Have you stopped to consider what the “immeasurably more” spoken in Ephesians 3:20 means for your marriage? Can you conceive of the type of marriage that God desires to build out of His abundant glorious riches?
At this year’s retreat, you will sit with four Crossroads’ couples and hear about their journey–the lessons they have learned and how God’s grace and truth has offered an “immeasurably more” relationship. Our hope is to equip couples with gospel truth to recenter, practical tools to assist, and encouragement to keep going.
Please join us for a time of investing in your marriage and connecting with our church family through intentional conversations and lots of fun! Space is limited to 75 couples so don’t wait to register. Registration closes on January 21st.
Location: Gull Lake Ministries – a short drive from the Grand Rapids area. This ministry center has wonderful space for couples to unwind, connect with others, and have some fun. Their facilities include pickleball, recreation center, rock climbing wall, and bowling.
Accommodations: Each couple will have a private bedroom and bathroom within a communal setting. Most condos have 4-5 rooms with shared living space and full kitchen. Price includes snacks on Friday night, light breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Saturday and light breakfast on Sunday. We will have community dessert opportunities on Saturday evening.
Price: We are pricing the retreat at $325 per couple. However, the actual cost for this retreat is $475 per couple. For those who are able to cover the actual amount, we are requesting that you consider paying the full amount. You can pay in full now or a deposit of $200 now and remaining payment by January 21st. Scholarship are available for those who are unable to cover the cost. Please reach out to Stephanie.
Signups are currently full! Please email Jean to be put on a waitlist.
Schedule: You are welcome join us as early as 4pm on Friday but we ask that all couples arrive by 7pm. Friday night will have a session and a time to connect with your housemates. We will conclude the weekend by 12pm on Sunday.
Speakers: Our retreat in 2024 will feature four couples from a house church at Crossroads. Each of these couples have been involved in ministry for many years and have a heart to see marriages fully realize all that God created marriage to be.
RON AND ANNE JANSEN
Ron and Anne Jansen have been married for 18 years. The first 8 years were their “old” marriage. After devastating brokenness in their story, God has been making them new for the past 10 years. Since their redemption, Ron and Anne have found a passion for investing in young marriages through mentoring and leading both men’s and women’s ministries on their street corners. They have four kids aged 15, 14, 12, and 7. Ron works in corporate strategy and Anne works part time as a counselor.
MATT AND RENEE KENNEY
Matt and Renee have been married for 26 years. Through those years, Matt and Renee have experienced the joys of marriage and raising their 3 kids, while also experiencing the heartache of loss, relational pain, and, at times, the sting of unmet expectations. Matt has been a pastor and ministry leader for 23 years and a counselor for 10. After 18 years as a stay-at-home mom, Renee went back to work for the local high school and is currently a behavioral interventionist. For several years, Matt and Renee have had the privilege of walking alongside men and women one-on-one, as well as through various healing communities and retreat experiences.
MARK AND STEPHANIE TESLAA
Mark and Stephanie walked into marriage as best friends doing life together, however the pursuit of the American dream started to fray the edges of their relationship. Years down the road, they landed in a place where they no longer recognized themselves nor each other. In true surrender, they desperately asked God to rebuild a marriage on the foundation of Him. They can now attest that doing marriage God’s way is so much better and much easier! Stephanie has been working in marriage ministry on staff at Crossroads for over 9 years. Mark taught high school math for 26 years and recently started a painting business. They have four grown children-one married, one engaged, and two in college.
DAVID AND SUSAN WILKINS
After their marriage of 21 years was razed, God raised up in David and Susan a brand-new marriage with a foundation built on Him. God has since given them a passion for walking with other couples in difficult circumstances! David has served on the elder board for the last four years with Susan as his ezer kenegdo alongside. They have attended Crossroads for the last ten years and have been married for 34 years. David works as an architect and Susan is an adjunct professor of education. They have a son and daughter-in-law who live in Texas, a daughter in Colorado, and a daughter and son-in-law in Michigan.
