Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Recently the Christian Care Center Men’s Residence had its first Men’s Retreat at Lake Yale. There was 50+ plus men gathered from all different stages of recovery. Past residents and current residents united for a weekend of fellowship and worship. They enjoyed jet skis, ropes courses, fishing, canoes, and sports. But that wasn’t our main focus.
Our focus for the weekend was allowing God to help us surrender the old and embrace the new. Most of these men never experienced a retreat before and have never experienced the fellowship with activities while being sober…which is part of the old passing away and the new coming. At the Men’s Residence we are not just helping the men get sober, ultimately through God’s love and grace they have been given a brand-new life.
During the weekend, the men were asked to have God search them, and for God to reveal some of the things of their past they needed to surrender. On the last night we closed worship around the fire where the men wrote down the things they needed to let go of (past hurts, trauma, or habits) then they threw it into the fire and offered it as a sacrifice to the Lord. As 50 men stood around the fire with tears in our eyes we watched as years of pains and addictions were finally set free.
This weekend retreat taught each man how to live this life unto God. We watched as addicts were transformed into men, and men to fathers and husbands. We were able to witness the old pass away and the new creations being made. We are so grateful for our church family and others who had sponsored these current residents. You did not just give them a weekend of fun, you were a part of giving them a new identity, and a new chance of life.
If you would like to partner with the Men’s Center either by prayer, service, or financial please email me Jamie@christiancarecenter.org
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