Marriage | Marriage With Purpose Retreat

Cultivate Your Connection, Expand God’s Impact

Marriage was God’s idea long before it was ours. From the very beginning, He chose to weave marriage into the fabric of creation as a vital part of His design—a partnership where He forms our character, establishes homes that flourish, and invites husbands and wives into His ongoing Kingdom work. Marriage isn’t just a relationship to enjoy—it’s a calling to live with ​a ​purpose ​i​n every season.

At this year’s Marriage Retreat, we’ll explore how to ​cultivate your connection and expand God’s impact:

• Tim & Shayla Bassett will begin by reminding us that every marriage starts with the gospel. Because we are saved by Christ’s finished work, our marriage flows from His grace rather than our own effort. This grounding in God’s mercy and redemption becomes the starting point of every Kingdom-shaped marriage.
• Mark & Stephanie TeSlaa will emphasize that marriage is not just the context for God’s mission—it’s one of His mission fields. For it is only when we nurture our marriage that we are equipped to shape our homes and the relationships in our lives. When unity, respect, and love grow, God’s character is revealed through us.
• Derek & Ashlea Russ will focus on cultivating homes that reflect the heart of God. As we create spaces that are restful and shaped by God’s presence, our families are strengthened in love and grounded in truth. And through that groundedness, we offer life-giving hospitality to everyone who steps inside.
• Rod & Libby VanSolkema will invite couples to live their marriage in a way that reaches outward. They remind us that marriage is meant to be a “city on a hill,” pointing others toward Christ. As we embody God’s love in everyday life, His goodness becomes visible to those around us.

Together, these teachings will invite couples to dream, pray, and imagine how they can have a marriage with purpose. You’ll find space to slow down, enjoy rest and laughter, and connect with other couples in meaningful ways.

Join us—register today for the Marriage With Purpose Retreat. Registration is now open! Our retreats tend to fill up so don’t wait.

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, breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. We have a community dessert night on Saturday evening—a highlight for many in years past. We are looking for volunteers to provide a dessert or host a small group.

Price: The actual cost of the retreat is $575 per couple. If you’re able to pay the full amount, we deeply appreciate it. We also understand that this may not be feasible for everyone, so we’re offering reduced rates —any amount from $430 to $575—simply choose what fits your budget. Every contribution helps make this retreat affordable for the marriage ministry. Each registration requires a $200 non-refundable deposit, with the balance due by February 4, 2026.

Scholarships are available for those in financial hardship, please reach out to Stephanie.

Schedule: You are welcome join us as early as 4pm on Friday but we ask that all couples arrive promptly by 6:30pm. Friday night will have a session and a time to connect with other couples. We will conclude the weekend by 12pm on Sunday.

Retreat Leaders: Our retreat in 2026 will feature four couples from our Crossroads family who will be teaching along with a couple who is leading worship. 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.

TIM AND SHAYLA BASSETT
Tim and Shayla spent the first eight years of their marriage stumbling through life without the tools they needed, weighed down by codependencies and finding themselves stuck in a pit time and again. But in His severe and loving mercy, the Lord brought complete redemption to their marriage, revealing the true state of their hearts without Him—a humbling and transformative realization. Through surrender, they discovered the abundant joy and unity that comes from building a marriage on His foundation. Tim serves in student ministries on staff at Crossroads, while Shayla works at GVSU and supports women through Retelling Retreats at Crossroads. They are embracing and cherishing this season of life with their three children, ages 10, 7, and 5.

DEREK AND ASHLEA RUSS
Jason and Julie met in the parking lot of a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both of them were single parents who had been rescued by God from a sinful past and had given their lives fully over to Him. From the world’s perspective, the odds were stacked against them: an 11-year age gap, kids from previous relationships, financial issues, different skin colors and family histories. But those odds were dismantled. Their commitment to God and each other, and the belief that He had brought them together to fulfill His greater purpose, was the glue that held them together during the trials of their marriage journey of 19 years. Jason is a pastor on staff at Crossroads and has been preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God for over 20 years in the Grand Rapids area. Julie works at a local health insurance company as a business system analyst. They have three married children and three grandchildren.

MARK AND STEPHANIE TESLAA
Mark and Stephanie entered marriage as best friends, but the pursuit of the American dream slowly pulled them apart. When they surrendered their story to God, He rebuilt their marriage on a stronger and more life-giving foundation. Stephanie has served in marriage ministry at Crossroads for over eleven years, and Mark shifted from 26 years of teaching high school math to owning a painting business. They have four adult children whose families continue to grow—and a granddaughter who has captured their hearts.

NATHAN AND JANA ENGLISH, our worship leaders
Coming from worlds as different as the Pacific Northwest and Bangladesh, Nathan and Jana could never have predicted how the Lord might intersect their lives. Yet in the fall of 2005, at a small Bible college in Michigan, they met and fell in love. They married in the summer of 2007 and have carried a deep passion for marriage ministry ever since, witnessing firsthand the joy, growth, and sanctifying work God has woven through their own relationship. Now 18 years into marriage, Nathan and Jana love pointing to the refining gift that marriage can be, often sharing how God has faithfully carried their family through several seasons of profound trial and testing. Jana embraces her calling as a stay-at-home mom, while Nathan serves as the Associate Pastor at Crossroads Bible Church. They make their home in Grand Rapids, MI, with their five children: Ben (16), Norah (14), Olive (11), Ari (8), and Psalm (4).