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A Brief Description: Kingdom Weekend is a lay-led retreat designed as a time for adult Christians to explore their faith in God, their relationship with Jesus, and their priorities in life. While individual experiences on the weekend will vary, the basic retreat format includes time spent listening, talking, singing, and worshiping together as a caring community of faith.

During the weekend, participants will hear talks on topics such as ideals, prayer, grace, and God as our Father.  Participants will be placed in small discussion groups of 5-8 people, which will remain together throughout the weekend.  Following each talk, the group will have time to reflect together on the message. 

Upcoming Retreat Dates:  Kingdom Weekend is held twice each year, in March and October, and is a joint ministry of Joy and Shepherd of the Lakes. Participants will leave Friday evening and return Sunday afternoon.  The current retreat dates are  Spring, March 7-9, 2008 .

Location:  Inspiration Center in Walworth, Wisconsin. Transportation
is provided to and from the event.

Click here to read Kingdom Weekend...A Love Story

Who should attend the retreat?

The weekend is intended to benefit people who:

Who will be leading the retreat?

Those who are responsible for planning and presenting the
weekend are lay people from Shepherd of the Lakes and Joy!
who have attended a previous retreat.  The team will have spent
more than five weeks together in preparation and training.  A
pastor will also be available during the retreat, to provide counsel,
answer questions, and address any particular needs of the participants.

How can I best prepare for the weekend?

  Be ready to totally commit two days of your life to Christ.
  Be open to the messages presented.
  Be willing to honestly explore where you are on
     your walk through life with Christ
  Participate in discussions as you wish, and allow
     others to respond in their own way.

Do I have to reveal a lot about myself?

No one will pressure you to say anything you are not comfortable with. 
You may share as much or as little as you like.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no cost if this will be your first Kingdom Weekend.  It is a
gift that has been paid for by previous participants.

What is provided during the Weekend?

We will provide transportation to and from Inspiration Center,
your room, all meals, and snacks throughout the retreat. 
Single-sex rooms will be shared by 3-4 people, with two rooms
sharing a common bathroom.  While we will provide you with a
detailed list of things to bring, you need only plan to bring
comfortable, casual clothing (jeans and sweatshirts are “the norm”)
and such things as toiletries, a towel, Bible, and a pen.

Do I have to be member of Joy! or Shepherd of the Lakes?

No. We welcome the opportunity to share this ministry with others!

I’ve attended a Kingdom Weekend before, but want to go
a second time. Is that possible?

We would love to have you come again! We will, however, give
priority to all “first-time participants” who register.  Those who
wish to attend a second Kingdom Weekend will be contacted on
the Saturday before the retreat, and notified if space is available. 
Renewal participants will be selected by random drawing until all
spaces have been filled.  Additional details will be provided to you
after we receive your registration.

How do I register?

Just click here, complete the registration form, and click “Submit” at the bottom of the page.  Registration information is also available by calling Pat O'Neill - lay leader Spring 2008, 847-855-8355.

We will confirm your registration by e-mail within a few days of receiving your registration (usually 24 hours), and will follow that up with a written confirmation (to include more details) approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the weekend.

Read excerpts of testimonials received from those
who have attended recent retreats

"Kingdom Weekend was a life-changing experience for me. I learned about my faith and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Before I went on my first weekend I thought it would be a relaxing get-away and a chance to make new friends. It was, but I didn't expect such a dynamic spiritual experience. It has helped me learn more about how God's grace works in my life." 
Susan Redlin, Shepherd of the Lakes 

"A calm came over me and my eyes swelled with tears as I walked thru the doors. I knew then that God was with me. Kingdom Weekend opened my eyes to the love God has for all of us and what it means to be a Christian. What a life-changing experience!" 
Lynn D. Arf, Joy! 

"The Holy Spirit is so present that all you can breathe is the Glory of God on Earth!" 
Jerrod Collier, Joy! 

"Kingdom Weekend has given me a vision of where I need to be spiritually and has given me the friends and support to get there." 
Eric Schaefer, Shepherd of the Lakes

“At first I thought, ‘invest an entire weekend at a retreat? No way!’
It took a lot of prodding and needling, but I finally committed to the
challenge; and I'm so glad I did! What followed was a tremendous
example of the fellowship that was missing from my life for several
years. It is the relationships that are constructed during this time that
make Kingdom Weekend worth experiencing!"
Tim Heenan, Joy!

“While this is called a ‘retreat,’ in reality it is anything but.  It should
be called an ‘advance’ because you will move forward both in your
own faith and in your relationship with other Christian friends.  The
experience resulted in me being more receptive to and accepting of
God's will in my life.  And many of the barriers I had kept between
myself and God disappeared.”               
James Blodgett, Shepherd of the Lakes

“Without a doubt, this has been the most significant event in my life. 
Never before did I truly understand God's love and compassion for
His children.  It raised me to a spiritual height that I never knew
existed within me.  And now, through God's grace, I will endeavor
to grow higher.
Mark Rounds, Joy!

 “I know it’s hard to take this step outside of our ‘comfort zone,’ but it
has been truly rewarding for me. I’ve become a stronger Christian, a
better mother and wife, a stronger believer in the power of prayer, and
a more passionate servant. Now I better understand how God is present in all things.” 
Vicki Denstaedt, Shepherd of the Lakes

 “I never thought for a minute that Kingdom Weekend would change
my life.  Boy, was I wrong!  It is a fabulous experience and I am very
thankful for all of the people who repeatedly asked me to go.  Now I
understand why they were so excited!”      
Sheri Sato, Joy!

“I received so many good things from the Kingdom Weekend Retreat. 
My faith was given a wonderful boost and the retreat continues serve
as a source of strength for me.  I found that I was part of a strong
Christian community and that we all can contribute to that community. 
And then there is the special bond that I formed with those who were
there on that retreat.  It truly was a great weekend of fun, fellowship and faith.”
Paul Aukee, Shepherd of the Lakes