selection of coordinating Renew, Restore, and Refresh items that are perfect for retreat goodie bags, door prizes, and volunteer thank you gifts.

The silicone bracelet is the perfect take-home gift reminding each woman of their time being refreshed by the Word. And if you are decorating with a spa-theme, you’ll want to be sure to order some of the spa gift sets (lotion, shower gel, bath pouf) pictured below.

You’ll find all of the Renew, Restore, and Refresh materials here.

CTA, Inc. even has a free downloadable retreat resource pack that includes: theme art, bulletin cover, cupcake toppers, flyer, name badges, invitation, notecard, table tents, water bottle label, PowerPoint, and ministry message. They’ve done the work, so your retreat planning team doesn’t have to!

The Renew, Restore, Refresh Retreat Kit from CTA, Inc. includes the tools your team needs to plan a refreshing retreat without all the stress.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I do not receive any compensation if you choose to make a purchase. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

You may also want to check out:
Review: Masterpiece Retreat Kit
How to Host a Retreat in a Pandemic
Your Retreat Planning Team
Women’s Ministry Event Planning Course