A retreat is exactly what it sounds like — the chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place. Retreats are for ordinary people at any time in their lives. There are no expectations on anyone going on retreat and you don't need to be a churchgoer. A spiritual retreat involving your church and its members provide a number of benefits to those partaking in the events. Church retreats create a bonding and a community with those people that you are closest to you spiritually, as well as supporting those people and the church itself.

Do you:

• Wish for some quiet time?

• Want a weekend to develop your interests?

• Want to know more about prayer?

• Need some time for reflection away from work or family?

• Want to deepen your spiritual life? Then a retreat might be just for you.

Spiritual retreats can come in all shapes and sizes and target different groups of people. There are various spiritual retreat centers all across the globe providing spiritual healing. Here is a list of some different types of spiritual (church) retreats that can be held for each group's spiritual benefit.

Men's or Women's Retreats – the most common forms of retreats that the various churches hold. Typically, they are gender specific and target aspects of the man's or woman's life wherein they can improve spiritually to be a better person individually, in the family setting, as a marital partner, or with fellow employees. Normally, the retreat takes place over a weekend.

Couple's Retreats – Marriages get sidetracked, stuck in a rut, or begin to fall apart. Attending a couple's retreat has the tendency to bring the focus back to the relationship and re-establish that bond and it's foundation in spirituality. This type of retreat gives the partners in a marriage an opportunity to discuss and solve problems that may have developed by the relationship growing apart.

Youth Retreats – Youth retreats can be an opportunity for young ones to be introduced to spiritual teachings and start them out early understanding the importance of this in their lives. Depending on the age group, the benefits will vary among age groups. Once they're in their teens and at that dating age that parents tend to dread, teen retreats play an important part in helping them understand the sexuality issue and how to handle that critical time in their lives.

Planning spiritual retreats is hard work and there are challenges every time you think you have a handle on things. But it really doesn't have to be that way. Choose the right facility. Find out from potential participants in the retreat what type of facilities that they are expecting. Plan a program that will hold everyone's interest. Plan a program inclusive of entertainment, musicians, and speakers. Make sure what you are planning fills interests and wants of the people that will be in attendance. Make sure that you have a sound budget for all this before presenting it for approval. Spiritual retreat centers also have the provision of spiritual healing, this help in relaxation of the mind, body and soul.